Nora Mae may not be a name that many are familiar with, but listeners will be left wondering why they hadn’t been upon hearing the musician’s debut single “Rendezvous.” A sultry track backed by a single guitar riff, the song features Mae’s romantic side while having a moody sound. Describing a hazy tryst that seems too good to be true, the lyrics see the vocalist revealing conflicting feelings (“Am I naive or is this real? … Should I let myself go to these places and will you meet me there) over a jazzy instrumental. With her ethereal voice and inclusion of pop and jazz, it’s easy for one to see the inspiration of Amy Winehouse in her music while she makes it all her own.

Born Rachel Shapiro, Mae’s moniker is taken from the middle name of her legendary grandmother, actress Eartha Kitt. Just like her grandmother, Mae knows the kind of artist that she is— one who is bold, effortless, and unapologetic. Drawing musical inspiration from artists such as Billie Holiday, Nancy Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, and her grandmother, Mae grew up as a music obsessive and was schooled at the altars of pop and jazz. With her EP having a mercurial, heart wrenching sound that takes the listener on an emotional journey to a newfound personal power, she taps into the allure of creating music that makes listeners feel something while honing in on the “Mae sound”, one that’s playful, honest, and sexy.

With a crystal clear idea of who she is, Mae is ready to introduce herself to the music world at large and start on the road to becoming today’s new-age crooner. Mae sat down with Rival Magazine to chat about her debut single, her family’s legacy, and the kind of artist she hopes to be.

Your moniker is taken from your legendary grandmother, singer/actress Eartha Kitt. How has she inspired you?

Everything from the art itself, the music, and the roles she chose to make and participate in, to the way she balanced her public image and her home life, to her activism… I mean, the list goes on and on. But I guess the overarching theme throughout was her intentionality. She was very deliberate about how she spent her life and career, and had an unmatched sense of patience that I always admired and continue to try and exercise.

You’re a rising musician who knows who they are. How did you get your start in music? Well, thank you for saying so. Music has always been the great love of my life. Since I was a child, I wanted to do everything musical or entertainment. Much of it had to do with growing up around the industry, watching my grandmother perform and thinking, “Wow, that is the most beautiful thing ever. I have to do this.” I did everything I could…plays, acting camps, vocal coaching, guitar lessons. I couldn’t get enough. And as I got older, it also became my therapy. It’s how I process my experiences and cope with my heartaches. And, once I realized I could actually write songs people wanted to listen to, that’s when I thought, “Ok, maybe I could actually make a career of this,” and I haven’t looked back since.

Your debut single Rendezvous is a striking track that has a jazzy feel to it. What inspired the tune? There were a few months at the height of the pandemic where I took some time off and was living as a bit of a recluse. It was just me and my dog in the woods, making fires, drinking whiskey, watching old movies, and listening to lots of jazz and classic pop music from the 50s and 60s. I’ve always been so inspired by that era of music, so I thought, “Why not blend the old and the new?” So, I wrote Rendezvous as an escape, honestly. If I couldn’t get on a plane or fall in love or take a time machine back to Godard’s Paris, I could at least throw myself into an imaginary world where I did. Once Rendezvous was finished, I knew I had finally discovered my sound.

The single will be followed up by a four song EP titled Moonchild. What does that title mean to you? For those who have a knowledge of zodiac signs, you know that Cancer, my sign, is ruled by the moon. I have always had a fascination with the moon, well before I got into spirituality and astrology. It always felt like a comfort to me when I’d see it. So, there was a period of time years ago when I was living in Chicago where I was very depressed, and at night, through my bedroom windows, I’d just stare at the moon and write as my way to cope. They weren’t songs necessarily, more like musings and deconstructed poems. During the pandemic, I came across one of my old journals and I found an entry that struck me for some reason. It wasn’t anything brilliant or profound, but it felt like it captured an essence of rawness that I loved. It was entitled, “Moonchild.” I took it to the piano and played around until I had turned it into a song, and it felt like it captured my soul…and it has since become the introductory track and namesake of the EP.

Your new project mixes elements of classic pop and jazz. What draws you to these genres? There’s a timelessness and sense of romance and sensuality that they invoke in my mind. I think of it like if my music is my way to escape, then when I think of where I’d want to escape to, what music is playing? If I had to score the fantastical movie version of my life, what would the soundtrack sound like?

It always comes back to artists like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, and of course, my grandmother.

The EP is said to “take listeners on an emotional journey to newfound personal power.” What helped you find that for yourself and what’s your advice for others who struggled with finding that? I think the moment I allowed myself to let go of ego and the notion of “success” in the music industry, looking a certain way, and instead focused on creating music for the love of it was when I found myself as an artist. It really came down to trusting my intuition and falling in love with the person I’ve become to get there. My biggest advice to others struggling to find that is to trust yourself. There are a lot of selfishly motivated people in this industry who are in it for the glamour, the fame, or the paycheck that will tell you what they think you should be doing when the truth is, nobody knows. Trust your intuition and make the music you love because you love it. Also, rejection sucks. Take it, learn from it. And then keep going.

I know that you draw aesthetic inspiration from New Wave French Cinema and figures such as Carla Bruni and Jane Birkin. What do you love about these figures?

It’s the effortlessness for me. Whether they’re in full glam on a runway, set, or stage, or they’re photographed walking on the street, they exude confidence…it’s cliché but it really is the European je ne sais quoi. It’s a raw sexiness that’s so feminine and powerful.

You have a clear idea of the artist you are – one who is effortless, sharp and bold. What else should new listeners know about your image and your music?

Well I am honored, thank you for saying that. I think new listeners should know that I’m on my journey the same as any of us are, and will hopefully continue to grow and evolve both in my sound and image, and I hope they come along with me. I have no idea what the future holds, but I promise to keep making music for the hopeless romantics for years to come.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FOR RENDEZVOUS

Meet Nora Mae: Your New Favorite Musician

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