Elaine Mai – Button Factory Headline Show | October 25th
By Elaine Mai Unveils New Album
For Us
Ft. Faye O’rourke, Murli, Maykay, Sinéad White + Young People from The Lajee Centre In Palestine
For Us – Out 26th September
Focus Track – ‘We Go On’
Button Factory Show – 25th October
As one of Ireland’s most exciting electronic artists, Choice Music Prize-nominated Elaine Mai returns with her second album For Us, out on September 26th -a striking glimpse into her evolving sonic world.
Mai will play a headline album launch show in the Button Factory on 25th October, with tickets on sale now from Eventbrite, HERE.
Mai has captivated audiences with her dynamic blend of electronic artistry and production since 2012, garnering over 6.8 million streams across streaming platforms. Her career is punctuated by notable collaborations and remixes, having worked as a producer with artists such as Pillow Queens, Daithí, Loah, and MuRli. Her remix of Loah’sNothing reached number one in the Irish Radio Airplay Charts for independent songs and amassed over 1.2m streams on Spotify, highlighting her prowess in reimagining and elevating existing tracks.
Her debut album, Home, was met with widespread acclaim, earning nominations for a Choice Music Prize for both album and song of the year. Lead single, ‘No Forever (feat. MayKay)’, made a remarkable impact across Irish radio with 14 million impressions, peaking at No.2 in the Irish Radio Breakers chart and No.6 in the Viral 50 Ireland Spotify chart.
Her highly anticipated second album For Us features a talented mix of collaborators, thriving off the energy of voices coming together to speak on themes of intergenerational trauma, belonging, safety and release, turning heavy ideas into moments of communal, dance‑floor catharsis.
Close collaborator Faye O’Rourke, of Choice Music Prize-nominated band Soda Blonde, recently featured in the dynamic and powerful single ‘Aim’, which earned 2 million radio impressions, addition to RTÉ 2FM’s playlist and led to a captivating live collaborative performance in Studio 1.
O’Rourke also features in album closing track and charity single ‘We Are’, alongside artist and activist MayKay and young people from the Aida Refugee Camp in the Occupied West Bank of Palestine. On the single, Mai said, “Giving a platform to these incredible voices is a privilege”, with O’Rourke adding, “In a world marred by division and discourse, to me this song serves as a little mantra towards the light. It’s an honour to be a small part of such a beautiful collaboration”.
For Us will see Mai collaborate once again with Kildare singer-songwriter Sinéad White, who previously featured on debut album Home in single ‘Go Slow’, and multi-disciplinary Limerick musician MuRli, a self-produced artist and composer behind the music of artists such as God Knows and Denise Chaila, who features in Hot Press ‘Track of the Day’ recommended single ‘Echo’.
For Us is an album guided by American producer Rick Rubin’s simple idea of making art for yourself, then opening it up to others to shape the balance of personal and collective energy throughout. Written during a changing world, the album spans a timeline of three years, reflecting the shift from hope into heavier times. On the development of the album, Mai explains, “The album is built around a single melody, one that guided me throughout the creative process. Writing this piece, I wanted to let go of expectations and focus on the journey rather than the outcome. I wrote the majority of the album in Daithí’s Aspen Lane Studio in Ballyvaughan. Daithí and I worked closely on the production and mixing, shaping the sound in a way that felt organic and true to the emotion behind the music”.
In parallel with releasing For Us, Mai is also developing a series of one-day production-focused workshops supported by the Arts Council. Drawing from mentorships with UK producers Shadow Child and David Phelan, these sessions will share skills in production and mixing, giving participants the tools to independently create and release high-quality music. Applications to take part will open in the coming months, with the workshops specifically aimed at supporting women and underrepresented groups in the music industry.
Mai says, “Focused time with a mentor was invaluable when I started out. It helped me push my music to the next level. These workshops are about giving that same opportunity to others, so they can build the skills and confidence to release music in a sustainable and accessible way”.
Mai’s live performances have taken her across Ireland and internationally, featuring in major festivals like Longitude, Body&Soul, and Electric Picnic, with her shows being praised for their ambient, controlled house vibes.
For Us is poised to be a testament to her growing influence and appeal: A three‑year album arc that flows as one body of work.
Album Track Listing
01 Hope
02 Echo (feat. MuRli)
03 Aim (feat. Faye O’Rourke)
04 Black Mirrors (feat. MuRli)
05 Safe Space
06 With Me In It (feat. MayKay)
07 We Go On (feat. Sinéad White)
08 We Are (feat. MayKay, Faye O’Rourke & Some of the young people from the Lajee Centre in Palestine)