From anime to rock 'n' roll
By Christopher Toh, TODAY | Posted: 03 December 2009 1342 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Anime fans will probably recognise Japanese singer May'n as the singing voice of Sheryl Nome, the rocker chick featured in the anime series Macross Frontier. But May'n - born May Nakabayashi - is ready to take on the world as a singer in her own right.

She's already got the prerequisite good looks and stage presence, and she's garnered quite a following since she first came onto the scene in 2005 with her single "Crazy Crazy Crazy".

In 2007, after performing the theme song "Fallin' In Or Not" for another anime, "Love Get Chu", she was roped in to provide the singing voice for Macross Frontier's Sheryl.

Now, two years later, she's released her own debut album, "Styles", and May'n says she's ready to offer the world a new facet to her music.

The album is a mixture of different styles - hence the name - but the singer feels that it aptly describes who she is. Fans got to hear some of her new tracks at this year's Anime Festival Asia (AFA).

"I want to express my own style. I'm already 20," said May'n, speaking in Japanese. "I'm quite into rock, partly because (her character) Sheryl sings hard rock songs. But in the album, I have dance, rock, pop rock and other different styles."

According to her, it's not a big stretch singing anime themes and doing her own thing.

"Musically, there's no big difference between J-Pop and anime songs. Anime songs are played in important scenes and in the opening and closing, so it comes together with the characters and stories, so maybe they're a bit more connected with the viewers and fans than normal J-Pop."

Already, fans of May'n are hailing her to be the next Ayumi Hamasaki - a claim that may not be as far-fetched as some might think.

She's slated for her first big gig next year at Tokyo's prestigious Nippon Bukodan arena - the same venue where some of rock's biggest names have performed, including The Beatles, Kiss, Queen, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin.

But May'n, who describes herself as a positive and active person who likes performing live, will be the first to tell you not to believe all the hype.

"At this moment, I don't think I'm the next Ayumi," she said, laughing. "If people are saying that I'm becoming a bigger star, that's only because of my fans who have been supporting me. I'm very thankful for that.

"I feel my relationship with my fans ... is more like that of friends."

It's with this in mind that May'n says she wants to go around the world to do more concerts, simply because she likes to connect with her fans. And if she could, she wouldn't mind doing this for the rest of her life.

"Until I become a granny if that's possible!"

May'n's debut album, Styles, is available in stores now.

- TODAY/sh