I sat down with Mae Powell, ethereal singer-songwriter, to talk about the local scene and her growth in artistry since moving to San Francisco over a decade ago. We spoke about Mae's inspirations and everything she's been learning recently about songwriting, methods that work best, and the importance of creative collaboration.

Mae Powell's memorable new album Making Room For The Light will be released on August 15th. Her new single drop "Tangerine" will be released on June 2nd. Check out her most recent single "Rope You In" below, and stay tuned for more to come!

Alongside artists like Alice Phoebe Lou and Frankie Cosmos, Mae Powell possesses a timeless voice that fits as naturally in contemporary music as it does in old school jazz. Her vocal range perfectly complements her intuitive songwriting style, which is rooted in contemporary styling and interwoven with notes from Americana, blues, West Coast pop and a vintage essence reminiscent of old San Francisco. Mae has captivated audiences with her voice in Bay Area venues and jazz bars for over a decade. I discovered Mae Powell's music while living in the Lower Haight myself, walking by The Page on Wednesday evenings and hearing her music soften the neighborhood. I had the privilege of speaking with Mae for BFF.fm to discuss her new album, songwriting, and her creative process across mediums.

When she was young, Mae Powell’s older sister came across a MySpace post from a stranger seeking a space to set up his recording studio. Soon enough, her family was hosting their new friend’s analog recording studio in their garage. For the next five years, Mae witnessed musicians in and out of the studio and developed an appreciation for musician artistry. While she wasn’t yet convinced that she would take music up, she learned to play around with instruments and was exposed to a new world of creating.

 Years later, Mae Powell relocated from San Diego to San Francisco to pursue college, where she found a whole new music scene to explore. She caught the indie scene at a great time, finding artists like early Mac DeMarco and Frankie Cosmos, who would later inspire Mae to start writing music of her own.

“I had never really written a song. I was so daunted by writing a song, then I listened to Frankie Cosmos when I moved here and I was like ‘what the hell’? She’s just singing about her cat and this is a banger. It reframed that you can write a song about anything. Something clicked in me to not be so daunted by it and not feeling the need to be so profound. Sometimes profound things happen by zooming in on one little thing. You can say something about the whole of it that way.”

Since she embraced songwriting, Mae Powell has taken multiple classes through School of Song with artists like Adrianne Lenker, Sam Evian, and Robin Noel. Mae shared a bit about how that formalized songwriting environment has impacted her style in writing over time.

“The songwriting classes have made me more aware that I can sit and write a song when my other methods aren’t working. Daily practice and picking up the guitar, even for a minute, is helpful and the routine is helpful for writing songs. I think that routine helps open you up to the greater creative channels.”

As a songwriter, Mae has garnered a strong following and has found an influential creative community by her side. We spoke about the impact of San Francisco’s creative community on her artistry and sound overall.

“Most of my friends are musicians and definitely all artists in some way. I feel so inspired and uplifted by the community here. When I first started playing shows, I had no idea what I was doing, but people were very supportive and were like ‘come play your guitar!’”

Taking inspiration from the vibrant indie-alternative scene in San Francisco at the time, Mae Powell began her music journey by saying yes to invitations to play her guitar at different events. She met new people in the scene and developed her sense of familiarity with playing for audiences. It was by saying yes to those opportunities that she developed connections with artists who she collaborates with today.

"Eventually, Mayya, who goes by Mayya in her band, hit me up and was like 'I would love to play bass in your band'. So the first band practice I ever had was just me and Mayya. Then Sam [Jones] from Mild Universe, who was in her band at the time was like 'I want to play drums in your band'. So we were a three piece for a long time. They really informed my sound. Then I picked up a couple of other people along the way. Garrett on guitar and lap steel. My friend Ryan on keys. Each of these people in my band had their own band and brought their own energy to my project. The songs wouldn't be what they are without them."

Perhaps one of the most striking realities of the Bay Area scene is that many artists take greater interest in music as a form of self-expression and connection rather than a mere avenue for commercial success. This contrast from the modern industry produces a rare “safe-haven” sensibility to the scene, where artists can thrive, collaborate, and push the boundaries while remaining true to their visions and ethos.

"I trust them completely. When I play them a song, I'm like 'Do what you would do. Be yourself'. So in that immediate way, I feel supported and inspired. I have played so many bills over the years where it's just friends. I love shows that feel like a family reunion or just friends hanging out."

This collaborative ethos is perfectly captured in Mae’s newest work. Her upcoming album Making Room For The Light represents what is possible when artists cultivate creative vulnerability and exploration with one another. The album was produced by Loving’s David Parry, whose analog recording studio is located on Vancouver Island in Canada.

“Recording felt like summer camp. We all slept in the recording studio together and jumped in the river when we got mad. We spent time outside then would return to the studio. It was an incredible recording process and maybe the most present I’ve ever been. I wasn’t on my phone. I had a little VHS camcorder that I used to capture things. It was super special. And I think that experience informs how this album sounds.”

The recording process was immersive for Mae and her band, who experimented from different influential perspectives for each song. The two and a half weeks that they spent recording allowed for the band to fully connect with the spirit of each song and effectively capture their uniquely inspired essence.

“We had a few things we were referencing. Influences like Bob Dylan and Chris Montez and Nancy Sinatra. We were channeling different vibes and the fact that we did one song every day so that we could get into the vibe. For “Tangerine", we wanted it to sound like Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline. So we wore sunglasses and drank whiskey. And we were, yeah, being Bob Dylan. Then for another song, “Contact High”, we wanted it to sound like a bright, shiny sixties pop song. So we listened to a bunch of Chris Montez’s album Watch What Happens and emulated that. It was cool to go deep into different vibes. But overall it’s one consistent vibe.”

Making Room For The Light is an honest combination of nostalgia and hopeful dreaming for the future. What makes Mae’s sophomore album unique is the freedom she had to experiment in real time with her creative community throughout the making process.

“The last record I made over the pandemic took the course of a year. The drums were getting emailed over, parts of the bass were emailed over. It felt like a puzzle getting pieced together. But this one is the same people in the same room just being together and making this thing.”

Mae Powell’s sophomore album already pushes the boundaries of what she has done in the past. As an artist, her approach to songwriting and playing music is sincerely introspective and bravely exploratory. Between her strong creative community and growing self-expression in songwriting, Mae Powell has established herself as a notable voice in the local music landscape. We are excited to see what is next for Mae Powell.

On June 2nd, Mae’s new single “Tangerine” will be released to the public, offering listeners a glimpse at the beautiful album ahead. Make sure to give it a listen here and stay tuned for the full album release on August 15th.

You can follow Mae Powell here on Instagram for information about local shows and projects.