Her trademark blond curl and hypnotic voice are only captivating her growing audience and rocketing her to number 1 on the charts.
Ireland's Imelda May, who recently had a performance on the Jay Leno show, will be one of the performers fusing country, rockabilly, post-punk, blues, traditional Irish and a bit of jazz at the 12th annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival on Aug. 13.
"It's great, I'm really looking forward to it," said May, in a phone interview from Philadelphia, about her upcoming show in Burnaby. "I've just got to figure out how to fit all my new clothes in my suitcase."
The Irish singer also just found out she is climbing the U.S. charts.
"It's achieving things on its own," May explained about her music. "I work hard."
May performed in Vancouver just last year and is looking forward to all the Lower Mainland has to offer.
"I've been touring around the world following the release of Mayhem to France, Germany, Australia, everywhere," she said. "I'm doing it the old-fashioned way."
Last year was a busy time for her especially, with the release of her now-gold album Mayhem with Decca Records; she performed at the Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck and toured across the U.S. with him.
Her first album, Love Tattoo, went triple platinum in Ireland.
"I don't have a giant plan of taking over the world," May said. "It's not why I'm doing it. This is what I do, and if it wasn't going well I'd still do it."
She also won Best Breakthrough Artist at the Classic Rock Awards.
"I'm hoping to take a break in September," May noted. "My husband and I bought our first home in England . then I got to get back and do a few tours in the U.S. Then I hope to write another album."
"Then it starts all over again." This year has been just as hectic, with Mayhem continually climbing charts, appearances on primetime TV shows and completing a headline tour in the U.K.
"I have a great fan base," May said. "I have a good audience back home. It's a good, eclectic mix of people."
The Irish beauty, inspired by 1950s style and classical rock and blues music, is anticipating an excellent show in Burnaby.
"People connect with it because I connect with it," she said. "You can promote and advertise all you like, but I'm a big believer that if people don't like your music, they're not going to come and see you."
As far as what the audience can expect, May said:
"A good night, I hope. I love gigs. I'll be doing songs released on Mayhem and Love Tattoo. I'll throw in a few covers that are my favourite and I love."
May dived into setting up her own band only five years ago, with the help of her English husband and guitarist, Darrel Highman.
The Irish star was 16 years old when she began performing in clubs and was occasionally barred from her own show for being underage.
"It's what I do," she said. "It's what I've done for 21 years, and I've been writing songs since I was 14. It wasn't very good then, I hope it's gotten better."
May was born in Dublin and is the youngest of five children. She was heavily influenced by her older siblings' musical preferences, especially Elvis.
"My brother was a mad Elvis fan, and I found a tape in his room with Elvis, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent," May said on her website, www.imeldamay.com. "I thought the music was fantastic."
Although May contends that her huge fusion of musical influences shouldn't work, it does somehow and is as modern as she hoped it would be.
"I put my whole heart and soul in this," May noted about her unique sound. "I wouldn't bend or compromise, I stuck to my guns, and it's gone very well. Audiences are very perceptive. I hope that doesn't sound conceited."
The Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival is on Saturday, Aug. 13. See the website at www.burnabybluesfestival.com.
