MAY-A Gives Stevie Nicks’ ‘Edge of Seventeen’ a Grunge Twist on Triple J’s Like a Version
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Australian singer-songwriter MAY-A has made a distinctive mark on a classic track.
The 24-year-old talent from Sydney covered Stevie Nicks’ 1981 hit “Edge of Seventeen” for triple j’s Like a Version on Friday, March 20. The performance featured a grunge-inflected and guitar-driven reimagining that deviated from the original’s iconic riff, reconstructing the song entirely.
During her live performance with her band, MAY-A began with a gentle, vocally centered arrangement, gradually building to a more intense segment complete with guitar and bass solos.
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MAY-A’s approach in the cover allowed her voice to shine, balancing tenderness with a raw, rock-infused delivery. Guitarist and collaborator Chloe Dadd played a significant role in shaping the arrangement, which was developed through extensive rehearsal experimentation.
“When we started playing around with the idea of this song, we just played it in so many different ways,” MAY-A remarked. “And my guitarist Chloe, she sort of built out the tracks.”
The choice of song was intentional, as MAY-A expressed a desire to cover something that deeply resonated with her. She noted Nicks’ unique ability to write about loss, saying, “I haven’t seen someone write about grief and loss in such a powerful and strong way,” calling it “unique and inspiring.” Triple j teased the cover earlier in the week by sharing a scene from School of Rock on Instagram Stories.
The Like a Version segment coincided with a performance of “Last Man on Earth” from MAY-A’s debut album Goodbye (If You Call That Gone), which was released on February 20.
In a recent interview with The Music, the artist, born Maya Cumming, reflected on her transition into rock music as a teenager, citing influences such as Sonic Youth, Bikini Kill, Paramore, Hole, and Evanescence.
“I was never from this scene — I was always a Taylor Swift pop girl — so when I got into rock in my teens, I felt like a fraud,” she shared. “These women made me feel seen and made me realize I didn’t need to fit into all of these molds I’d made for myself. I had to carve my own space.”
Regarding her album, MAY-A described her intent to resist commercial pressures. “This album is a slow burn; you have to sit with it. I deliberately didn’t make it hi-fi, or really catchy and full of hooks. This was as raw as I could make it.”
MAY-A’s Goodbye (If You Call That Gone) tour will begin on April 2 at The Princess Theatre in Brisbane, with additional shows scheduled in Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, and Adelaide. The Like a Version performance marked a part of triple j’s expanded March schedule, which doubled its weekly output to include both Friday and Tuesday sessions throughout the month.
