Portland-based singer Mariya May marries a charming mix of musical styles and eras to create a distinct, folky sound, all united by her soulful voice. Ask her to describe her own sound and she'll list off enough genres to fill a record store, but that truly all do have a place in her sound. For the record, she says she sounds like, "Portland-style indie-pop music with elements of folk, classic soul/R&B, '60s and '70s reggae and dub. And to a lesser extent these days, Shoegaze, '80s new-wave, and 90s underground/experimental rock."

For her latest album, Call Me Back if You Can Dig the Music, May partnered up with her husband and most frequent collaborator Ryan Michael Block for the 12 tracks, who handled production duties as well as much of the instrumentation. The two have operated around Portland both as session musicians and in various bands together.

Fresh off the release of her latest single, "I Am the Wind," we got to chat with May about her songwriting process, how their collaboration works and what it's like to be a creative in Portland, OR.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Homebase: Portland, OR

When did you write your first song and what was it about?

I've been writing songs my whole life, ever since I was a little girl. I grew up with a mother who would break out into song at any given moment, often made up in the moment songs, often at really embarrassing times, like in the store or something. I guess my first real memory of actually composing a song was when I wrote a one song musical at the age of eight called the "The Irish Washer Woman." I made my mother dress up with me and perform it in the backyard for my grandmother.

What's your songwriting process like nowadays?

I usually just sit down and start tinkering something out on the piano. I never get long to figure anything out because me tinkering at the piano always attracts my kids to come get in on the fun. But the melody will get stuck in my head and then haunt me for a while with some emerging idea of a story. For "I Remember," I had recently watched a documentary about Thelonious Monk, and they way he played chords on the piano was so strange and awesome, I wanted to write something using chords in a way I was totally uncomfortable with.

What's it like working with your husband in the producer role for the music? How does your collaboration work?

Well besides the fact that he's a prolific song writer and an amazing producer, it's great in the sense that he knows me better than any one else and that he's the type of person who can stay very focused and really get things done. I can be pretty all over the place creatively, with usually quite a few projects swimming around in my head, plus a lot of other things constantly coming at me. He's really good at motivating me to focus on one thing and get it done, usually by helping me figure out specific things to work on while keeping the kids at bay so I can actually get it done. It can get heated sometimes, as with any couple who works together, sometimes we can drive each other a little batty, but we always end up with something completed that we're both really pleased with.

What do you want listeners to take away from your music?

I want them to feel a connection with the stories I tell. I want to make people feel good, either by putting a positive twist in my lyrics even if the subject matter isn't always chipper, or by really exploring a feeling of sadness in a way that can hopefully reach someone and make them not feel so alone in their own head.

What music did you grow up listening to?

I listened to a lot of music. I grew up listening to bands like Sonic Youth, Swans, T-Rex, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Mazzy Star, Mercury Rev, Spiritualized, The Pogues and the Pixies.

What's it like being a musician in Portland?

Portland is a city of artists. There is always something here to be inspired by: the geography, the people. It can be pretty saturated with musicians, which can make it difficult to stand out.

How do you spend your time out of music?

I am a mother of three children ranging from toddler to teenager, and I am a preschool teacher. I spend a lot of time being silly, nurturing small humans and growing things in the garden.

What's next?

More songs. Just keep writing songs.

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