Check out our interview with Los Angeles-based electro pop artist MaeThePirate, who just released her new album, Xenon. The long-awaited set of songs ties together the many mental journeys Mae went through not only within a romantic relationship, but within herself. Her music delves into the topics of mental illness and social media, and she aims to create a community where people feel comfortable discussing these issues.
Focus track “High,” was written by Mae the first weekend in her brand new apartment after she finally set up her music equipment, thinking that everything would be painful but she really was able to exhale for the first time in months, knowing no ones going to come barging through the door angry. MaeThePirate states, “Right after I left my boyfriend, and I left a terrible abusive situation, I wrote this song when I realized that a lot, if not the majority of this pain, was caused by someone else, and now I’m actually free.”
Follow MaeThePirate @maethepirate
Hi Mae, please tell us a little about you?
My name is MaeThePirate, I grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and moved to Los Angeles in 2018, then started working at a studio called Bell Sound Studios doing film and advertising work. I started piano when I was around 11 on my sister’s electric piano, then later took up cello. I’d bring my cello to my friends’ punk shows in high school and they would occasionally bring me up on stage to play around, and I always had a good time and met really fun people!
Describe your sound in 3 words?
Upbeat Cello Electropop
Who influenced you and why did you choose to make music?
I was heavily influenced by AJR, Ke$ha, and Marina. All of their albums have brought me so much joy. Growing up is hard, but I’d use music to escape the real world and relax for a while. I started writing in the hopes that I can make people feel the way my favorite artists have made me feel. My favorite form of escapism is music. You can sing about something sad and make it happy, or change the entire outlook of your day just by putting on the right song that puts you in that happy place!
Tell us about your new album “Xenon?”
Xenon is an album that I’ve been wanting to put out for a while, it shows a lot of different range and my weird and crazier side. The first song “Go Find Less” is about deciding to embrace the weird and the different, deciding to be myself and acknowledging not everyone is going to like that. I want people who also feel like they’re not seen, or that they’re a bit of an outcast, to know it is alright because we can make our own choices and we don’t need to hide from being ourselves.
And about the single “High?”
“High” is a cheery but sweet song about realizing maybe there was something toxic or wrong in a relationship, and escaping it. The vocal quality is made with many vocal layers, a lot of them whisper-sung. Though I was so excited to be free from living with my ex-boyfriend, it has this quality of shy tentative joy at this newfound freedom. I didn’t know it was him causing the way I was feeling, and when I was finally free it was like the floodgates of feelings I didn’t know I was keeping in all came surging out. It can be scary to leave someone, but instead of sadness, I was feeling freedom and joy. The lyrics “Never thought I would be okay with you on my mind, always thought I’d be insane to leave you behind, don’t know what’s up with my brain but I’m feeling so high” repeat many times in the song, but that was the exact emotion. I left someone who I thought was loving me and taking care of me, someone who had me believing that they knew what was best for me, and finally escaping that household environment, I felt crazy free.
What’s the story behind the song?
I wrote “High” only a few days after moving all of my stuff to a new apartment, whereas I had just left living with my now ex-boyfriend. Things were not going well between us, and when I left I suddenly felt like I could breathe again. I had two shared walls with brand new roommates so I was very tentative and shy about being loud, but I was so excited to be out of a horrible situation, so I wrote this song about realizing that through the whole relationship they were bringing me down just how I expected, and I whisper sang the line many many times. I sang it over and over again, quietly, because I was afraid to be so free but I felt so free.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part is making people happy! When someone messages me about how my music helps them, or smiles and sings with me at a show, I feel like I’m bringing joy to a world where that can be increasingly hard to find. I’ve always dreamed of making a community of people who struggle with themselves but can find solace in the music. I want to help people feel better and that’s always been a key point to me in all of my music.
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
If I could give advice to my younger self it would be to put myself out there and stop caring so much about what other people think! There is a whole world out there to explore, and even if it is hard to go out and experience things and put your foot forward in the world, it’s worth it. Everyone makes mistakes but spending your whole life inside hoping to avoid those scary things is not a good life, if there’s something you’re thinking about doing, go for it! Worst that happens is you fail but at least you tried 🙂
What’s next for MaeThePirate in 2023?
Lots of shows! I like to mess with lighting fixtures when I perform, I have them cued up to the music so the lights and shapes change with the music. I have a laser fixture, four PAR lights, derbys and more! It’s all very fun and I want to perform more with my friends and have a good time. I also want to write more summer music, upbeat fun music talking about the world and its problems but spinning it into a more positive light. I hope I get to perform more and in new places, I’ve always wanted to perform in New Jersey and New York so I hope I can get out there sometime soon.
What is your own definition of happiness?
My own definition of happiness, what a good question! I feel like happiness is when you fully accept yourself for who you are, forgive yourself for mistakes, and have people around you that also fully love and accept you. Happiness to me could be a day in with a book and my cat, or going out to a party and meeting some new people, but I believe it is truly about the mindset in it all, and being surrounded by accepting people and accepting yourself would be the way to get there.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would want to meet AJR! I love them so much and have been to so many of their concerts. I’d love to see their workflow and how they write songs and just ask them about what it was like going from busking on the street to playing for thousands of people.
Best advice ever given?
Best advice I’ve ever gotten might be from my friend Emilie that, if someone thinks you’re too much, they can go find less. I loved that quote so much, “If I’m too much than go find less” that I put that advice in the first track on the album!
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I see myself hopefully putting on shows around the country and meeting people at shows who like the songs, taking pictures and hearing their stories! I love meeting new people, and talking to people from different backgrounds and histories.
What is your favorite song to belt out in the car/for karaoke?
Everyone loves “Mr.Brightside” by The Killers, I don’t know what they put into that song, but something about it hits like no other. Definitely my favorite car karaoke song! Or “Take On Me” by A-ha, another one I love to scream-sing, extra fun points for having a melody that extends over a really high and low range.
Where can we follow you online?
You can follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, anywhere! I like to post most on TikTok nowadays, but any app you can reach me through 🙂
FAVORITES
Book: Artemis Fowl Series – The Eternity Code
Quote: “Drive like everyone else on the road is an idiot” – My Dad
Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean
Tv Series: Avatar the Last Airbender
Favorite Food: Pasta Pizza – A common slice of pizza from my hometown
Travel Destination: Barcelona, Spain
Sports Team: Boston Red Sox
