Multi-talented singer MAX to hold first concert in Seoul
A poster for MAX's concert “The Intimate Af Tour,” to be held at MUV Concert Hall on Jan. 14. / Courtesy of Live Nation Korea
By Jung Hae-myoung
Singer-songwriter, model and actor MAX will visit Seoul on his “The Intimate Af Tour,” Jan. 14. Ahead of his first concert in Korea, the multi-faceted musician shared his thoughts via an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.
MAX, also known as Maxwell George Schneider, is a New York-based singer who has been building his career since he appeared in the Broadway musical “13” at an early age, and he has been working in various fields including film, television and modeling.
He made his first appearance in Madonna's Dolce and Gabbana campaign in 2010, and has been making music under the stage name MAX. He has also collaborated with Maroon 5, Ed Sheeran, and Justin Timberlake via YouTube.
MAX said his experience starting in a Broadway musical had influenced his music and performance style on stage.
“There is nothing I love more than performing live and giving a real show,” he said. “A theatrical experience all over. That love came from growing up on Broadway. I think about it when I'm writing the songs, how they'll sound live, what parts the crowd will sing, all of it stems from there.”
His other career as an actor has also influenced his music videos and most of the stories are based on real-life people and places.
“Knowing how to bring the story of the song to life through another story of a video is always a beautiful experience,” he said. “Pretty much all of my music and video stems from personal experiences and characters, often based on real people from my past and present. I love creating a new world of fictional characters, but the soul of it all comes from the real place.”
MAX has also collaborated with other artists including Hoodie Allen, Joey Bada$$, and Quin XCII. He said he loves to expand his genres, and has no limit as long as the emotion and story of a song are authentic.
“It keeps it exciting to me to keep fans and myself guessing who will be a part of the next release,” he said.
Although he has not yet collaborated with any Korean musicians, MAX said he would love to do so because he is a keen K-pop fan.
“I love BTS, Stray Kids, Day6, MonstaX and Black Pink,” he said. “It would be an honor to create something together. Groups like BTS and Day6 have been giving my music so much love for years.”
Last month, MAX sent a Twitter message to Jungkook from BTS saying he hoped to meet him at his show in Seoul in January.
“Jungkook has recommended a few of my songs over the years and every time he does, I'm so honored and excited,” he said. “Hopefully we will get to finally meet in person when I'm there.”
Apart from performing, MAX said he would like to hang with his musician friends here, get some skin care and eat Korean food.
MAX, will perform at Seoul's MUV Concert Hall on Jan. 14, and hinted that his new album should be released later this year as an “exciting pre-summer gift.”