I had one year of weekly guitar lessons before we moved to the Isle of Man in 2005. The music teachers we approached were reluctant to take me on due to my young age, so I carried on learning with mum's help at home.
When I was nine a friend gave us an old piano for free and we found a wonderful teacher in Laxey called Mrs Ruth Soloman. That was when my musical understanding really began and I'm so proud that last year I passed my grade 5 (ABRSM) classical piano exam!
More recently I learnt to play drums too and I'm the drummer in a Soundcheck band called "Naked!" It's heavier stuff but I love it!
I performed at as many gigs as I could last year and busked the length of Strand Street! Winning Junior Achievement's "The Next Big Thing" competition at the Gaiety Theatre was a dream start to 2014. I performed one of my own songs called "All About Me" and followed this up by opening "J-Fest" in the Royal Hall of the Villa Marina, supporting Lucy Spraggan! I just love her song "Tea & Toast"!
I've just finished recording my first album entitled "RELEASED". It's a five track EP which has been professionally recorded on island at Manx Sound Studio, including an acoustic track recorded at Dam studios. It can be purchased now for £5 a copy. It was a truly brilliant experience in which I got to do vocals, guitar and keyboards. Pretty tiring at times but so satisfying to hear it all come together.
I've had really positive feedback about the CD and if you'd like to support me see my facebook page (Mae Challis) for further information on how and where to buy a copy.
I'd really like to thank everyone who's made this all happen for me: My producers Mark Brabbs and Mark Cleator, Dave Armstrong, and Mum, Dad and my bro Beau for putting up with the considerable volume of the constant live jamming at home. Thanks everyone!
Catch Mae and other local bands (including Little Miss Dynamite) performing as part of the 2014 TT Festival in the Villa Marina Gardens between 5.30pm - 9.30pm on Thursday 5th June. Entry is free. To find out more about Mae see her Facebook page.
