Perth artist Abbe May is a true blues rocker who plays with a fire that is reminiscent of the likes of Adalita and PJ Harvey. The AU review's Kat Mahina had a chat with Abbe to find out what it's all about.

Tell me a bit about your musical background?

I come from a family that isn’t particularly musical. On the Irish side I think there were a few musicians. My brother was a musical, I learnt guitar when he was. I joined his band when I was 17 and then over time I started doing my own thing.

Have you had formal vocal training?

No not really. I think I had a few lessons when I was 15, they ended up being free as we never actually paid for them. The woman who was teaching disappeared and we couldn’t contact her to pay her for the lessons. That’s the closest I’ve come to formal training. I’ve always been singing. When I was a kid I would sing around the house to whatever I was doing.

What inspired the sounds on Design Desire?

There were lots of things. Design Desire it really different to the last record. I’ve been playing with a few different musicians and that always inspires a different sound. I’ve been listening to different music, and reading different books and watching different movies than I was with the last record. My taste in music ranges from Led Zeppelin to really old school early blues recording. I’m a Little Richard fan. Recently I’ve been getting into Caribou and bands like that. I really like pop as well and am not ashamed to admit it. Time has had an effect as well.

What was the writing and recording process like?

It took about a year to record it and to write it. Some songs were ready prior to beginning the recording. I took a long time with this album, the norm for me is a couple of weeks. Design Desire is more precise with tones and the structure of the songs and has a different sound to the first two records. I’m glad I’m nearly at the end of it.

Have you done much touring?

I’ve done quite a bit. In the last 10 years or so I’ve been around the country seven times, with my brother’s band as well as with my solo work. I’ve been to Montreal and New York and London.

What do you enjoy most about the live shows?

I love playing live it’s a bit wild. You can’t control it live you can to the same extent in the studio. I like the element of improv it can be quite challenging to pull it all together. I like being able to interact with the crowd and seeing how they respond. It’s like a voyueristic pleasure for me. It’s a challenge to keep everything together and flowing but it’s fantastic at the same time.

A lot of bands tend to relocate from Perth to Sydney or Melbourne when attempting to make it big - are you planning on staying in Perth?

Yeah I love Perth. The environment here is just incredible. I probably will end up moving further on down the line for a change of environment but I definitely wouldn’t move just to further career type things.The beautiful blue skies and beaches here are amazing.

What’s the local live scene like?

It’s incredible. We’ve got some huge bands and cool little bands here. I was out last night and got talking to some drunk guy who said there was nothing of cultural importance in Perth. We were debating about that, not that he really cared as he was too intoxicated. Because it’s small it’s very friendly and we all know each other. There’s a positive competitive energy.

Future plans for Abbe May?

I’m going to release this album and then it’ll be touring. Am really looking forward to playing the new record live. I’m going to spend some time in New York. I’m planning to write and record the next album and try not to drink to much. It’s an admirable goal, but never a realistic aspiration.

What’s the best live band you’ve seen lately?

There’s a group here called Hootenanny that I enjoy. They’re powerful live. Their music is a cross between Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and White Stripes. They’re great girls. They wear these head dresses and go off with a dirty blues rock and punk sound.

The last record you brought?

It would’ve been something I got on itunes. I think a Bryan Ferry record. I like Roxy Music.

Design Desire will be released July 8th through Source Music/MGM