Bonn E Maiy
Feed the Band
Feed the Band
Bonn E Maiy
Patrick L.
I have interviewed a plethora of music artists over the past two and a half years. They all are diamonds. No two are the same, but they all have a sparkle to them. Given my obstacles over the past five years, I had a fear of what would happen if I stepped into the light. After a lot of kicking and screaming, the family we now call Southern fellow has pulled me from the dark cave I was living in and proved to me I still had plenty of shine left. Bonn E Maiy is one of those music artists, and she is the latest member to join the Southern Fellow Family.
The thing about finding your shine is things reflect back. Those scrapes, nicks, and tarnished areas become easier to spot. Bonn E Maiy and I had a conversation about how our imperfections shaped who we are today. Usually, an artist has a script for such a discussion to avoid saying something embarrassing. Bonn E Maiy was a hell of a lot more frank than any other artist I have interviewed before her. We spoke about addiction, setbacks, and how the paths we are on change. That forward momentum sometimes requires circling back. Our hour conversation made me look at my reflection differently.
Diamonds are easy to label. If you ever looked at buying one, you know that cut, clarity, and color are what sets each stone apart. When it comes to Bonn E Maiy, the lines of music genres get blurred. She is distinctly country, rock, blues, or soul in some songs. However, for most of her music, she is all of these in a single song. “Echoes”, her latest single from her album “Demands and Desires,” is a perfect example of how Bonn E Maiy blends genres. It’s hard as a writer not to put Bonn E Maiy in a tidy box. It makes for an easier sell, but I encourage you to become part of her journey. Check out her music and form your own opinion. All I can tell you is that Bonn E Maiy has me looking forward to what is next.
Bonn E Maiy "Echoes' Music Video
Let’s get to the interview! Bonn E Maiy is doing big things, and we wanted to celebrate that. She mentioned steaks during our conversation, so we went with the largest tomahawk ribeyes we could find. While you are reading the interview, be on the lookout for the Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak with Salsa Verde recipe she inspired and the giveaway at the end. Here is our interview with Bonn E Maiy!
Tell us about your road to country music.
I grew up listening to Country music because that’s what my Mom loved & always had playing in the house. I remember Garth Brooks’ “Thunder Rolls”, my Dad and I cruisin’ to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn… Lotsa of Reba & Dolly. Also, “Achy Breaky Heart” was a big one 🙂 I was a theater kid, so I would imagine performing those songs in front of thousands of fans.
On the other hand, my dad would listen to a lot of Classic Rock, so Eagles, Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac, etc., were also always playing. Many of my current music tastes and what I like to perform & write were influenced by those times.
If you could time travel, what advice would you give the Bonn E Maiy of two years ago?
You never know how much time you have, so appreciate and take advantage of every single moment with the people around you – as much you can.
What takes up too much of your time?
Honestly, there’s not enough time in the day to do everything I want to do!
If you came with a warning label, what would yours say?
Classy, sassy, and a little smart-assy. 😉
We are constantly developing recipes here at Southern Fellow; when writing music, what recipe do you use?
1/2 cup of Bonn E Maiy
1/2 cup of Sean Sloan (my co-writer & Producer)
2 tablespoons of human emotion
1 heaping spoonful of melody
0.5 lb rhythm
A splash of harmonies
Mix it all up, bake in the oven until golden brown. Baking times may vary.
Connect with Bonn E Maiy
What fuels your creative process?
I always hear people say, “they just don’t make music like they used to”. We study some of the greatest artists of our era and try to find what ignited their magic. Their inspirations, their sounds, the lyrics, the equipment they used, etc. Often, we’ll go into the studio with just a lyrical phrase or a riff that Sean or I come up with, and we see where the vibe takes us. It’s a lot of fun to see the beginning of an idea and then compare it to the end.
What is your first fond memory of food?
My Grandpa drove semi-trucks his whole life; I remember driving down from Canada to Georgia with him when I was a kid. We were literally in the middle of nowhere in Georgia, and at a 4-way stop sign, there was this little old saloon-looking place – it turns out it was a diner. We went in and were greeted by one of the friendliest people I’d ever met – she went by “Mammy”. We had supper, and it was southern cooking at it’s very finest.. I remember having fried chicken and the absolute best cornbread I’ve ever had – to this day. I felt bad because Mammy was sad to see us leave, but it was my first experience with southern food, and having my Grandpa there – really made it one of my favorite memories of food.
Many young women may not feel they fit a particular mold when they dream of being a music artist. What advice do you have for these women?
Create your own mold. Be brave, be bold, follow what inspires you – and if you genuinely believe in what you do, it will be contagious.
Tell us about your latest album, “Demands and Desires”.
When making this album, we constantly battled creating songs to satisfy the demands of the mainstream – while remaining true to the desires of the daydream. Basically, the always-present struggle of doing what you have to do – versus what you really love to do, that’s why we named it Demands & Desires. I’m so proud of this album and its 16 songs of emotion, perseverance, and hope. And the way that people have reacted to the music is really touching. Every week, I receive comments from people who have lost a loved one, are struggling to pay the bills, or have a tough time isolated from family & friends – and they tell me my music and interaction are what’s keeping them going. I try to bring a little LOVE & LIGHT with my music, and simply overall – so if you’re reading this and feeling down, stop by my Facebook or Instagram and say hello. If nothing else, we both can make a new friend!
If the world froze for an afternoon and only you could move, and no one could see you or remember what you did, what would you do?
I’d probably just stay home and chill…
What do the next two years look like for you?
I have two new albums almost completely done – that’s what quarantine will do for a musician! We have a bunch of tour dates in front of us, just kind of waiting to see how the country will open up, and I might even bust out the ole acting chops.. you might catch me on the big screen very soon! 😁
Try this inspired recipe!
What’s the hardest mistake you had to learn from, and what knowledge did you gain from it?
Peer pressure is a hell of a drug. Years ago, I battled addiction; a lot of it stemmed from wanting to fit in. I learned that having self-respect and self-confidence is one of the most important gifts you can give yourself. My song “Hands on the Wheel” goes deeper into that topic; you can find it on Spotify / iTunes, etc. We filmed a music video for that song in a VERY cool place called “Old Car City” in Georgia. I can’t wait for you guys to see it!
If you could write with anyone living or who has passed on, who would that person be?
Dolly Parton has always been my favorite storyteller… I love Joni Mitchell for painting poetic pictures. John Prine has written some of my favorite songs.. those are 3 off the top of my head.
What mystery do you wish you knew the answer to?
It’s always interesting to think about what’s going on beyond our planet. It’s my spin on Reba’s classic, ‘Is there life out there?’
Is there anything else you want your family at Southern Fellow to know?
You can get in touch via any of the links below. I post new videos every week, and I love interacting with my online family – so make sure you stop by and comment.
Much love and many thanks to Patrick and the Southern Fellow family- appreciate all of the support!
That is Bonn E Maiy. If you get a chance, please welcome her to the Southern Fellow Family. Her songs are very diverse, so do yourself a favor and add them all to your favorite playlist. You can find Bonn E Maiy on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and YouTube. She has plenty of songs to listen to while you try that Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak with Salsa Verde recipe she inspired, and enter our giveaway below.
Thank you for tuning in here at Feed the Band. We have some hot new music and delicious recipes on the way right here at Southern Fellow
