It takes time to adjust to a new life trajectory, to a new path ahead. It takes some getting used to the 180 switch, when one of your first-ever releases takes off at an unstoppable rate, achieving a Top 15 UK single. For Mae Stephens, it was her breakout hit ‘If We Ever Breakup,’ which catapulted her to the crowded arena of one-to-watch artists.
Now a 2-year-old, Mae Stephens emerges triumphant as more than a one-hit wonder. With a new single, ‘Tiny Voices,’ she puts a fun twist on the stubborn, intrusive thoughts that we, as a society, are so heavily victims of. After navigating the whirlwind of being a young, newly discovered artist, she admits her life changed entirely.
After quitting her customer service job, Mae Stephens found herself signing a record deal and collaborating with artists like Meghan Trainor and The Chainsmokers.
Known for her colorful, funky pop bops, Mae Stephens enters a chapter of self-assurance after getting a grip on what it means to be an adult. Following up her previous single, ‘Woah Man!,’ Stephens shares ‘Tiny Voices’ as a new testament to her playful spin on pop music. Her memorable vocals and witty wordplay create an exciting buzz around her future and her upcoming musical offerings.
Congratulations on your new single ‘Tiny Voice.’ What is the main messaging you want people to take away from this track?
That our minds are amazing and they can do amazing things, but sometimes we all have those thoughts that can pop out at any time. Unfortunately, many people have bad impulsive and intrusive thoughts that can lead to harm on themselves or others. I wanted to shed a little light on the funny and light-hearted things our brains can suggest and how random and kooky our minds can be!
How do you deal with your intrusive thoughts? Do you let them bottle up or do you prefer voicing them right away?
A mix of both honestly. Sometimes it’s harmless things like bursts of noise or random phrases shouted in public but I do have some very unhinged impulsive thoughts that go straight to the back of my head. It really depends on the thought.
It’s very much in line with the lyrics. Most of the things that I sing and show in the video I’ve actually done or thought about doing. I like cold baked beans, it’s just a thing.
We can’t not talk about your mega-hit ‘If We Ever Break Up.’ Did you expect it to be as big as it was?
It’s still a shock to me now how much my life has changed since writing and releasing that song. I mean does anyone ever get used to it? That song has given me everything I have and all I can say is I’m grateful for that. I still see messages from people who have only just listened to it for the first time which is always great to hear.
What changed after the song achieved a Top 15 UK single? What chain of events unfolded?
My entire life changed, I went from working a customer service job to meeting incredible musicians and writing music full time. I can only describe the music industry as ‘another world’ compared to day-to-day life and it’s a real shock when you truly get to see what goes on behind the stage!
How was it collaborating with Meghan Trainor on ‘Mr. Right’?
She truly is an incredible person through and through! Working with Meghan opened my eyes to how normal artists are and how they too are people trying to get by and make a living. She is a kind soul with a massive heart and beautiful family.
She didn’t need to, as she was inspiring enough and I couldn’t think of anything to ask. Lol
Who else was your favourite from the list of collaborators?
I absolutely loved working with Alok and the Chainsmokers. Standing on the biggest stage I’ve ever seen singing to thousands of people in Montreal is something I will never forget.
When do you feel a collaboration truly clicks?
I think when you meet the other artist in person. You’re creating music with this person and sometimes FaceTime or Zoom doesn’t do a person justice!
Music acted as an escape during your schooldays when you were bulled for your ADHD. What would you like to educate people on when it comes to ADHD?
Being neurodivergent and a songwriter can be a double-edged sword at times because it requires a lot of focus which is sometimes something we can’t give. But my message to people is ‘please try to understand’ I spent years of my life being told I was lazy and unmotivated to only find out about my neurodivergence later in life. It made things so much harder for me because I truly believed it was my fault and that I was failing in life because of that. If you know someone who is trying to discover themselves or their neurodivergence, understand with them and let them know you’re trying to understand them…. It truly goes a long way to know someone is trying to understand you and that you’re not alone.
Were you already writing songs then? What were they mostly about?
I didn’t have too much experience with relationships when I was younger so I relied on Netflix to give me my story. I also used it as a good way to practice writing about different scenarios and fine tuning my craft over the years. I focused mostly on heartbreak ballads and love songs as I was raised more on the classical side of singing as a kid.
What did it mean for you once you signed your record deal? What was the first thought you had?
What the hell just happened. I can’t really explain the things that were going through my head in that moment. All I could do was look over at my family and be thankful for all the work my parents pushed me to put in over the years. Every gig in a grotty pub to every little competition they entered me into. My parents and I worked so hard to get to what we thought was the drop off point only to discover it was the front door to an insane new world. It was both eye opening and life changing for me.
How does this upcoming chapter look like for you?
Currently I have had the blessing of taking the time to truly figure out who I am as an artist and what I stand for. I’ve also hit 22 and had a massive realisation that I am an adult and life doesn’t slow down for anyone, so it’s been a real turning point in my life especially after how fast paced my career was after the release of IWEBU. I spent a lot of 2024 taking the time to write more music, spend time with my family. The experience of the last 2 years has given me a new lease of life and understanding for the music industry and now I’m ready to get to work with releasing new music and maybe going on tour very soon. Exciting things are happening.
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Words: Karolina Kramplova