When I listened to “My Type” I instantly heard myself singing this song because while the Ryan Reynolds and Channing Tatum’s of the world are wonderful, there are those of us out there who appreciate the Jim Parsons and Jesse Eisenberg. Those like myself and singer-songwriter Jessie May-K. We talked to the Australian songbird about not only the latest single, but also what’s in the works, how American antics impact life over 10,000 miles away, and more in this back-and-forth exchange. 

Kendra: You have this infectious DIY, bedroom indie pop sound that I just adore! Where did your interest in music spawn from and when did that interest take you from a fan to an artist? 

Jessie May-K: Thank you! I’ve been interested in music since I can remember. My favourite thing to watch as young as two was ‘The Wiggles’ and ‘H.R. Pufnstuf,’ which were both really musical shows. 

I started writing my own lyrics and melodies at five years old, then took a break around 10, and got into dance and musical theatre. I was always constantly singing to self-soothe throughout my life and eventually got alright at it from the amount of practice. Around 16 I started writing again and teaching myself guitar off YouTube to put music to my songs. I started performing around open mics at that time and met someone from FogHorn who invited me to professionally record my music at Damien Gerard Studios. 

Having mostly musical theatre training, I was very much a goldfish in the ocean and had to learn to swim with the bigger fish, improving my skills with vocal lessons and music education as a young adult to get to where I am today. I’m still not as skilled as I want to be, but I’ve definitely improved, so I’m very lucky Marshall Cullen and FogHorn showed interest in me when I began, that’s for sure!

Kendra: I could 100% relate to your latest single, “My Type.” I do a whole podcast about crushes and some of mine are often questioned because they’re not the typical movie star type. With that, I’d love to know what celebrity crush made you realize your type? 

Jessie May-K: Same! I’ve always found the nerdy type most attractive. When I was six watching Disney Channel I was into Cody over Zack on ‘The Suite Life,’ Lewis in ‘H20’ when I was nine, Robbie from ‘Victorious,’ Felix from ‘Nowhere Boys,’ I had a big crush on Newt Scamander from ‘Fantastic Beasts’ when it came out, Ned The Pie Maker from ‘Pushing Daisies’ and most recently watching ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ Sheldon Cooper. 

I was like – damn, he’d be the perfect partner, I could come home and we could just watch ‘Doctor Who’ together on the couch and talk about our favourite franchises. Even bigger plus, we would both be Asexual!

Kendra: “My Type,”  as well as 2018’s “Teen Love,” definitely took me back to the late ‘90s/early ‘00s AKA the best era of teen movies. However, if you could go back and be on the soundtrack of any teen movie from any era, which one do you think your musical aesthetic would vibe with most? 

Jessie May-K: I think ‘Bridge To Terabithia.’ It’s very sad, but it’s such a magical, imaginative show, and something like ‘Blue Skies’ or ‘Head In The Clouds’ would fit well I think.

Kendra: You dropped ‘Zone Out’ back in 2020, so can we assume “My Type” means you may be gearing up for a follow-up EP, or even an LP?

Jessie May-K: “My Type” was a stand-alone single collaborating with my friend Miguel Cullen who is a talented artist and actor of his own. I am releasing a new album soon though! This means another single to look forward to in preparation for the new sound!

Kendra: On ‘Zone Out’ you had a song called “Shootin Daisies” and with that came an anti-gun violence video. In America, gun violence is something our government leaders seem to think is an issue that can be prayed away. Is the idiocracy of America what inspired this video? 

Jessie May-K: American gun laws definitely played a huge part in the inspiration for the video. America holds a lot of societal influence over the ideologies and practices of people in developed countries. 

I have great fear with the direction American politics have been heading and what that means for Australia’s future too, this is why I have the Aussie Soldier in the video, broadcast propaganda to the fictional audience, in behind-the-scenes collaboration, with the American News Reporter.

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being May, I always think of the end of the school year and all those memories of field trips, parties, and yearbooks. With that, I’d love to know what your fondest end-of-the-school-year memory was? 

Jessie May-K: My fondest end-of-year memory, I think, is the end-of-term Easter Hat Parades our primary school used to hold. They were always good days that were fun and exciting.

Kendra: Lastly, with “My Type” out now, what else can fans expect as we continue towards summer? 

Jessie May-K: “My Type” is unique for what I’m currently working on, being very organic and Shania Twain style instrumentally. I think fans who liked my earlier stuff like “Coffee Shop” will appreciate it, but I’m currently working on entering more pop territory. My lovely, supportive Jelly Beans, can look forward to my new album of current life chapters captured in riverbed tones, alternate synth on faster-paced,