Photo credit: Eddie Otchre
Critically acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May is debuting the new track “Made To Love” from her forthcoming sixth studio LP, 11 Past the Hour; listen to it HERE. The highly anticipated album is out April 23 via Decca Records and available for pre-order HERE.
“I wrote this song from the perspective of Love itself as a living thing and how much it has suffered for simply being. It frightens some with the power of its simplicity, purity, truth and breathtaking beauty. It puts a mirror to us and only through it can we see our true ourselves,” May says of her inspiration behind the track. “I believe in Love. I believe in fighting for Love. I believe that we are made to Love.”
“Made To Love” is an energetic, celebratory song about love in all its shapes, sizes and guises. Recorded with Ronnie Wood on guitars and featuring on vocals the author & activist Gina Martin and lawyer & author Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu who both fight regularly for justice, equality and love. Imelda met the two at an International Women’s Day event with Annie Lennox and after hearing them speak, Imelda knew she wanted these two inspiring women to be part of her song that, far from being preachy, is galvanising and powerful.
Today, May will perform “Made To Love” with them on “The Graham Norton Show.
”The album also features previously released single “Just One Kiss,” which features Noel Gallagher on vocals and Ronnie Wood on guitar; watch/share the official music video HERE. She has also shared new album tracks “Never Look Back” and “11 Past the Hour.”
The LP marks a new chapter for May and finds her working with collaborators such as Wood, Gallagher and Miles Kane, on a record that brims with sensuality, emotional intelligence, spirituality and intuition, showcasing her at her most authentic. The album was primarily written with co-producer Tim Bran (London Grammar, Primal Scream) and string arranger Davide Rossi (Coldplay, U2, Goldfrapp).
“11 Past the Hour is my truth.” May says of the album. “I’d like to think I can put into words and music what we all feel sometimes. We all laugh, sing, love, cry, dance, kiss, care, we all experience lust, anger, joy, worry, sorrow and hope…Each song is a moment in my life. Each life is a moment in time. Every minute counts.”
Born and raised in The Liberties area of Dublin, May was discovered by Jools Holland and has gone on to become one of Ireland’s most celebrated female artists. She has performed alongside notable artists including Lou Reed, Smokey Robinson, Jeff Beck and Van Morrison.
May’s first ever spoken word poetry EP, Slip of the Tongue, was released last year to critical acclaim and received global recognition for her poem ‘You Don’t Get To Be Racist and Irish’ used by the Irish government’s ReThink Ireland campaign for billboards across the country. 2017’s Life Love Flesh Blood LP was produced by T Bone Burnett and released to rave reviews. Burnett says of working with May, “I’ve never met anyone quite like Imelda May. She is full of life… I [am] inspired by her honesty and her generosity, and I continue to be intrigued.” In celebration of the release, May performed select North American dates with Elvis Costello & The Imposters.