Q&A: Persevering Through Rough Terrain, Mae Mae Releases “Green”

Q&AMusic

Dec 16

☆ BY Sharon Lazo ☆

WITH A DELICATE MELODY ACCOMPANIED BY RAW LYRICS — singer-songwriter Mae Mae showcases her colorful new single, “Green,” drawing listeners into her world completely. Written about getting out of that mentally infuriating creative rut by going out into nature and appreciating the little things, Mae Mae reminds us how easy it is to live life blindsided when an obstacle that makes you believe you won't preserve through it is put in front of you. With “Green,” Mae Mae gives off the feeling of a cathartic release, “true elation,” like she sings in her lyrics.

Through her visuals, the indie-pop artist further draws attention to the title of her single by shooting its music video at Joshua Tree, debatably one of the most beautiful national parks in the US. The location is known for its ecosystem’s resilience in the ever-changing weather and temperatures of the desert. The visuals of the music video draw attention to the imagery in her lyrics. It’s almost ironic Mae Mae chose this location, as “Green” speaks on the strength and power we as individuals have over our negative thoughts that convince us we’re no good.

The track is reassuring — no matter where your head's at, the song reminds us that it'll only be there for a little while. The world can be overwhelming in the digital age, but with Mae Mae’s words you feel grounded and happy to give yourself another shot at creating.

Read below to find out more about this rising star, her sound, and the eclectic creativity when it comes to her music videos.

LUNA: First off, thank you so much for your time — how are you doing?

MAE MAE: I’m doing great. Currently enjoying the change in season on a trip to Colorado. Southern California feels like Groundhog Day this time of year so it’s good to get out.

LUNA: Huge congrats on the single release, “Green.” How are you feeling knowing your work is now out in the world?

MAE MAE: It’s a funny feeling working on something for a while and releasing it, especially in the digital world. I think it will really start to set in once I play it live.

LUNA: Can you tell us a little bit about the single, how the idea came about or what you were feeling when creating this track?

MAE MAE: I wrote “Green” in the midst of feeling pessimistic about the future. I wasn’t necessarily believing what I was writing at the time but rather trying to change my outlook through the process of creating it. Luckily, the production side of it came easily, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it sonically.

LUNA: Sonically, “Green” is very ethereal with hard-hitting lyrics. Where did you look for inspiration during the process?

MAE MAE: The Beatles’ White Album has always been a source of inspiration for me, and I really wanted this song to touch on that influence. I also wanted the song to feel nostalgic but modern. I'm really pleased with the way it came together.

LUNA: From what I’m aware, the song talks about being in a rut creatively, which is a universal feeling. Whenever you're in a creative rut, what do you do to get out of it?

MAE MAE: I have to move to get out of that space, so any kind of physical activity helps me work a different part of my brain instead of allowing the creative part to take over in an ugly way. Which I guess also kind of makes sense with the idea of green lights meaning “go” (laughs). I just have to go.

LUNA: You also gave us visuals for “Green,” which, by the way, was super dope. What was your favorite part of filming the music video for this track, which you also directed — so amazing of you!

MAE MAE: Thank you! Well, I had to shoot the video three different times. Each shoot was a little different outfit-wise and setting-wise. In the end, I chose the shoot in Joshua Tree. I liked that I was the only pop of green in the desert — it felt the most suitable for the song. My favorite part about shooting it was just myself and my partner John, who helps me shoot everything, from photoshoots to videos. We had just gotten done hiking and I wasn’t sure what I was going to wear. I had brought a few options, ran behind a rock to change, and just went with it. It felt more natural that way, which I think helped capture the spirit of the song.

LUNA: The creative direction of the music video comes through with the shifts between different cameras and lenses to the effortlessly cool outfit. What feelings were you hoping to transmit to the audience?

MAE MAE: I really like basing a video off an outfit, and that’s what I did here, but with the hat I wore. I saw it at a Halloween store, took a picture of it, and left. I couldn’t stop thinking about it though, so I went back and thought, “This is kind of silly but I’m gonna do it.” I think it’s because I want my audience to feel a genuine spirit in what I’m putting out. My music is pretty cheeky, so it wouldn’t make sense to do something super serious without it also having an element of humor.

LUNA: Last but not least, we heard there's an EP on the way with more music, “Green” being the sneak peek — what can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

MAE MAE: Each track off the EP is a color, so I can tell you I’ve got a few more colors coming before the whole thing is out. I’ll start releasing more hopefully at the top of 2023 :)

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