Irish Musician Imelda May Gives Rockabilly A Post-Punk Spin

Irish-born singer Imelda May grew up listening to Buddy Holly, Wanda Jackson and Eddie Cochran, and then later the Clash and the Cramps. All of these influences make their way into her music which has been described as rock with a retro feel.

Imelda May performs with her husband, guitarist Darrel Higham. May told Here & Now's Robin Young that Higham has been very supportive of her.

"He's my rock, he's fantastic, without him I couldn't do it all. He holds me up, we hold each other up, I suppose, in this mad life of ours," she said.

May says that most of her songs are about him, a fact she makes sure doesn't go to his head.

"I normally tell him to watch out because if he annoys me I'm going to make a song about it," she said, laughing.

May's new CD, "Mayhem," debuted at #1 on Billboard's New Artist Chart and she's currently touring in the United States.