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Imelda May: The nine songs that changed my life
Imelda May says blues and traditional Irish music shaped her as a singer and songwriter. She traces that influence to Dublin jam sessions she attended as a teenager, where she learned how performance depends on emotion, dynamics and the chemistry between musicians.
May describes discovering artists by buying records from trusted labels, and explains how their music influenced her own work. She praises Howlin’ Wolf’s singing and the musicianship on his records, and highlights Wynona Carr as an accomplished singer, songwriter and businesswoman whose influence and achievements deserved greater recognition.
In short
- Dublin blues sessions helped shape May’s singing.
- Howlin’ Wolf’s music remains a major influence.
- May says Wynona Carr deserved wider recognition.
Explained simply
Imelda May is an Irish singer and songwriter from Dublin, known for music that draws on blues and traditional Irish sounds. Blues grew from African American musical traditions and often centres on expressive singing and instrumental interplay; Irish traditional music has its own long history of songs and dance tunes.
As a teenager, May went to jam sessions in Dublin, where musicians play together informally. These experiences helped shape her approach to performing and writing songs, including the importance she places on emotion and the way musicians respond to one another.
Howlin’ Wolf was an influential American blues singer, while Wynona Carr was an American singer, songwriter and businesswoman. May’s interest in their recordings reflects the lasting influence of earlier musicians and the attention now given to artists whose work has received less recognition.