Meeting up with Max Marshall seemed like a huge ask since his most recent surge onto the scene. His latest single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ has become a major hit not only nationally but also worldwide and it seems incredible to think that he is back here in London in Brick Lane where it all began.
I walk into ‘Brick Lane Coffee’ a coffee shop known for its retro lovers and unsurprisingly I find Max slouching across the large sofa chair in the far corner of the room. His rather scruffy blue hat is yet again making an appearance along with his usual corduroy jacket and matte black Dr Martens. I take a slightly more hesitant approach towards him, but I’m soon greeted with a nod of the head before he adjusts his beanie to allow a strand of hair to fall from underneath it and he unexpectedly and surprisingly offers me a seat.
Q: So Max, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Tell me where did it all begin?
A: “Well, Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I mean I have been gigging since I was 15, you know in the usual pubs and clubs, how any band or artist would start out their career but I mean experience is what you need at such a young age. When I wrote my first album it never really got the recognition I was hoping for so I knew that this second album needed to be something that would make me stand out and be noticed.”
Q: Your debut album ‘Do your own thing’ never became noticed really did it, what was it do you think that your first album ‘Do your own thing’ lacked compared to your new album ‘Life is Hard’?
A: “Anyone who listens to my first album will agree with me, it was shit. It was far too simple, I thought I could get big easily, I never realised what hard work really was until I started my second album. The criticisms hit me hard after ‘Do your own thing’ but they only pushed me to produce what I think is some of my best work to date. ‘Life is Hard’ is an album inspired by the special people in my life, without them I wouldn’t be where I am today and I can only thank them for what they have done for me.”
Q: So tell me about those special people in your life, how have they had such a huge influence on your music on the whole?
A: “To some extent it wasn’t so much what they did, it was just having them there as motivation to push me to produce better music. My mum suffered a kidney failure 3 years ago and that’s where my single ‘Don’t let me go’ is inspired from. I mean she pulled through but at the time it was difficult. I felt, rather than sit there and feel sympathetic for myself, I would use the pain and anguish I was feeling and put it into my song. My mum has supported me every step of the way and this single is a thank you for what she has done.”
Q: Your mum seems to be an instrumental part as to what sounds like an excellent single, do you think the story behind the song has been a huge part of what has made this song such a hit?
A: “Of course, I mean everyone loves a song with true meaning. I think everyone goes through hard, tough, difficult situations in their life and that’s why I think my song has been given such high recognition. Almost everyone can relate to the lyrics in some way and at the end of the day I was only being genuine about my real feelings. I’m just glad to share my life with others through music because I don’t just love music, it’s my passion, my desire, my life.”
I take a moment to appreciate the generosity and honesty that Max Marshall has given me.
Q: I know your album ‘Life is Hard’ has only recently been released but I’m curious, as I’m sure everyone else is to find out what plans you have for the future?
A: “As you said, I’ve only just released my second album so really now it’s just a time to relax for a while before my tour starts in January. I mean I’ve been so overwhelmed with the support I’ve been given that it hasn’t really sunk in yet that I’m touring both the UK and the USA in 2015. It really is madness; I never expected a regular guy like me from South-East London to be sharing my music to people all over the world. It’s like a dream come true.”
I walk into ‘Brick Lane Coffee’ a coffee shop known for its retro lovers and unsurprisingly I find Max slouching across the large sofa chair in the far corner of the room. His rather scruffy blue hat is yet again making an appearance along with his usual corduroy jacket and matte black Dr Martens. I take a slightly more hesitant approach towards him, but I’m soon greeted with a nod of the head before he adjusts his beanie to allow a strand of hair to fall from underneath it and he unexpectedly and surprisingly offers me a seat.
Q: So Max, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Tell me where did it all begin?
A: “Well, Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I mean I have been gigging since I was 15, you know in the usual pubs and clubs, how any band or artist would start out their career but I mean experience is what you need at such a young age. When I wrote my first album it never really got the recognition I was hoping for so I knew that this second album needed to be something that would make me stand out and be noticed.”
Q: Your debut album ‘Do your own thing’ never became noticed really did it, what was it do you think that your first album ‘Do your own thing’ lacked compared to your new album ‘Life is Hard’?
A: “Anyone who listens to my first album will agree with me, it was shit. It was far too simple, I thought I could get big easily, I never realised what hard work really was until I started my second album. The criticisms hit me hard after ‘Do your own thing’ but they only pushed me to produce what I think is some of my best work to date. ‘Life is Hard’ is an album inspired by the special people in my life, without them I wouldn’t be where I am today and I can only thank them for what they have done for me.”
Q: So tell me about those special people in your life, how have they had such a huge influence on your music on the whole?
A: “To some extent it wasn’t so much what they did, it was just having them there as motivation to push me to produce better music. My mum suffered a kidney failure 3 years ago and that’s where my single ‘Don’t let me go’ is inspired from. I mean she pulled through but at the time it was difficult. I felt, rather than sit there and feel sympathetic for myself, I would use the pain and anguish I was feeling and put it into my song. My mum has supported me every step of the way and this single is a thank you for what she has done.”
Q: Your mum seems to be an instrumental part as to what sounds like an excellent single, do you think the story behind the song has been a huge part of what has made this song such a hit?
A: “Of course, I mean everyone loves a song with true meaning. I think everyone goes through hard, tough, difficult situations in their life and that’s why I think my song has been given such high recognition. Almost everyone can relate to the lyrics in some way and at the end of the day I was only being genuine about my real feelings. I’m just glad to share my life with others through music because I don’t just love music, it’s my passion, my desire, my life.”
I take a moment to appreciate the generosity and honesty that Max Marshall has given me.
Q: I know your album ‘Life is Hard’ has only recently been released but I’m curious, as I’m sure everyone else is to find out what plans you have for the future?
A: “As you said, I’ve only just released my second album so really now it’s just a time to relax for a while before my tour starts in January. I mean I’ve been so overwhelmed with the support I’ve been given that it hasn’t really sunk in yet that I’m touring both the UK and the USA in 2015. It really is madness; I never expected a regular guy like me from South-East London to be sharing my music to people all over the world. It’s like a dream come true.”
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