May was a big month for May, who released a new album last month that instantly captivated audiences. Get the back story, view the rest of the Top 5 and listen to tracks from all of the releases.
An Album About Connection and How Love is Present Everywhere: May Erlewine (Photo/Michael Poehlman)
SCROLL DOWN TO LISTEN TO HOT TOP 5 TRACKS
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Michigan singer-songwriter May Erlewine has regularly topped the Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart over the years with new releases that have captivated radio programmers as well as listeners.
But the Traverse City artist readily concedes that it never gets old.
So, she’s tickled that her latest album, “Tiny Beautiful Things,” shot straight to No. 1 on the Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart for May, representing the local or regional release receiving the most radio airplay at WYCE (88.1 FM). It’s the seventh time she’s snagged No. 1 on the Hot Top 5 since November 2017.
“It’s always such a beautiful thing to know people are connecting with new releases,” she told Local Spins.
An All New Chart for May
“It means so much to finally get these songs out there and it means even more that this music is touching people.”
With tracks such as “Easy,” “Lion Heart” and “Changing” – which combined have already racked up more than 100,000 listens on Spotify – the indie-folk collection titled after a book by Cheryl Strayed was co-produced by Joe Hettinga and features Theo Katzman of Vulfpeck on electric guitar and backing vocals.
“This batch of songs is all about connection and how love is present through every bit of our lives,” Erlewine said. “I hope it is useful to the hearts of the listener, as I know our hearts have been through so much to be here today.”
The new album is the follow-up to two 2020 releases, “A Simple Phrase” and “Anyway,” the latter recorded with The Woody Goss Band.
It tops an all-new Hot Top 5 Chart for May, with new releases by electronic music’s Pink Sky (“Total Devotion”) at No. 2, singer-songwriter Brie Stoner (“Singles EP”) at No. 3, singer-songwriter Travis Atkinson (“Heart in Pieces) at No. 4 and indie-rock’s PHABIES (“Fire Seed”) at No. 5. Scroll down to listen to tracks from all of these releases.
Shane German, WYCE’s music director, pointed out that three of May’s Hot Top 5 artists will be performing at the WYCE Jammie Awards being held at The Intersection on June 25.
After touring the East Coast, Erlewine plays a Colorado show today (June 5) with Maia Sharp, then returns to her home state to open for Sheryl Crow at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City on July 2. (View a video from a 2021 concert in Traverse City below.)
She plays Blissfest outside Harbor Springs on July 9, The Garden Theatre in Frankfort on July 27 and the Sonic Lunch concert series in Ann Arbor on Aug. 11. Erlewine will also be part of the Americana Music Fest in Aurora, Ill., on Aug. 13.
View previous Hot Top Charts online here.
THE LOCAL SPINS HOT TOP ON SPOTIFY: May 2022
VIDEO: May Erlewine at City Opera House in Traverse City
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