Imelda May

Imelda May – Life, Career, and Memorable Words

Explore the life and artistry of Imelda May — the Irish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Learn about her roots in Dublin, her rise through rockabilly and jazz, her evolving discography, influences, and inspiring quotes.

Introduction

Imelda May is a dynamic Irish vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her fusion of rockabilly, jazz, soul, and folk elements. Born 10 July 1974 in Dublin, she has drawn acclaim for her distinctive voice, vintage aesthetic, and emotional honesty in songwriting. From her early days performing in Dublin clubs to her collaborations with legends like Lou Reed, May’s journey offers a captivating portrait of resilience, reinvention, and authentic musical expression.

Early Life and Family

Imelda Mary Clabby (later Imelda May, married name Higham) was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 10 July 1974. The Liberties, a historical, working-class neighborhood in the south inner city of Dublin, and is the youngest of five siblings (two sisters, Edel Foy and Maria O’Reilly, and two brothers, Brendan and Fintan Clabby).

Her upbringing in The Liberties strongly influenced her identity and her creative voice. In interviews she has described how the neighborhood, its rhythms, stories, and sense of community shaped her sense of self:

“My heart and soul is in The Liberties … I wouldn’t be a musician or a writer if it wasn’t for being from there.”

She attended Senior College Ballyfermot, where she studied art, graphics, and printmaking.

Early on, she faced skepticism and resistance regarding her artistic ambitions, especially given her working-class background. But her creative determination would carry her forward.

Musical Formation & Early Career

May’s musical journey began in her teenage years. She performed in clubs and local venues in Dublin from about age 16 onward, despite sometimes being too young to enter the venues legally.

She formed her own band in 2002 and released her debut album No Turning Back. Over the next years, she gradually refined her sound and honed her style, merging old-school textures with contemporary emotional resonance.

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough & Albums

• Love Tattoo (2009): This album was a turning point. It brought her wider attention in Ireland and the UK, and featured the single “Johnny Got a Boom Boom”, which she wrote herself.

• Mayhem (2010): Her third studio album, which solidified her as a force in modern vintage-inflected music. Mayhem earned her nominations in Ireland and beyond.

• Tribal (2014): A further evolution in her sound, this album drew more broadly on soul and folk influences.

• Life Love Flesh Blood (2017): A more personal, stripped-back record, showcasing her vocal depth, lyricism, and emotional maturity.

• Slip of the Tongue (2020): In this work, she experimented more with spoken word, shifting some styles away from her earlier rockabilly roots.

• 11 Past the Hour (2021): Her most recent full studio album (as of now), combining her musical experience and collaborators to present a modern, expressive sound.

Throughout her career, she has also collaborated with well known artists, such as Lou Reed (on Kentish Town Waltz), and participated in tribute performances (e.g. with Jeff Beck)

Her single “Big Bad Handsome Man” also drew attention, especially as featured in trailers and programs outside Ireland.

Tours, Presence, and Legacy

Imelda May has toured extensively, appearing on British and Irish television programs (for example, Later… with Jools Holland) and performing internationally. She has been recognized for reviving the rockabilly and vintage sound in a contemporary way, and for pushing boundaries in her genre blends.

In addition to albums and tours, she has engaged in cultural commentary and activism, for example publishing a poem “You Don’t Get to Be Racist and Irish”, which reflects on identity, heritage, and social justice.

Her influence lies in showing that a modern artist can intertwine heritage, authenticity, emotional depth, and bold experimentation, rather than being constrained by genre expectations.

Personality, Style & Artistic Voice

Imelda May’s style is notable not only for her musicality but also for her striking personal aesthetic — vintage silhouettes, bold makeup, retro hair — all part of her artistic persona.

In her creative approach, she often emphasizes sincerity: when she writes, she says there’s a lot of herself in each song.

She has spoken about resisting industry pressures placed on women, especially in terms of image and sexuality, stating:

“I don’t see why women have to get naked to sell an album. It’s crazy.”

Her voice and performances often combine power and vulnerability, melding raw emotion with controlled technique.

Famous Quotes

Here are several quotes attributed to Imelda May:

• “I’m in no hurry to get old. But when I do, I’ll be out to enjoy every last minute. I see myself at 90 in some nursing home, waving my walking stick about as I jive to Gene Vincent records.”

• “I don’t see why women have to get naked to sell an album. It’s crazy.”

• “I know exactly what it’s like to not have a penny. I know exactly what it’s like trying to get a job… But I know I can survive.”

• “When I’m writing, I mean what I’m saying — there’s a lot of me in each song.”

• “My parents never told me to get a real job. They always said, ‘Go for it! If this is what you want to do, work hard.’”

• From her poem: “You don’t get to be racist and Irish” (drawing attention to identity, heritage, and social responsibility)

These lines reflect her grit, her commitment to authenticity, and her insistence on expressing her own perspective rather than conforming to external pressures.

Lessons from Imelda May

1. Authenticity over trendiness
   May’s career underscores that staying true to your voice—musically, aesthetically, personally—can carve you a lasting and distinctive path.

2. Creative self-reliance
   Despite lacking formal music schooling, she learned by ear, self-developed her style, and persisted.

3. Blending tradition and innovation
   She draws from vintage genres (rockabilly, jazz) but reinvents them for contemporary sensibilities, bridging old and new.

4. Courage in identity
   Her poem, activism, and commentary show she is unafraid to engage with issues of heritage, fairness, and social conscience—this deepens her artistry.

5. Resilience in adversity
   Coming from a humble neighborhood and working through resistance, she pressed forward. Her story encourages creative persistence, even when the path is difficult.

Conclusion

Imelda May’s journey—from Dublin’s Liberties to the international stage—is as much a story of personal conviction as it is musical success. She demonstrates how an artist can root themselves deeply in place and identity, yet grow outward, experimenting with sound and expression. Her evolution across albums reveals someone unafraid to evolve, to show vulnerability, to stand for her convictions.