Rising British singer-songwriter May Payne shares heartbreaking new single "The News"

PRAISE FOR MAY PAYNE

"I've not seen a reaction to a new artist like this in a long while." — Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music

"I've never met May Payne, but she has made me cry." — CLASH

"Her oeuvre so far comprises of admissions that feel, through her soulful delivery and cinematic, expansive sonics, as if they're all her saying them out loud for the first time." — DIY

Rising UK singer-songwriter May Payne returns with her devastating new single "The News".

Built around hard-hitting yet immersive instrumentation and her strikingly intimate vocal delivery, "The News" captures the uniquely disorientating moment when heartbreak collides with reality. Equal parts delicate and devastating, the song explores the emotional whiplash of discovering that someone who promised forever has already begun building a future with somebody else.

"When we broke up after two years, my ex said that they would love me forever, that they would be incapable of dating anyone unless it was me again. A few weeks after that, I found out that they were already in a relationship with someone else. I remember immediately after seeing it thinking that I could either go into a complete tailspin or try to write about it, and this song came out in one go as soon as I sat down."

That instinctive approach lies at the heart of May Payne's songwriting. A self-described "chronic over-sharer", she writes with an emotional openness that rarely feels filtered or calculated, instead documenting feelings as they emerge. The result is music that resonates deeply with the community she affectionately calls the "heavy feelers"; listeners who find comfort in vulnerability rather than perfection.

Raised in Dorset, her relationship with music has always been deeply intertwined with her search for belonging. After spending two years away from school because of chronic illness, songwriting became both an emotional outlet and a means of connecting with others. What began as candid online posts and homemade song videos eventually led to studying at Berklee College of Music's summer programme before continuing her musical education at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she developed the collaborative approach that continues to shape her work today.

Influenced equally by the warmth of Big Thief, the emotional intensity of My Chemical Romance, and the timeless songwriting of Bob Dylan, May has carved out a distinctive space where folk intimacy meets emo catharsis. Her songs never shy away from uncomfortable emotions, instead embracing vulnerability as a form of strength.

Surrounded by a thriving creative community in London, alongside artists including Sean Rogan, Luca Firth, Edie Bens, James Józef and Bonnie Kemplay, May continues to build momentum through collaboration, captivating live performances and songs that prioritise emotional truth above everything else.

With "The News", May Payne once again proves that vulnerability can be one of songwriting's greatest strengths. It is an exquisitely honest portrait of heartbreak, offering solidarity to anyone still learning how to let go.

DISCOVER MAY PAYNE

lorraine longAugust 21, 2026