# May-a

Maya Cumming (born 2001), known professionally as May-a (stylised in all caps), is an Australian singer-songwriter from Sydney.
On 2 February 2022, Cumming was featured on the single "Say Nothing", a collaboration with Australian electronic musician and producer Flume.

## Early life

May-a grew up in Sydney, but moved to Byron in 2010. She moved back to Sydney age 13. While living in Byron Bay she competed in songwriting competitions, and performed street busking around the ages of 11 to 14. She started out posting videos on YouTube under the username Heyit'smaya.
Prior to discovering her attraction to women, May-a stated she was in a "super awkward" relationship with a boy that inspired her song "Apricots".

## Career

May-a released her debut single "Fools Paradise" in September 2019. This was followed by "All Girls Aren't the Same", which is a twist of Juice WRLD's "All Girls Are the Same" and is a song about how women should know their worth, everyone is an individual with different quirks."
On 1 May 2020, May-a released her third single, "Green" saying "'Green' is an outlook on the way that validation fuels the way we live, especially in green teens. Young, impressionable and desperate to be accepted by people they don't even like." adding "I wrote it when I was 15 and bored by the hierarchy of high school. It paints a picture of the things that teenagers think are important until they realise they aren't."
In August 2020, May-a toured with Wafia and signed with Sony Music Australia.
Her debut EP, Don't Kiss Ur Friends, was released on 6 August 2021. The EP debuted at number 31 on the ARIA Charts.
In January 2023, May-a released "Sweat You Out My System".
May-a topped Triple J Hottest 100, 2022 with a feature on Australian musician Flume's song "Say Nothing". The song was also featured in the 2022 Netflix show Heartbreak High.
In June 2023, May-a released "Lola" and announced her second EP Analysis Paralysis.

## Discography
### Extended plays

List of EPs, with release date and label shown :
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | EP details | AUS |
| Don't Kiss Ur Friends | Released: 6 August 2021 Label: Arcadia, Sony Music Australia Formats: LP, cassette, digital download, streaming | 31 |
| Analysis Paralysis | Released: 1 September 2023 Label: Arcadia, Sony Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming | 70 |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

List of singles, with year released and album name shown :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | NZ Hot | Album |
| "Fool's Paradise" | 2019 | — | Non-album singles |
| "All Girls Aren't the Same" | 2019 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Green" | 2020 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Apricots" | 2020 | — | Don't Kiss Ur Friends |
| "Time I Love to Waste" | 2021 | — | Don't Kiss Ur Friends |
| "Swing of Things" | 2021 | — | Don't Kiss Ur Friends |
| "Central Station" | 2021 | — | Don't Kiss Ur Friends |
| "Talk" (with Budjerah) | 2021 | — | TBA |
| "Junk Truck Head Fuck" (with DMA's) | 2021 | — | I Love You Unconditionally, Sure Am Going to Miss You |
| "Sweat You Out My System" | 2023 | 38 | Analysis Paralysis |
| "Your Funeral" | 2023 | — | Analysis Paralysis |
| "Lola" | 2023 | — | Analysis Paralysis |
| "Something Familiar" | 2023 | — | Analysis Paralysis |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. ||||

#### As featured artist

List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions, and album name shown :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | AUS | NZ Hot | US Dance | Certifications | Album |
| "Say Nothing" (Flume featuring May-a) | 2022 | 16 | 5 | 12 | ARIA: 2× Platinum RMNZ: Gold | Palaces |

## Awards and nominations
### AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2023 | "Say Nothing" (with Flume) | Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Nominated | |

### APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2023 | "Say Nothing" (Flume featuring May-a) | Song of the Year | Won | [36] [37] [38] |
| 2023 | "Say Nothing" (Flume featuring May-a) | Most Performed Dance/ Electronic Work of the Year | Nominated | [36] [37] [38] |
| 2024 | May-a (Maya Cumming) | Emerging Songwriter of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2024 | "Sweat You Out My System" by May-a (Maya Cumming p.k.a. May-a, Robby De Sá) | Most Performed Alternative Work | Nominated | |

### ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual ceremony presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2021 | Don't Kiss Ur Friends | Breakthrough Artist | Nominated |
| 2022 | "Say Nothing" (Flume featuring May-a) | Best Pop Release | Nominated |
| 2022 | "Say Nothing" (Flume featuring May-a) | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | "Say Nothing" (Flume featuring May-a) | Best Video | Nominated |
| 2023 | Murli Dhir for May-a – "Lola" | Best Video | Nominated |

### J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2022 | "Say Nothing" by Flume featuring Maya (directed by Michael Hili) | Australian Video of the Year | Nominated | |

### Rolling Stone Australia Awards

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2022 | May-a | Best New Artist | Won | |

### Vanda and Young Global Songwriting competition

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2021 | "Time I Love to Waste" | Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition | 3rd | |