10 Jul 2014

May J.

Could you tell us about today’s outfit?

Lately, I’ve been wearing a lot of T-shirts, so my outfit today is nice and comfortable. And these sweatpants I’m wearing are really comfortable too, they’re great for everyday use. Also, I really like the color of the shoes I chose for today, the first time I saw them it was love at first sight!

Are your shoes comfortable?

Yeah, they’re so comfortable! They fit perfectly and feel so comfortable, like a protective cover for my feet. I’m outside now, but I’m so used to them that it feels like I’m at home and could almost forget that I’m wearing any shoes at all. They’re really comfortable for walking.”

What’s your fashion plan for this summer?

I like wearing skirts, so I think I’m going to put together some long skirts with casual T-shirts. I like outfits that combine elegant pieces with casual items, for a more dressed-down look. So, wearing these sneakers together with something more fashionable that normally wouldn’t match helps break up the traditional style a little. Fashion is all about exploring new ideas, so this summer I want to try something new.”

The song “Let it Go” is a big hit in Japan.

First it was popular with young children, but now lots of people are listening to it. I’m really surprised it’s gotten this popular, it makes me really happy. When I was little I loved Disney movies like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, and I used to sing Disney songs while having dreams of becoming a famous singer myself someday. So when I first heard about it, I was so happy, but at the same time I just couldn’t believe it.

Is there any part of the lyrics in particular that you identify with?

I like the part that says to just be yourself. I think those words are very powerful.
In my own debut, I remember thinking that I was just going to sing my song the way I wanted to sing it. It taught me to just be myself and live my life without being afraid to be who I really am. Those lyrics helped give me the courage to do that.”

May J., what does music mean to you?

When I’m feeling down or sad, music always comforts and encourages me; it’s simply irreplaceable in my life. And music has helped me achieve so many of my dreams, so now I want to use music to bring smiles to people’s faces. I want to sing songs that inspire people to give it their best day after day.

Could you tell us about some of your plans for the future?

I’m going on a nationwide tour starting in July. I’ll be playing some original songs as well as some tracks from my cover album to give my audiences a good mix. Also, I’ve accomplished my childhood dream of singing Disney theme songs, but I’d like to continue doing more of that in the future as well.”

May J

“May J., a multilingual recording artist with a background in Japan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Spain and the U.K, has a command of numerous languages.
Since childhood, she has studied dance, piano and opera, and has done everything from songwriting, composing and singing while performing on the piano, to modeling for apparel brand catalogs.
Her debut was in 2006, and her cover album Summer Ballad Covers was released in June of 2013, staying in the top ten of the Oricon chart for five consecutive weeks. Her new cover album, Heartful Song Covers, was the first female cover album of the 21st century to run eight consecutive weeks in the top ten, and both albums have sold more than 300,000 copies. May J. was also in charge of creating the Japanese version of the theme song for the 2014 Disney film Frozen.”