From the time she was gifted a guitar on her fourth birthday, Mackenzie May knew that music was the path she was meant to follow. Now in her teens, the Queensland native is well on her way towards becoming one of the great rising artists in country music.
The release of her debut single, “Little Things,” last March brought hundreds of thousands of streams, with thousands more spread across its two follow ups, “Old School Kind of Love” and her most recent effort, “I’ll Take It All.”
We chatted with May all about the success of her three singles, winning awards, new music and more!
Pro Country: Your bio mentions drawing influence from great singer/songwriters like Chris Stapleton, Colter Wall and Sierra Ferrell. What is it about those types of artists that struck a chord with you?
Mackenzie May: Their songwriting really struck a chord with me: it’s raw, honest, and tells a story that you can feel. What I love most is that each of them has such a unique sound. When you hear a Chris Stapleton, Colter Wall or Sierra Ferrell song, you instantly know it’s them. They don’t blend in with the rest; they stand out, and they stay true to a more traditional sound that really resonates with me.
PC: When did you realize you wanted to, and actually could, pursue music as a career?
MM: Country music has always been in my blood. My Pop had a family band back in the ’80s and ’90s, and he and my Nan bought me my first guitar for my 4th birthday. From that moment, I knew music was something I wanted to do. Sports took over for a little while, but I found my way back to music around the age of 14. The positive feedback I was getting really encouraged me; it made me believe that maybe I could actually turn this into a career.
PC: What emotions were you feeling as you were preparing to release your debut single, “Little Things,” last March?
MM: I was honestly really nervous. “Little Things” was such a personal song, and I was worried about how people might judge me or if they’d really understand where I was coming from. But co-writing it with Sarah Buckley was an absolute dream; she made the process feel so natural and safe. I was also lucky to have an incredible support team around me, which gave me the confidence to put it out into the world.
PC: “Little Things” has amassed nearly 400,000 streams on Spotify alone. As an artist releasing your debut single, and just out of high school, what was it like to see the life and support the song received?
MM: Being my first single and stepping out as a new artist, I really had nothing to measure it against. I kept asking my team, ‘”Is it doing okay?” and they said, “It’s doing incredible for a debut!” I’m still completely shocked and amazed by how many people connected with the song. It means so much to me. And honestly, I still can’t believe it when I see people in the crowd singing the words back to me; it’s the most surreal and rewarding feeling.
PC: You released your sophomore single, “Old School Kind of Love,” at the end of January. After the success you found with “Little Things,” why did you feel “Old School Kind of Love” was the right follow up?
MM: I felt like “Old School Kind of Love” had a similar softer vibe to “Little Things,” so it made sense as a follow-up. It was also a really personal song, written about something I was going through at the time. I thought it would be a great one to share because it’s honest and relatable; something people could connect with emotionally, just like they did with my first single.
PC: Your newest single, “I’ll Take It All,” was co-written with Keely Sliwka, Charlotte Smith, Kelly Breuer and Katelann Grealy. Can you take us in the room and talk about how the song came together?
MM: Crazily enough, the idea for “I’ll Take It All” actually came from a TikTok I saw. Someone said, “I’m taking the house, he can take the dog,” and I instantly thought, there’s a song in that. I jotted it down in my notes, and a few weeks later, I brought it up during the Song Muster.
The song came together really quickly. It was such a vibe in the room with the girls. I’d known Keely for a few years, so it was awesome to finally write with her. We just talked openly about the feeling of coming out of a toxic relationship and taking your life back. Once we started, everything just flowed and fell into place naturally.
PC: Within a few hours of its release, “I’ll Take It All” landed on several curated playlists on Apple Music and Spotify. How encouraging is it to land on curated playlists and have your song amongst some of the best rising and established talent in the genre?
MM: Being a new artist, I didn’t actually realize how hard it is to land on curated playlists. It’s super competitive. So when “I’ll Take It All” was added to several within just a few hours of release, I was honestly blown away. It’s such an incredible feeling to see your song sitting alongside some of the best rising and established talent in the genre. I’m so thankful to have an amazing support team who help with all the behind-the-scenes work to make things like that happen. It’s really encouraging and makes me feel like I’m on the right path.
PC: In the last two years, you’ve won at the Queensland Music Awards in the youth category, the 2025 ICMA Encouragement Award and the Tamworth Songwriters Association Novice Songwriter of the Year Award. What do awards and recognition like those, especially from amongst your peers in the industry, mean to you at this point in your career?
MM: I’m honestly still in shock. Over the years, I’d entered so many talent quests and competitions; often making the top five but never actually winning, which can definitely be disheartening. So to now be receiving this kind of recognition has been incredible.
Winning the Queensland Music Award was especially special because it wasn’t even in a country category, it was up against so many different genres, which made the win even more surreal. And taking out the Novice Songwriter of the Year at the Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards really blew me away. It was actually the first songwriting competition I’d ever entered, and I wrote that song in my bedroom at home.
These awards have reminded me that I’m on the right path, and to be recognised by others in the industry, especially my peers, means the world to me.
PC: With two singles already released this year, what do you have planned for the rest of 2025?
MM: I’ve got some really exciting plans for the rest of 2025! I’m actually planning a songwriting trip to Nashville. I’m hoping to head over later this year to write, maybe even do some recording while I’m there. And who knows, I’d love to pick up a gig or two while I’m in Town.
Back home in Australia, I’ve got a few festivals and events lined up, and I’m also working towards releasing my debut EP early next year. It’s shaping up to be a really big chapter, and I’m so excited for what’s to come.
PC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
MM: A massive thank you to people like yourself for encouraging emerging artists and giving us a platform to share our music. It means the world to have that kind of support. It really helps us feel seen and heard as we find our way in the industry.
Pro Country 
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