About the Project

What started off as a somewhat cliche breakup album ended up becoming one about self-determination, agency and courage. I had just started the process of writing it when the film Anora won the Oscar and, thematically and musically, it might sound like the soundtrack to a hypothetical sequel to that film in some ways.

I am a Brooklyn native, just like Anora, and whether you’ve made the decision in your life to “not go back” to a job, a relationship, a city, or a state of mind, I believe the message behind this album is a fairly universal one - at some point in our lives we all have to decide who we want to be (or not be) and what we want for ourselves, even it’s challenging (especially if it’s challenging). We can either choose to take that leap or live with potential regret.

The album starts off somber, pained and reflective, building to a crescendo with the title track, and closing with tracks that communicate a sense of acceptance, resolution and the determination to persist no matter what.

The music video for the title track, Not Going Back, builds on this theme and was inspired by the film Flashdance and the music video for Queen’s I Want to Break Free. I replicated the iconic Flashdance audition scene choreography for the video.

Photo Credit: Alice Teeple

About the Artist

Brooklyn-born of Puerto Rican and Italian-Argentine descent, Janie May writes songs that uplift and inspire, about what happens after you survive, when you choose yourself and don’t look back.

Rooted in alternative pop soul/R&B with country storytelling influences, Janie crafts lyrically incisive anthems that explore heartbreak, resilience, and empowerment. Her stage name is an homage to the fierce protagonist of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, a reflection of Janie’s own artistic journey toward voice, agency, and self-definition.

Janie’s music lives at the intersection of Gloria Gaynor’s unapologetic strength and Amy Winehouse’s emotional depth. Drawing inspiration from artists like Fiona Apple, Sharon Jones, Adele, Lauryn Hill, Incubus, Stevie Wonder and Dolly Parton, her sound feels both deeply personal and immediately relatable. 

A classically trained ballet dancer, Janie approaches music as a full-body art form. Movement plays a central role in her performances and visuals, informed by her belief that music and motion are inseparable. This philosophy extends to her music videos, which she treats as an essential part of storytelling. It’s a modern pursuit of the “total work of art.”

Based in NYC, Janie has performed at venues including Pianos, Sleepwalk and Sanger Hall in addition to Fox and Locke in Nashville. She has earned features in Fault Magazine, Take Effect, Popmuzik and Songwriting Magazine UK. A brief attendee of the esteemed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and a graduate of Columbia University, since releasing her first single in 2019, she has evolved through a debut EP to her first full-length album in 2025, with her sophomore record arriving in February 2026.

Her album, Not Going Back, captures a pivotal emotional threshold: the moment you let go, move forward, and choose yourself. Janie’s music is for those who know what it’s like to take the leap, just as much as it is for those standing at the edge.

Press

“A soulful pop musician with a sound informed by her Brooklyn upbringing.” - Songwriting Magazine UK

“[It] is a meditation on playing it safe and taking a risk, and cautions the listener to not be afraid to take a chance, for you never know what lies ahead.” - Fault Magazine

"Her journey, her way of choosing herself despite prejudice and expectations, and the way she truly sees people deeply moved me. Her latest album, Not Going Back, released in February, is a powerful record about finding a way to breathe again. Choosing yourself. Choosing life. Coming out the other side." - Vakentimmar

Credits

Songwriting and Vocals by Janie May

Executive Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Ronny Katz

Associate Produced by Janie May

Mastered by James Cronier

Violin by Rebecca McBride and Gracyn Blu

Viola by Rebecca McBride and Gracyn Blu

Cello by Rebecca McBride and Ronny Katz

Acoustic and Electric Guitar by Ronny Katz

Acoustic and Electric Piano by Shani Rose and Ronny Katz

Bass by Ronny Katz

Drums by Ronny Katz and Daniel Hogans

Percussion by Ronny Katz