# May'n

Mei Nakabayashi (中林 芽依, Nakabayashi Mei, born October 21, 1989), better known by her stage name May'n (メイン, Mein), is a Japanese singer from Nagoya. Aspiring to become a singer since childhood, she began her music activities in 2003 upon passing an audition held by talent agency Horipro International. She made her major debut in 2005 under the Universal Music label with the release of her first single "Crazy Crazy Crazy". She would release two more singles under Universal Music, before transferring to Victor Entertainment in 2008. That same year, she had her break as the singing voice of the character Sheryl Nome in the anime series Macross Frontier.
May'n's musical style varies in genre, ranging from pop and rock, to dance music and R&B. Her music has been featured in anime series such as Macross Frontier, Aria the Scarlet Ammo, Accel World, Aquarion Logos, and Restaurant to Another World. She has also performed at several music events in Japan, Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2013, she represented Japan at the ABU TV Song Festival in Vietnam.

## Early life and childhood

Nakabayashi was born in Nagoya on October 21, 1989. She had become interested in music at an early age, and had been singing at least since she was three years old. She had also had an interest in anime series such as Sailor Moon since her childhood, particularly after an occurrence where she heard the series' theme "Moonlight Densetsu" at a karaoke bar. In 2003, at the age of 13, she participated in the 28th "HoriPro – Talent Scout Caravan – Love Music – Audition" (ホリプロ・タレントスカウトキャラバン・ラブミュージック・オーディション., Horipuro・Tarento Sukauto Kyaraban・Rabu Myūjikku・Ōdishon) and out of the 34,911 hopefuls, became one of the four who survived the final eliminations.

## Career

Nakabayashi debuted under the Universal Music Japan label with the release of her first single "Crazy Crazy Crazy" on April 27, 2005; the single was later re-released on June 1 of that year with an additional track. This was followed by the release of the digital single "Happy" in December of that year. Her second single, "Sympathy", was released on August 3, 2005. She then released her third single "Fallin' in or Not" on September 27, 2006, the title track of which was used as the ending theme for the anime series Love Get Chu.
Nakabayashi transferred to Victor Entertainment in 2008 and began using the stage name May'n. That same year, she gained popularity after being cast as the singing voice of the character Sheryl Nome in the anime television series Macross Frontier. She later released two singles for the series, "Diamond Crevasse / Iteza Gogo Kuji Don't be late" (ダイアモンド クレバス/射手座☆午後九時Don’t be late) and "Lion", with each placing in the Top 3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart in their debut week. She was invited to perform "Iteza Gogo Kuji Don't be late" and "Northern Cross" at Animelo Summer Live 2008. She then gave her first live performance outside Japan in Singapore at Anime Festival Asia in November of that year. She has since become a regular guest at this event as well, also appearing at its iterations in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
In January 2009, May'n released the mini-album May'n Street, which reached number 2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart in its first week. She then released the single "Kimi Shinitamō Koto Nakare" (キミシニタモウコトナカレ, Thou Shalt Not Die) on May 6, 2009; the title track is used as the opening theme to the anime series Shangri-La. Her first full album Styles was released in November 2009; the album reached number 7 on the Oricon Weekly charts. In January 2010, she performed her first solo Nippon Budokan concert, which sold out in only one day. In March of the same year, she held her first tour of Asia, with concerts in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. This was followed in July by a 17-city summer tour of Japan. She released her second album Cosmic Cuune in November 2010 as her character Sheryl Nome. In late 2010, she was chosen to record the theme song for the film Incite Mill -7 Day Death Game-. In February 2011, she released her 3D live documentary movie May'n The Movie: Phonic Nation, and later that month released her third album If you..., which made number 7 on the Oricon Weekly Chart. In March of that year, she held her second solo Budokan concert. She then made an appearance at Japan Expo in Paris. She also sang the song "Mr. Super Future Star", which was used as the theme song for the Capcom game E.X. Troopers.
In 2011 and 2012, May'n collaborated with music artist Daisuke Asakura for the singles "Scarlet Ballet", which was used as the opening theme to the anime series Aria the Scarlet Ammo, and "Chase the world", which was used as the opening theme to the anime series Accel World. She released her fourth album Heat on March 21, 2012. She represented Japan in October 2013 at the ABU TV Song Festival 2013 in Hanoi, Vietnam with her single "Vivid". She was scheduled to make an appearance at Animax Carnival Philippines in December 2013, but the event was cancelled as a result of the effects of Typhoon Haiyan.
In 2014, May'n released her fifth album New World. She then returned to the United States with a solo concert in San Francisco and a performance at Union Square for J-Pop Summit Festival 2014.
May'n performed "Yamaidare darlin'", which was used as the first opening theme to the 2015 anime television series Aquarion Logos, and later performed the songs "Yoake no Logos", which was used as the second opening theme to Aquarion Logos, and the series' second ending theme "Hontō no Koe wo Anata ni Azuketakute", which was performed with Haruka Chisuga. She released her fifth album Powers of Voice on September 7, 2015. She would also make an appearance at Animax Carnival Malaysia in March of that year. In 2016, she performed the song "Belief", which was used as the opening theme to the anime television series Taboo Tattoo. She performed the song "Hikari Aru Basho e", which is used as the ending theme to the 2016 anime television series Izetta: The Last Witch. She also appeared at Animax Carnival Philippines in October of that year.
In 2017, May'n collaborated with idol unit Wake Up, Girls! in performing the song "One in a Billion", which was used as the opening theme to the anime television series Restaurant to Another World. She made an appearance at Illinois' Anime Central event in May, and she also appeared at Anime Festival Asia Indonesia in August as a replacement for singer Ami Wajima, who had cancelled her appearance for health reasons. She released her sixth album Peace of Smile on October 30, 2017. She returned to Singapore in March 2018 for the anime event Anime Garden, and she appeared at the Anisong World Matsuri event in Los Angeles in July of that year. In September 2018, May'n and Megumi Nakajima, who played the role of Ranka Lee in Macross Frontier, released the single "Good job!"; it was their first Macross-related single in seven years. She released an album titled Yell!! and a single titled "Kiba to Tsubasa" (牙と翼) on July 31, 2019, which was used as the ending theme to the anime series Kochoki: Wakaki Nobunaga. She appeared at Cosplay Mania in the Philippines in September 2019.
In 2022, May'n became a part of the mixed-media project D4DJ, voicing the role of Neo of the in-universe group Abyssmare.

## Musical style and influences

May'n's musical style varies in genre, ranging from pop and rock, to dance music and R&B, and she cites artists such as Britney Spears, Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Namie Amuro as her musical influences. She also cites her relationship with composer Yoko Kanno as a major factor in her career.
In interviews with Anime News Network, May'n discussed her performance style and her experiences working with composers such as Kanno and Daisuke Asakura. She stated that her initial preferred genres were R&B and dance music, but collaborating with Kanno made her realize that her voice fit rock songs more. Whenever she performs theme songs for anime, she would try to "feel each character's heart." Since she had been cast as the singing voice of the character Sheryl Nome, she had a desire to "become" the character, although Kanno would give her advice that she should stop acting too much like Sheryl and instead be herself. As for her involvement with Asakura, she stated that she admired Asakura's work and that collaborating with him allowed her to explore new music styles that she had not attempted before. May'n also explained the reason for her stage name. She stated that she began using the name "May'n" when she started performing songs for anime series, and that the name was a play on the English word "main", as she wanted her songs to be seen as "main themes" to her audiences, and for her fans to consider her their "main singer".
May'n discussed the production of her song "You", used as the opening theme to the anime series The Ancient Magus' Bride, in a February 2018 interview with DaVinci News. She said that the song was meant to represent the relationship between the series' characters Chise and Elias, and in particular Elias' representation as a dark and sad character. She notes that, as the single was released during her 10th anniversary, she wanted to challenge herself to "get better" in singing, and to improve her weaknesses.

## Discography
### Albums

| Released as | Year | Title | Oricon chart position | Oricon chart position | Oricon chart position | Ref. |
| Released as | Year | Title | Daily/weekly peak | Weeks | Sales | Ref. |
| May'n | 2009 | Styles Label: Victor Entertainment (VTZL-11; VTCL-60190) Released: November 25, 2009 | 3/7 | 10 | 36,611 | |
| Sheryl Nome starring May'n | 2010 | Cosmic Cuune Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-60230) Released: November 24, 2010 | 5/6 | 10 | 49,663 | |
| May'n | 2011 | If You... Label: Victor Entertainment Released: February 23, 2011 | 7/7 | 8 | 28,493 | |
| May'n | 2012 | Heat Label: Victor Entertainment Released: March 21, 2012 | 5/9 | 9 | 19,525 | |
| May'n | 2014 | New World Label: Victor Entertainment Released: January 29, 2014 | 6/9 | 6 | 15,334 | |
| May'n | 2017 | Peace of Smile Label: Victor Entertainment Released: October 18, 2017 | ?/13 | 4 | ? | |
| May'n | 2019 | Yell!! Label: Victor Entertainment Released: July 31, 2019 | 24 | TBA | TBA | |
| May'n | 2024 | Prismverse Label: Victor Entertainment Released: February, 14, 2024 | | | | |

### EPs

| Released as | Year | Title | Oricon charting position | Oricon charting position | Oricon charting position | Ref. |
| Released as | Year | Title | Peak | Weeks | Sales | Ref. |
| May'n | 2009 | May'n Street (メイン☆ストリート, Mein Sutorīto) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-60090) Released: January 21, 2009 | 2/2 | 9 | 37,503 | |
| Sheryl Nome starring May'n | 2009 | Universal Bunny (ユニバーサル・バニー, Yunibāsaru Banī) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-60177) Released: November 25, 2009 | 2/3 | 16 | 101,599 | |

### Singles

| Released as | Year | Title | Oricon chart position | Oricon chart position | Oricon chart position | Album | Theme song featured in | Ref. |
| Released as | Year | Title | Daily/weekly peak | Weeks | Sales | Album | Theme song featured in | Ref. |
| May Nakabayashi | 2005 | "Crazy Crazy Crazy" Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCI-5012) Released: April 27, 2005; June 1, 2005 (re-release) | — | — | — | | | |
| May Nakabayashi | 2005 | "Sympathy" Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCI-5018) Released: August 3, 2005 | — | — | — | — | | |
| May Nakabayashi | 2006 | "Fallin' in or Not" feat. SEAMO Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCI-5039) Released: September 27, 2006 | 159 | 1 | 544 | | Love Get Chu: Miracle Voice Actress Hakusho | |
| Sheryl Nome starring May'n | 2008 | "Diamond Crevasse / Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late" (ダイアモンド クレバス / 射手座☆午後九時Don't be late, Daiamondo Kurebasu/Iteza Gogo Kuji Donto Bī Reito) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35025) Released: May 8, 2008 | 2/2 | 27 | 108,504 | — | Macross Frontier | |
| Sheryl Nome starring May'n | 2008 | "Lion" (ライオン, Raion) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35033) Released: August 20, 2008 | 2/3 | 19 | 123,900 | May'n Street | Macross Frontier | |
| May'n | 2009 | "Kimi Shinitamō Koto Nakare" (キミシニタモウコトナカレ, Thou Shalt Not Die) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35070) Released: May 6, 2009 | 5/10 | 14 | 20,671 | Styles | Shangri-La | |
| Sheryl Nome starring May'n | 2009 | "Pink Monsoon" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35088) Released: October 21, 2009 | 2/5 | 9 | 38,703 | Universal Bunny | Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime | |
| May'n | 2010 | "Ready Go!" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35093 ) Released: July 28, 2010 | 11/21 | 8 | 13,292 | If You... | Ōkami-san to Shichinin no Nakamatachi | |
| May'n | 2010 | "Shinjitemiru" (シンジテミル, See the Truth) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35101) Released: October 13, 2010 | 12/14 | 4 | 8,513 | If You... | Injitemiru 7-nichikan no Death Game | |
| May'n | 2011 | "Scarlet Ballet" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35106) Released: May 11, 2011 | 9/11 | 10 | 24,435 | Heat | Aria the Scarlet Ammo | |
| May'n | 2011 | "Brain Diver" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35116) Released: November 2, 2011 | 16/18 | 6 | 8,320 | Heat | Phi Brain: Puzzle of God | |
| May'n | 2012 | "Chase the world" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35135) Released: May 9, 2012 | 5/7 | 13 | 33,556 | — | Accel World | |
| May'n | 2013 | "Run Real Run" w/ "アウトサイダー" (Outsider) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35150) Released: May 8, 2013 | 10/20 | 3 | 4,825 | — | Real Onigokko The Origin / Onimusha Soul | |
| May'n | 2013 | "Vivid" w/ "ワイルドローズ" (Wild Rose) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-35155) Release Date: July 24, 2013 | 15/19 | 5 | 7,876 | — | Blood Lad/Ikenie no Dilemma | |
| May'n | 2014 | "Kyo ni Koiro" (今日に恋色, Today in Color of Love) Label: Victor Entertainment (VTCL-VTCL-35170) Released: January 29, 2014 | — | — | — | — | Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha | |
| May'n | 2014 | "Re:REMEMBER" w/ "誰がために" Label: Victor Entertainment (VTZL-81) Release Date: June 18, 2014 | — | — | — | — | M3: Sono Kuroki Hagane | |
| May'n | 2017 | "Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokorozuyosa to" Release Date: May 31, 2017 | — | — | — | — | Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers | |
| May'n | 2018 | "You" Release date: February 7, 2018 | — | — | — | — | The Ancient Magus' Bride | |
| May'n | 2019 | "Kiba to Tsubasa" (牙と翼, Fangs and Wings) Release date: July 31, 2019 | 30 | 2 | — | — | Kochoki: Wakaki Nobunaga | |
| May'n | 2019 | "Graphite/Diamond" Release date: November 20, 2019 | 18 | 8 | — | — | Azur Lane (Anime) | |

### Digital singles

| Year | Title | Theme song featured in |
| 2005 | "Happy" Released: December 11, 2005 | |
| 2007 | "Ame ni Saku Hana" (雨に咲く花, Blooming Flowers in the Rain) Released: January 31, 2007 | |
| 2009 | "My Teens, My Tears" Released: October 21, 2009 | |
| 2009 | "Grand Piano" Released: November 25, 2009 | |
| 2010 | "Ai wa Furu Hoshi no Gotoku" (愛は降る星のごとく, Love Is Like Falling Stars) Released: May 12, 2010 | Saikyou Bushouden: Sangoku Engi |
| 2012 | "Aozora" (アオゾラ, Blue sky) Released: October 11, 2012 | Btooom! |
| 2012 | "Mr. Super Future Star" Released: November 22, 2012 | E.X. Troopers |

### DVDs and Blu-ray disks

| Title | Date | Type | Label/distributor | Catalog no. | Note |
| May'n Act | March 25, 2009 | DVD concert | Victor Entertainment | VTBL-3 | May'n's concert at Akasaka Blitz on January 19, 2009, is recorded here. |
| May'n Special Concert BD Big Waaaaave!! in Nippon Budokan | May 26, 2010 | Blu-ray concert | Victor Entertainment | VTXL-1 | May'n's concert at Nippon Budokan on January 24, 2010, is recorded here. |
| May’n Special Concert DVD Big Waaaaave!! in Nippon Budokan | May 26, 2010 | DVD concert | Victor Entertainment | VTBL-9 | Same as above but on DVD |
| May'n Special Concert BD Rhythm Tank!! at Nippon Budokan | November 2, 2011 | Blu-ray concert | Victor Entertainment | VTXL-7 | May'n's concert at Nippon Budokan on March 6, 2011, is recorded here. |
| May’n Special Concert DVD Rhythm Tank!! at Nippon Budokan | November 2, 2011 | DVD concert | Victor Entertainment | VTBL-17 | Same as above but on DVD |

### Collaborations

| Title | Date | Type | Label/distributor | Catalog no. | Note |
| Macross F (Frontier) O.S.T.1 "Nyan Fro" | June 4, 2008 | CD album | Victor Entertainment | VTCL-60060 | May'n is credited as "Sheryl Nome starring May'n". |
| Macross F (Frontier) O.S.T.2 "Nyan Tra" | October 8, 2008 | CD album | Victor Entertainment | VTCL-60061 | May'n is credited as "Sheryl Nome starring May'n". |
| Macross F (Frontier) Vocal Collection "Nyan Tama" | December 3, 2008 | CD album (2 disks) | Victor Entertainment | VTCL-60100 | May'n is credited as "Sheryl Nome starring May'n". |
| Macross F (Frontier) Galaxy Tour Final in Budokan | October 30, 2009 | DVD concert | Bandai | BCBM-0011 | |
| Macross F (Frontier) Galaxy Tour Final in Budokan | November 27, 2009 | Blu-ray concert | Bandai | BCXE-0216 | Same as above but on Blu-ray |
| Macross F (Frontier) Concept Album "Cosmic Cuune" | November 24, 2010 | CD album | Victor Entertainment | VTCL-60230 | May'n is credited as "Sheryl Nome starring May'n". |
| Yoko Kanno Produce Macross F Super Dimensional Super Live Cosmic Nyan Blu-ray | November 23, 2011 | Blu-ray concert | | | |
| Yoko Kanno Produce Macross F Super Dimensional Super Live Cosmic Nyan DVD | November 23, 2011 | DVD concert | | | |
| Kamen Rider Fourze ED Theme "Giant Step" | January 25, 2012 | CD single | Avex Trax | AVCA-49427 | May'n is credited as "Astronauts" along Yoshiharu Shiina. |