Elaine Mai Announces Second Album & Releases New Single
ELAINE MAI ANNOUNCES SECOND ALBUM 'FOR US'
SHARES NEW SINGLE ‘AIM (FT. FAYE O’ROURKE)’
SINGLE - ‘AIM (FEAT. FAYE O’ROURKE)’ OUT NOW
ALBUM - 'FOR US' OUT 19TH SEPTEMBER
BUTTON FACTORY SHOW - 25TH OCTOBER
Choice Music Prize-nominated artist and producer Elaine Mai joins forces with Soda Blonde’s Faye O’Rourke in Aim, a single with a powerful narrative on generational trauma and its lingering effects. A dynamic and empowering dance track taken from Mai’s forthcoming album For Us, the song’s transformational energy leaves a lasting impact and gives us a glimpse into her second LP.
Mai will play a headline show in the Button Factory on 25th October, with tickets on sale now from Eventbrite, HERE.
Mai has captivated audiences with her dynamic blend of electronic artistry and production since 2012, garnering over 5.6 million streams on Spotify. Her career is punctuated by notable collaborations and remixes, having worked as a producer with artists such as Pillow Queens, Daithí, Loah, and MuRli. Her remix of Loah’s Nothing reached number one in the Irish Radio Airplay Charts for independent songs and amassed over 1.1m streams on Spotify, highlighting her prowess in reimagining and elevating existing tracks.
The track features vocals from fellow Choice Music Prize nominee Faye O’Rourke of Soda Blonde, whose 2023 sophomore album Dream Big ranked No.1 in the Irish Independent’s Best Irish Albums of 2023. An unflinching commentary on cycles of pain and healing, Mai and O’Rourke candidly explore vulnerability, the weight of inherited wounds and confronting complex emotions in Aim.
On the creative synergy developed between them during the collaboration, Mai says: “Working with Faye on this was class. Her voice carries so much weight, and she elevated the song in a way that feels both raw and effortless.”
O’Rourke shares how elements of the single came together quite organically, noting how the mechanics of the dance genre help to reflect the song’s core theme: “When Elaine sent me the track, the melody and lyrics came instantly. I don’t typically write dance music, but something about the way that beautiful theme unfolded, evolving and expanding, pulled something subconscious to the surface. Without overthinking it—or thinking at all, really—I found myself singing about generational trauma—how it lingers, how it’s passed down. The way dance music builds and transforms, with themes repeating and shifting in new ways, felt like a perfect parallel to that idea. So much of what we do is instinctive, and Elaine has this incredible ability to evoke emotion, unlocking feelings that might have otherwise stayed buried”
FOR US
Aim is a window into Elaine Mai’s forthcoming second album For Us, due for release on September 19th. Her debut album, Home, was met with widespread acclaim, earning nominations for a Choice Music Prize for both album and song of the year. Lead single, ‘No Forever (feat. MayKay)’, made a remarkable impact across Irish radio with 14 million impressions, peaking at No.2 in the Irish Radio Breakers chart and No.6 in the Viral 50 Ireland Spotify chart.
On the highly anticipated sophomore album, Mai says, “The album is built around a single melody—one that guided me throughout the creative process. Interestingly, it doesn’t even appear in this version of the track, but its presence is felt in the entire record. Writing this music, I wanted to let go of expectations and focus on the journey rather than the outcome. I wrote the majority of the album in Daithí's Aspen Lane Studio in Ballyvaughan. Daithí and I worked closely on the production and mixing, shaping the sound in a way that felt organic and true to the emotion behind the music”
Mai's live performances have taken her across Ireland and internationally, featuring in major festivals like Longitude, Body&Soul, and Electric Picnic, with her shows being praised for their ambient, controlled house vibes. For Us is poised to be a testament to her growing influence and appeal.
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