May Payne grew up in rural Dorset on a steady diet of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. At 15, she developed a cult following online among fellow queer emo teens, drawn to her outspoken personality and deep-rooted obsession with music. Now based in London, she continues to be guided by radical vulnerability, channeling her innermost thoughts into raw, emotion-led alt-folk ballads. She released her latest EP, High Demand, in November 2024, and marked the occasion with a special performance at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by choir and orchestra.