New single and music video from Nashville-based and award-winning singer-songwriter and activist, Heather Mae
The songwriter is finally telling her coming out story. It's a narrative shared by many queer individuals, especially those from southern, conservative, or religious backgrounds. Mae remembers her first kiss, her first love, her first heartbreak—each with a girl. She confides, “growing up in church and the evangelical movement, the only representation of LGBTQ+ people that I was familiar with were the kids who got kicked out for being queer. Even though my first crush was on a girl, I hid the truth of what that meant to protect myself from losing my entire community. This is why visibility is profoundly important to me.”
Positioned on the cusp of unveiling her upcoming post-pandemic double record, Mae embarked on a mission to address the stark gender disparity for music producers—a mere 4% representation by women. In 2023, Heather Mae rallied a dynamic collective of women and non-binary talents in Nashville, assembling luminaries like producer ZDAN and Lollies, alongside guest artists such as Grammy award-winning musician Allison Russell and the extraordinary duo Sistastrings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGPRvZM8bzk
https://open.spotify.com/track/3CHcAEq21TmDmNOWOoTld5?si=7d0e34bed7da4a31
Heather Mae, the acclaimed social justice singer-songwriter, fearlessly bares her soul in her music, creating an intimate space of shared vulnerability for her listeners. Her unbridled honesty, both on and off stage, has cultivated a devoted fanbase and garnered recognition, including accolades like the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Artist-Activist of the Year award.
The songwriter is finally telling her coming out story. It's a narrative shared by many queer individuals, especially those from southern, conservative, or religious backgrounds. Mae remembers her first kiss, her first love, her first heartbreak—each with a girl. Despite her truth, Mae didn’t come out to the world, or herself, until she was 25 years old. Now based in Nashville, TN, far from her hometown outside DC, Mae channels her experience into her vibrant new single, 'Kissing Girls,' by asking, "Why didn’t I know I was queer until I grew up?" 'Kissing Girls' celebrates not only queer joy but also pays a heartfelt tribute to the transgender community—highlighting the journey of transitioning and the steadfast love of supportive partners.
"A bisexual love song for people who have loved or been loved by someone who was transgender. We deserve to hear our love songs on the radio, too."
Co-produced by Mae and the renowned Lollies (Timbaland, Hayley Williams), 'Kissing Girls' features the electric talents of Nashville guitar witch Marshall Biever, mixing skills by artist-engineer Liv Lombardi, and mastering by the distinguished Piper Payne. With its blend of nostalgic and modern pop sounds, 'Kissing Girls' is the Pop sonic representation of queer liberation.
And while it is sure to be a must-add on every 2024 Pride playlist, 'Kissing Girls' is part of a groundbreaking dual album release scheduled for 2025 (Mae’s other record explores her Indie-Alternative side). Both projects are a triumphant declaration of Mae’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, created entirely by two teams of women and nonbinary folks—comprising mostly LGBTQ+ individuals based in Nashville. Both records funded by a passionate and supportive fan base through a successful $52,000 Kickstarter campaign, 'Kissing Girls' is the second single release off her upcoming Pop album and a beautiful synopsis of what is to come from Mae: resistance in the form of big, loud queer joy.
https://www.instagram.com/heathermaemusic
