Mae Hill: "I Was Living In Black And White... Then I Started Seeing In Colours"

Written by Lauren Page | @LiveWithLP

Mae Hill caught up with LiveWithLP backstage at BST Hyde Park

There are some artists you interview where the second the cameras stop rolling, you immediately think, I need to see them live again. Mae Hill is one of those artists.

I caught up with Mae backstage at BST Hyde Park after she'd just stepped off stage supporting Pitbull, and somehow she still had enough energy to match mine - which, trust me, is saying something.

The first thing we spoke about? The fact she'd just played one of London's most iconic stages.

"I can't believe I'm here," she laughed. "I don't know how I'm here. I don't know why I'm here. I'm just very grateful to be here."

Honestly, watching her set, there wasn't a single person questioning why she was there.

She absolutely belonged.

One thing that's impossible to ignore when you see Mae live is just how effortless her vocals sound.

Naturally, I had to ask if she had some kind of pre-show ritual. Turns out... not exactly.

"I'm actually really bad with my vocal health," she admitted. "I've got a vocal injury and I really don't look after it."

The ADHD was blamed immediately - which, as someone who also understands the chaos, I decided needed a rebrand.

Slay-DHD. You're welcome.

Despite everything, Mae somehow delivers powerhouse vocals every single time, and hearing her perform live only confirmed something I'd thought for a while.

Some artists sound incredible on record. Some artists sound incredible live, Mae somehow manages both.

What's even crazier is that she's gone from intimate grassroots venues to BST Hyde Park in what feels like the blink of an eye. Had it sunk in yet?

"Not at all," she smiled.

"I was driving up here and everyone in the van kept saying, 'You know where we're going, right?' It didn't really hit me until I walked out on stage."

If there was one song that perfectly captured this current chapter, though, it's Colours.

It's one of those songs that instantly makes you want to roll the windows down, turn the volume all the way up and pretend you're starring in your own coming-of-age film.

But underneath the infectious chorus is a story that's far more personal.

"I wrote it about this guy I literally went on one date with," Mae laughed. "I hadn't dated in two years. Then after the first date he really upset me."

Rather than letting that experience define her, it inspired one of her most uplifting songs.

"I realised I'd been living in black and white," she explained. "As horrible as he was... he made me realise I deserve love. I am capable of it."

There's something really beautiful about turning disappointment into something that makes thousands of other people feel hopeful.

Safe to say... Mae won that breakup.

One thing we spoke about that I found really interesting was how festivals introduce artists to completely new audiences.

Mae told me she normally notices lots of younger girls coming to her headline shows, but Hyde Park felt different.

"There were people from all walks of life," she said. "Everyone was having a boogie. What more could you ask for?"

Of course, there was one thing nobody could ignore... We were at a Pitbull concert.

Which meant there were bald caps absolutely everywhere. Mae even joined in herself during her set, by donning a bald cap - dedication!

Before wrapping up, I asked the question I ask every artist. Who's someone we should all have on our playlists?

"Jos Rivers." The pair met while playing The Great Escape Festival, and Mae has been hooked ever since.

"I was in a random costume shop in Brighton yesterday and one of her songs came on," she laughed. "I had to send her a video."

It's exactly the kind of genuine support between artists that I love seeing.

And speaking of unexpected places...

Mae admitted it's still surreal hearing her own music out in the wild.

"I've had people message me saying they were in a café in Brazil and Devil I Know started playing," she said. "I'm like... what?"

It's those moments that remind you just how far music can travel.

By the end of our chat, we'd somehow discovered that while we were meeting in London, we'd probably have been closer to home if we'd bumped into each other in Scotland.

"My whole family's from Edinburgh," Mae smiled.

Looks like we'll have to make that interview happen north of the border next time.

After watching her command the Hyde Park stage and chatting backstage afterwards, one thing feels certain, Mae Hill's journey is only just getting started.