MAX RAD
Only two years following his official streaming debut, UK based artist MAX RAD has made a name for himself on the Alternative/Indie Pop circuit. The Gloucestershire native is one of the latest success stories in the “bedroom pop” movement. His 2019 song “Flesh & Blood” was a major hit that generated over a million streams on Spotify. Now with over 2.5 million total streams on the service, Max returns with his new single, “Back Around.” The song made it onto “New Music Friday UK,” and is in the company of today’s biggest artists. He recently spoke about his start, songwriting process, and more.
How did you start making music?
I started by playing guitar and having lessons when I was about 6 years old. My teacher - Bernie - was so good. He just always encouraged me to sing and make songs, so that's how it started. Then I got in to recording and producing, it's all grown from there.
Flesh & Blood was released the year after your Spotify debut and has received over one million plays. Take us through writing the hit.
I wrote that track when I was down in Devon last year. I was staying in a little cottage by the sea on my own and had taken a few bits of gear to do some writing and recording. I remember I went for a walk to take a break from something I was working on. It was a really grey winter's day and I had this experience which lead me to writing some lyrics down. Then I got back and started playing some chords on my Juno 106. The song just poured out that afternoon.
How would you describe your music to a new listener?
Not sure, you tell me..
Which artists would you say have had the greatest impact on your work? Who would you consider a “dream collab”?
Listening to Jimi Hendrix, Queen, George Harrison, and Led Zepellin made me want to play guitar. Artists like Dr. Dre, Gorillaz, Dilla, and Madlib got me into the idea of beat making. And Four Tet, Jamie XX, James Blake, Dan Snaith, Bon Iver, and Kevin Parker made me love producing. A dream collab would be Steve Lacy or Flying Lotus, or Adele.
Which song from Save Me From Myself Pt. 1 are you most proud of and why?
Right now, I'd say “Old Toy.” I love playing it just raw as it was written on a guitar. It works really well like that, stripped down.
You are a part of this era of “Bedroom Pop” artists who are making studio quality music from home. How does this reflect the future of the music industry?
I think it's a really exciting time to be making music. Artists have more control rather than recording in big fancy studios with A&R's coming in. They’ll be breathing down your neck, watering things down; Music being made by comity. People are now able to say what they want to say and make what they want to make. It's really powerful, I think. What the future of the music industry looks like, God knows. But it's an exciting time.
What is/are your favorite non-music hobby/hobbies?
I love surfing.