Brazilian-born, North Carolina-based songwriter and producer Joe May unveils his latest studio project, Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks, a genre-fluid ode to life’s messy contradictions. Out today, the album merges the sunlit harmonies of ’70s West Coast pop, Brazilian rhythms, and sly wit into a danceable yet introspective journey. Anchored by live brass arrangements from Aretha Franklin/O’Jays collaborator Brad Wilcox and recorded on analog gear at May’s home studio, Alta Mira, the LP is a testament to collaboration, vulnerability, and finding joy in impermanence.
“You can be silly AND methodical,” May says. “This project was about letting others in, working everything out as we went, and finding joy even in the goofiest corners of music.”
Collaborative energy pulses throughout the album’s eight tracks. May not only wrote, performed, produced, and mixed the record but also drew from the talents of his newly curated band and guest contributors. The horn arrangements, handled by Brad Wilcox, a veteran known for work with Aretha Franklin and The Temptations, adding layers of grandeur. “When I heard Brad’s horn arrangements for the first time, I knew it had to be him,” shares May. “The shock, to me, came when he actually responded to my email. He’s been a great mentor throughout this process.”
LISTEN | Joe May - Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks
The album reflects May’s unique cultural influences, blending the rhythmic buzz of his Brazilian roots with his lifelong affection for pop rock. “I spent my youngest years back in Rio, watching concerts from my dad's shoulders,” he recalls. Inspired by greats like Tim Maia and Steely Dan, MASH channels warm brass counterpoint, jazzy grooves, and masterful production inspired by both Brazilian and American traditions.
Much of the album was crafted in Joe May’s home studio, Alta Mira, which he built around classic analog gear. “I built the studio around many of my favorite pieces of classic American and British analog audio gear. If I want it to sound like my favorite classic records, I should use the same tools as them, right?” he explains. The studio has since become a hub for regional artists, further deepening his ties to the local music community in Charlotte.
Standout tracks on MASH include its buoyant first single, “Ignoring the Feeling,” which balances introspection with optimism. Accompanied by a retro-inspired music video, the track quickly amassed thousands of plays on Spotify. Also on the album is “Vitamin D in the Shade,” a lush, Beatles-esque ballad that captures May’s most vulnerable songwriting. “I was just scared when I wrote that,” says May. “There’s no satire in it – just me trying to find some sense of grounding.”
“Halfway to the Edge,” a crunchy, funk-driven journey, anchors the project. Cleverly penned lyrics weave a tale of disconnection, hope, and mischief in a way that is quintessentially Joe May. Cheeky turns of phrase, like “struggling to stay ahead, now that I’ve seen you’re behind,” showcase May’s knack for injecting humor without losing emotional complexity.
WATCH | Joe May - Ignoring the Feeling (Official Music Video)
WATCH | Joe May - Halfway to the Edge (Official Music Video)
May will celebrate the release of MASH alongside his dazzling nine-piece ensemble, Joe May’s Month of Mondays, with a pair of performances this weekend in North Carolina. On Friday, May 16th, May, will take the stage at Charlotte, NC’s Visulite Theatre with support from Charleston, SC’s The Psycodelics. On Saturday, May 17th, May, and regional jam powerhouse Duck will visit Raleigh, NC’s Pour House.
Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks is now streaming on all major platforms. In addition, the project is available for purchase on 140g vinyl via Raleigh, NC’s Pour House Pressing. Limited copies remain! Order your album now. For more information on Joe, upcoming performances, and more, please visit his official website.
Joe May - Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks
You Still Do
Halfway to the Edge
Vitamin D in the Shade
Ignoring the Feeling
Union Pacific Getaway Car
Honeycomb Sun
Pictures in the Photobooth with a Stranger
Catch My Groove
