John Carpenter is not a cinematic figure, although you could make a case for his arrestingly scuzzy blues-rock being the stuff of film noir. But because of his famous name, you weren’t sure what you were getting when Carpenter started playing around L.A. What fans got was John Carpenter, Johnny on his MySpace, a baby-faced assassin with a Gibson as his weapon of choice, fronting a trio with a madman drummer who goes by J. Explosive, making music that sounds like trouble — vintage psych-blues with ragged riffs styled from Hendrix and dire vocals straight outta Scott Walker. Five minutes into his riveting sets, you’ve forgotten there’s any other John Carpenter.

“… layered retro-pop tapestries evoke thoughts of El May as the long lost niece of Brian Wilson.”
– Direct Current

“.. a beguiling singer and tunesmith. Her vocal melodies and harmonies intertwine with deceptively simple piano lines to cast cool, alluring spells; subtle touches of rhythm and strings enhance the mood and the atmosphere “ –
Peter Blackstock, No Depression



El May is Lara Meyerratken.

Lara has performed and/or recorded with many stellar rock and roll acts like Ben Lee, Crooked Fingers, Luscious Jackson, Luna, Britta and Dean, Nada Surf, and Sneeze.

El May songs have featured in TV shows Melrose Place, The Lying Game, and Pretty Little Liars. Michelle Williams performs her song ‘Hero’ in the 2005 movie ‘The Baxter’. Other soundtrack credits include ‘Our Idiot Brother’ (2011) and Dutch film ‘Life In One Day’ (2009).

Lara has composed and recorded original music for Comcast, Austrian Telekom, Oronaine Skincare, (RED), DEL software and Kelloggs.

She was the Musical Director for the Cannes ‘Best Original Music’ Gold Lion Award winner for Match.com in 2010, and won the 2005 ‘Best Cover Art’ ARIA Award for the Ben Lee album ‘Awake is The New Sleep’.