“I get a space and try to make it as relaxed as possible and then sit down and see what comes out”, says multi-instrumentalist Max Rad when revealing how he comes up with his sound.
It’s a process that works best for the rising London-based Stroud native, who is lighting up the UK music scene with his soul-baring electronic r&b.
And he moves fast. Tracks Play Dead and Old Toy were written and recorded in the same day, the DIY producer reveals, which is astonishing considering how polished they sound.
The 28-year-old was brought up in peaceful Gloucestershire before swapping it for the hustle bustle of the capital four years ago.
He launched the Max Rad project in 2018 and has notched up more than a million streams on platforms like Spotify with debut Carousel and follow up tracks Rumours, Flesh & Blood and most recent release Oh My Brother.
London may be the music hub of the nation but Max retreated to Devon to recreate the tranquility of his roots when producing his new EP Save Me From Myself Part 1.
He sold out the Corsica Studios in 2019, enchanting the audience with heartfelt, melodic anthems.
Daily Star Online chatted to Max ahead of the release of his new EP to talk about his upbringing, his influences and how he comes up with his blissful sound.
Hi Max, tell me more about yourself. Where are you from and how did you get into music?
"I’m from Stroud in Gloucestershire. I moved to London about four years ago. My mum still lives in Stroud so I go back every so often.
"I was always obsessed with music. I wanted to play guitar and I was asking mum from the age of five or six that I wanted to play. She got me guitar lessons and I started when I was six.
"I was making songs up immediately. It may be a bit weird but my first guitar teacher was called Bernie and he was gunning the writing and singing thing. I learned the chords and started singing.
"I started recording songs and then at 16 I started writing lyrics down and concentrating on those.
"I started doing it professionally when I was 20 something. I was in bands and producing for other people and learning how to do that."
When and what was your first release?
"It was in July 2018. I’d been in a band before and then decided to go and do something different, so I started this project.
"My first release was Carousel and we put it out on my own record label through AWOL, which is Artists Without A Label.
"I put it out online. We made a video for it and it got a bit of attention from people. It was a good first outing. It went well.
"I had a load of songs but the first two releases were Carousel and Rumours. They feel like they’re from the same place."
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You’re from Stroud in Gloucestershire. How did living there mould you into who you are today? Is there much of a music scene?
"We were out in the countryside so you have that space to create. Some people will find it really boring but because I had my music and was busy doing that I just loved it for the space and peace of mind it gives you. You’re uninterrupted.
"Stroud is a creative place. There’s loads of art and stuff going on. Music-wise I played my first gig in the Prince Albert which has lots of gigs. But it’s very much like no big bands would go through, you’d have to go to Bristol for that, which we ended up doing quite a bit. Even then there’s not a big venue so you’d still go to London for the big ones."
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You released Old Toy last month. What’s the reaction been like?
"It’s been really good. We’ve had Radio X play it and got BBC introducing in the west which is great because it’s nice to be recognised by where you’re from. Spotify and Apple music have got behind it. It’s growing nicely. "
What’s your usual process when making music? Is it very much a DIY effort?
"Essentially wherever I’m living I set up in my bedroom.
"I've lived in some odd places in London sofa surfing. I’ve put up in a garage for a bit, in a shed, and various bedrooms around the place.
"What I’ve been doing recently is going to this place in Devon. I’ve been taking myself away from London and writing down there.
"I would say my process is I get a space and try and make it as relaxed as possible and then sit down and see what comes out.
"I produce it all myself and work on my own. Normally the songs come out quite quickly out of nowhere and I try and capture it as soon as possible.
"Writing and recording at the same time is the thing for me. Tracks like Play Dead and Old Toy, I wrote and recorded them in the same day.
"There is no other version, that is what it is."
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You were you influenced by as a musician? Who influences you now?
"It’s what’s happening in my life. Anything, general daily life.
"When I was younger I remember hearing Queen for the first time and having my mind blown about the guitar and how insane that sounded. Jimi Hendrix as well.
"Growing up a bit more I got into 90s hip hop, Eminem and 50 Cent, I was obsessed with that.
"It’s a mixture of what your dad might be listening to and then my older brother what he was listening to. A mixture of rock and hip hop. "
Do you find yourself listening to new music?
"Definitely but not as often as I should. I try to. I find it difficult because you can end up comparing yourself to it.
"It’s nice to stay away when you're in a creative drive. I try and go to shows as much as possible and I do writing sessions and production for other people. I often see stuff from I’ve worked with."
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Do you enjoy the production side of it as well?
"I love it. I’m really into it. The more opportunities I get for that is great. "
Songs like Flesh and Blood, String on Me and Carousel have more than a million streams between them. How important are platforms like Spotify to an emerging talent like yourself?
"It’s so important. Anything that puts your music in front of people that wouldn’t otherwise is invaluable.
"You’re lucky if Spotify takes you on. I’m very grateful for that, reaching a bigger audience than your mates. It’s really important these days, which is good and bad. It means that some stuff gets a leg up and other things don't. It’s the luck of the draw. It is what it is. It’s great when it does happen."
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Do you have people from other countries listening to your stuff?
"It’s amazing. I try not to get carried away looking at stats but when its broken down and you can see what your numbers are and what’s been streamed where, it is pretty mind-blowing that someone in Australia or half away across the world has listened to it."
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How would you describe your music?
"It’s the million dollar question. I think of it as like electronic-inspired songwriting, warm sounding."
You sold out Corsica studios in London last year. What was that like? Are you planning more live shows in 2020?
"It was amazing. That was really an awesome show. Playing to a packed room never gets old, it’s something that can never be beaten.
"I started out the project and I couldn’t imagine it in a live state. Now it feels really good and works really well. It’s a different kind of experience.
Did you have a goal when starting Max Rad?
"I think I wanted to explore the electronic sound a lot more and get more into production. I was working with bands before and very much guitars and live instruments.
"There is an element of that in my music but I wanted it to be personal and dig in to my lyrics and what I was trying to say. Using it as a cathartic process as well in the songwriting. Being able to say what I wanted to.
"The more personal you are, I think that’s what it’s all about. I have always taken it as that. I love things that are ambiguous. Like Bon Iver’s lyrics where you don’t really know what he’s singing about but you know it’s emotional. I love that. It’s something that’s amazing, it’s an art. It’s something that’s really important."
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Are you planning more live shows in 2020?
"We’re in the process of organising that but we’re playing festivals, a few of the tastemaker festivals like Hit The North and Liverpool Sound City. We’re going to be around hopefully for as much as possible."
What can we expect from you in 2020? Is there an album on the horizon?
"We’re doing two EPS. Part one is coming out on February 26. I’m really excited for that. It’s called Save Me From Myself Part 1."
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