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Hi Maxi! Congratulations on the release of your new single, 'Beautiful Shell'! Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the song?
It’s a lot to do with technology moving so fast, it can feel like whiplash sometimes. We are at this huge technological turning point in humanity, which I find both exciting and terrifying! This song is about that balance.
You've worked with notable artists and projects in your role as a mastering engineer, and as a product developer for Spitfire Audio. How do these experiences contribute to your own artistic growth and development?
My background in working intimately with audio from the likes of Hans Zimmer, Ólafur Arnalds and Charlie Clouser is very inspiring as it exposes the bounds of what’s possible, and the incredibly unique signature, flavour and character that an individual can bring to various sounds. That kind of influence on audio is so special, something to behold, and it’s certainly inspired the way I compose music.
As for Mastering and writing, working with Rabea Massaad, despite him being a long time friend and collaborator, never ceases to inspire new ways of thinking and producing music. He’s truly an ongoing influence as the various iterations of his music always speak to me - particularly from a musical standpoint where his ear and note choices are second to none!
Your music has been featured in a variety of TV and film productions. Is there a particular project or collaboration that stands out to you as a memorable experience?
Louis Theroux’s “Dark States”. That was so moving for me because I’ve absolutely loved his work for years, and those documentaries had been a huge inspiration for me growing up. Netflix’s “Cable Girls” and “Ouro Verde” also, because it was an incredible feeling to know that the music is heard internationally across a variety of genres and shows - When I started out years ago, that had always been the dream!
As a composer, producer, and filmmaker, you have a diverse range of skills. How do you balance these different creative outlets in your work?
A mixture of all three is an ideal combo, and the most fun means of storytelling in my opinion. I feel like they all inform one another - composing for TV has informed me as to how music can add to narrative. Production and sound design also enhances that massively, and visually we can say so much without exposition in dialogue - I love blending the three, although it is a tricky balance. I’ve made visuals to accompany music, I’ve made music to accompany visuals, and had them in equal parts. I think mastering a unique mixture is the goal for me going forward.
Your background as a firefighter and trauma care medic is quite unique. How have these experiences influenced your approach to storytelling through music and film?
I think it flipped my priorities for sure. After seeing incidents on that job, it felt more important to use music to achieve something. At the time I fused a short film about a car accident with a song of the same theme, which went to be used for national safety campaigns which felt fantastic, as it was like a safety video in disguise!
I dare say that what I experienced in that job added intensity to what I make now, and I want to use it to create solidarity for shared struggles, and to help in some way.
I'm curious about your upcoming album. Can you give us any hints about what we can expect in terms of themes or musical direction?
I’m excited to mix it up. I like genre mashing and have previously done a mix of blues, rock, singer/ songwriter to metal and prog! So I’m excited to see where I can take that, I’d love to write some more anthem style commercial songs - I love technical writing, but I feel that paradoxically, there’s far more challenge in writing a simple yet excellent song!
With 'Beautiful Shell,' you delve into the impact of technology on human evolution and well- being. What inspired you to explore this theme, specifically focusing on fears surrounding artificial intelligence?
I think it’s an exciting yet unsettling time to be alive right now. I’ve become more aware of a sense that social media is steering us, me, ever so subtly - and that’s concerning if we’re not aware of it! I think technology gives so much, but it also takes away. For me, I have a sense that it’s moving faster than we can keep up with and it felt important to put into a song. “Beautiful Shell” is online persona. The song is a remember that despite social media pressure; “It’s enough to be yourself”.
Your music is often described as blending vivid and pop-inspired hooks with progressive composition and modern technicality. How do you approach merging these different elements to create your unique sound?
My background in production music really informs how I write prog. I love complexity in music, however it always felt important to have a central theme or melody holding things together, especially if the music is very hectic! It's tough because frantic music leaves little room for a hooky top line, so I’ve made it a challenge to myself to experiment with both in the same song.
Can you share any insights into your creative process when it comes to writing and producing music? Do you have any particular rituals or techniques that help you get into the right mindset?
Composition is often determined by a good brief, and a good interpretation of that brief. I often love to find sounds first, that will usually inspire a melody, which inspires rhythm, and then you are off! Rock/Metal is sometimes more difficult if you only have guitars/drums/bass/vocals etc to play with - then it really relies on either a fantastic hook or instrumental technicality. When I start with guitar, the song usually ends up being very technical and proggy. If I start with a vocal hook, it’s more poppy/ commercial. If I ever get stuck, I try to write with an instrument I’m less familiar with, and that can be a great means of breaking out of a block! Recently, being less and less of a perfectionist is definitely helping me get more done.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions, Maxi! Is there anything else you'd like to share with your fans and listeners before we wrap up
I hope you enjoy the new song, and I’m excited to share more with you soon!
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