You’d be mistaken to think that May Nakabayashi, or May’N, is just another in a constant proliferation of new singers. In fact, you’re looking at Japan’s latest pop diva.

At only 19, May’N has topped the Japanese Oricon Charts at No. 3 twice consecutively this year with her 2 hit singles “Diamond Crevasse” and “Lion”, both from the anime Macross Frontier. Her name may not be that familiar, but mention the diva character in the anime, Sheryl Nome, and many will be nodding. She is the singing voice talent behind Nome.

Early next year, the sweet-looking singer will be releasing a mini album, in which she has penned some of the lyrics and music herself. It will be her first original album not under the name of Sheryl Nome as she wants people to start recognising her as May’N instead of the anime character.

Sitting across the room with the Japanese-English translator beside her, the petite 1.63m tall young lady greeted the media demurely before the interview started at the Suntec Convention Hall on Nov 21.

May’N has long known that Japanese pop culture is getting popular outside Japan, so when she agreed to attend Anime Festival Asia 2008, she thought that it would be great to experience in real life that “Japanese pop culture is getting accepted in around the world”.

“I want to do that in the real world, to change the world with the power of music,” says May’N, who has seen all the series of Macross before Frontier, explaining that the whole concept of Macross series is to save the world using the power of music.

“Making good music and singing good music is very important, but it is meaningless if nobody listens to it,” explains May’N, on why she cherishes her fans as much as the joy of making music.

An up-and-coming popular singer known for her dynamic voice and natural live performances, May’N has come a long way to be where she is right now.

At the very tender age of 3 years old, the toddler was enthralled by singer Amuro Namie, whom she saw on television. Since that day, May’N has always wanted to become a singer and has been taken part in numerous singing competitions and auditions. Not surprisingly, she took part in the 28th Horipro “Talent Scout Caravan – Love Music – Audition” when she was only 13.

May’N said in Japanese that she was really “happy and excited” that she got into the finals because it was the “starting point towards her dream to become a professional singer”.

She may come across a little naive when she says that she strongly believes that if you work hard enough at your dream and believe in yourself, it will actually come true and this formula has certainly worked for her over the last 10 years.

Because May’N believes that “music is the most important and powerful way to communicate with the people and fans”, she doesn’t intend to switch to acting, not just yet.

While Amuro Namie is the reason why May’N started singing, Kylie Minogue is her most admired artiste because she feels that Kylie is always one step ahead of others, always a trendsetter among the music lovers.

Almost like an enthusiastic young teenager, May’N says she hopes to thank everybody in the world by doing many live tours around the world and also to express her gratitude to her fans, directly face-to-face by holding more concerts in the future.

Photo courtesy of Red Dawn Communications