Celaviedmai

Celaviedmai (aka Mai or Cela) is a Galway born artist who has become one of the most exciting names in the Irish hip-hop and rap scene. She is recognised as a rising star both in Ireland and internationally for her incomparable stage presence and hard-hitting lyricism. Cela has an impressive performance history from the 3 Arena to the National Concert Hall, headlining her own shows and opening for artists such as Nova Twins, Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, Hoodie Allen and Tinchy Stryder.

You may recognise Mai from the theme song of the It Galz podcast, features in the likes of Vice, New York Times, UK Times, Hotpress Magazine, Ireland Music Week 2020, National Concert Hall x District Magazine’s Extraterrestrial, the NCH Utopia Cypher curated by Una Mullaly, BBC’s Rap Trip and RTÉ’s My Tribe (S2).

Mai's music is celebrated for defying genres within urban contemporary and she often combines English, French and Irish in her lyrics - paying homage to her Ivorian roots. In 2022 Mai was reported as a standout artist at St. Patrick’s Festival, appeared as the cover star of the Culture Magazine in the Irish Sunday Times, opened for UK punk duo Nova Twins at Whelan’s, had her Ireland in Music performance premiered as part of the SEODA 2022 programme and was broadcasted across the USA. Mai released her much-anticipated debut EP ‘Both Sides of the Story’ to high praise, where half of the songs were added to Spotify playlists New Music Friday UK, Irish Rap & Drill 2022, The New Éire, A Breath of Fresh Éire and Ireland 2.0.

Mai had a busy summer performing at the likes of Forbidden Fruit, Wildroots, MoLi - The Museum of Modern Literature Ireland, Body & Soul, All Together Now, Connolly's of Leap and Electric Picnic. Celaviedmai will be making her Other Voices Dingle debut this December and is currently recording new music for solo releases and collaborations in early 2023.

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"Her dexterous way with words and music is frequently thrilling. She’s a consummate live performer too." The 50 ones to watch: Rising Irish stars of 2022 

Independent.ie 

"One of the most versatile and consistent acts of the past five years. Comfortable weaving between genres, it’s this unpredictability that makes her so exciting." 

Extraterrestrial: A Black Irish Celebration Of Identity 

Journal of Music 

"Few MCs in Ireland are as bold." 

Irish Rap Had to Get Brutally Honest to Make Its Mark 

Vice.com 

"Celaviedmai loves to keep her listeners guessing, defying any attempt to pigeonhole her talent... she can be both witty and arrestingly poignant." 

15 Irish Acts You Need to Know in 2021 

Paste Magazine 

"[Cela has] begun to grab attention for her commanding and powerful releases & performances. If you’re looking for Irish female MCs – look no further than Celaviedmai." 

Ireland Music Week 2020: Top 20 Plec Picks 

Golden Plec 

"Irish Hip-Hop is booming… But nobody is quite as eclectic as Celaviedmai." 

Celaviedmai: On the Path to Stardom 

Irish Sunday Times Culture Magazine