After the runaway success of “If We Ever Broke Up”, a Gold-certified hit in both the UK and US that topped charts in Japan and China. Mae Stephens is back with another empowering anthem. Her new single “Woah Man!” channels the same luminous alt-pop energy, blending funk-tinged bass grooves with her signature girl-next-door authenticity. As much as it is irresistibly catchy, “Woah Man!” also speaks directly to the heart of the female experience, tackling everything from body image pressures to gender inequality without losing an ounce of its bold, celebratory spirit.
Written with Andrea Rocha (RAYE) and Kal Lavelle (Ed Sheeran), and produced by Rocha alongside Morgan Avenue (Rita Ora) and Jheynner (ANOTR), “Woah Man!” arrives as an anthem perfectly timed for International Women’s Month. “‘Woah Man!’ is a funk/pop-orientated track highlighting the ups and downs of being a woman and the power and beauty that comes with that,” Mae shares. “It dives into controversial topics like hiding tampons to calling out the inequality of gender hierarchy. It is a message to the next generation to be proud to be a woman.“
In our conversation, Mae opened up about the personal experiences that have shaped both her music and her voice as an artist. From navigating bullying at school to finding her escape in songwriting, her journey reflects a resilience and honesty that deeply resonates with her growing global fanbase. She speaks passionately about destigmatizing topics like period shame and body image struggles, hoping to empower young women to embrace their individuality unapologetically.
Following the breakthrough of “If We Ever Broke Up”, Mae’s world changed almost overnight — from working at a supermarket to collaborating with artists like The Chainsmokers, Meghan Trainor, and Alok. She has taken the stage alongside superstars including BLACKPINK, P!NK, and Tom Grennan, while her debut EP Securely Insecure and tracks like “Out of the Shadows” (featured on the PlayStation 5 reboot of Until Dawn) have continued to showcase her emotional depth.
Still, through it all, Mae remains grounded. Speaking candidly about her ADHD on The Hidden 20% podcast, she describes how it fuels her creativity and keeps her connected to her true self. With “Woah Man!”, Mae Stephens is not just delivering another hit; she is carving out a space where authenticity, vulnerability, and empowerment reign.
“Woah Man!” is such a bold and empowering anthem. What inspired you to write a track that dives so honestly into the female experience?
I had heard a few tracks on female empowerment being released, and I just felt that there were more minute details of the female experience that were being glossed over. For example, periods — and hiding something so natural out of fear of mockery, or fitting into a box that society created for us. I just wanted there to be an anthem that holds the purest sentiment: that women are beautiful.
The song addresses everything from body image to gender inequality and even tampon taboos. Why was it important for you to highlight these themes so directly?
I spent a lot of time growing up feeling shameful about general hygiene, from being sweaty after PE (Physical Education) to dealing with the irony smell of blood during my period. It feels like the universal experience for young women is the need to conceal period products just to get to the bathroom, from fear of ridicule over something you have no control over. I wanted to highlight these themes because they need to be talked about.
You have described the track as a message for the next generation to be proud to be a woman. What do you hope young listeners take away from it?
I hope that the next generation of young women can find their voice and understand that this should not be how the world works. We should be able to find and express ourselves freely without being stereotyped. In my past, I have reached my arms out for help as a female and was only brushed off. I do not want the next generation to face that. Ultimately, be confident to be you, no matter what that looks like.
How did the collaboration with Andrea Rocha and Kal Lavelle come about? What was the energy like in the studio during the writing and production process?
We were all together as a collective for the first time and just clicked immediately. It was three women in a room, and it could not have felt more natural. We joked, we laughed, and we had some really deep conversations about feelings and previous relationships. I have never felt so vulnerable and open in a session. That is where the idea for “Woah Man!” came from — our shared experiences as women.
You have talked before about music being an escape, especially during difficult times like bullying at school. How has that journey shaped who you are today as an artist?
I do not condone bullying. It made me incredibly self-conscious entering young adulthood. However, I feel like being bullied throughout school made me resilient to a lot of the hate that gets thrown around, especially on social media. I feel like I have a brain of steel. Being bullied not only taught me to ignore the malicious things people say, but it also taught me that someone needs to make that change, and I want to be that person.
Imagine there is a day where you are not allowed to make music, write lyrics, or even think about it. How would you spend that day? What does a totally unplugged, non music Mae look like?
I live in such a beautiful area that I have not really had time to appreciate over the past few months. I would probably go for a walk, maybe do a bit of cleaning and organising. The end result is incredibly satisfying for me, especially as someone with ADHD who struggles to keep up with everyday tasks. I would take a self care day and spend time with my cats and my family.
Going viral on TikTok and leaving your supermarket job for a record deal sounds like a whirlwind. What was that moment of transition really like for you?
You go from normality to interstellar levels of stress — let us put it that way. I would like to use the quote, “I was smacked with the grow up card, pretty hard,” meaning I had to gain such a level of organisation and general mental willpower, especially as someone who struggles with things like rejection sensitivity. Adjusting to handling mass amounts of criticism really quickly was a shock. I absolutely miss calling out Linda for 35p apples over the tannoy.
“If We Ever Broke Up” was such a massive breakthrough — Gold certified in the UK and US, and number one in Japan and China! How did you handle that sudden global success?
Therapy, definitely. You learn more about yourself, you learn about your surroundings, and it makes it a little bit easier to cope with. As well as that, I have such an amazing and strong support system to lean on. My partner, parents, and friends play such an important part in keeping me grounded and motivated, even now.
From collaborating with The Chainsmokers and Meghan Trainor to performing with BLACKPINK and PINK — how surreal has the past year been?
There have been so many things that have happened over the past few years, I do not think I would believe it if I told a younger version of myself. One of the biggest lessons I have learnt is that most major artists and “big leagues” are literally just normal people trying to get by, the same as you.
What were your teenage dreams when it came to music or life in general, and do you feel like you are living them now, or has the dream evolved along the way?
I always wanted to play the Royal Albert Hall as a kid, whether that was as a classical singer, like I started, or at a gig. I feel like I have come pretty close so far, performing on the main stage at BST Hyde Park.
Your EP “Securely Insecure” and tracks like “Out of the Shadows” show a really personal, emotional side of you. How do you decide what to share with your audience?
I could not say — if a song feels right to put out into the world, then I never hold back. I feel like Securely Insecure was me, as an adult, closing that chapter of my life and letting it go.
You recently spoke on The Hidden 20 Percent podcast about your ADHD and how it fuels your creativity. Can you share how that influences your songwriting process?
I have been writing the same way for years. I have a tendency to get myself into a personal bubble where all my ideas come at once. I feel like songwriting has become such a personal thing for me, almost like therapy, so when it comes to writing, I have to initiate the concept first before collaborating.
Your authenticity and “girl next door” energy really connect with fans. Do you feel a responsibility to stay grounded while your star keeps rising?
Yes, I do. I still feel like I have a way to go in figuring out who I am as an artist, so staying grounded is an important part of that.
What is one message you would give to your younger self, the version of you who was still working at the supermarket and dreaming of making music full time?
When I was a kid, I genuinely thought I knew everything about the world. Advice I really could have used when I was younger: Keep going, and take more time to understand yourself. (Directly to little Mae:) For God’s sake, listen to your parents.
You have already accomplished so much. What is next on your bucket list, either musically or personally?
I am writing a lot of new music at the moment, trying to find the “Mae Stephens” sound, but also taking time to figure out the next steps in the journey of being an artist who reflects my soul in the most authentic way possible.
