After turning out a breadth of dazzling delights these last few years, London-based artist Max Sarre is now back for 2024 to deliver his uplifting new single 'Brother'.
Honing more of that rich and glossy pop aesthetic he is known for, 'Brother' makes for a wonderfully warm and invigorating listen. With its warm and inviting textures, soaring atmosphere, and mesmerising vocals layered throughout, he returns to us with one of his most heartfelt releases to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
It has to be the piano! I remember being like 13 and I managed to persuade my dad to buy me a keyboard. I used to spend so many nights at home as a teenager writing song after song. I was also kind of self-taught, so it made it even more special to me each time I managed to make a song. They weren’t very good though, haha!
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I listen to A LOT of music, but I’d say I listen mostly to pop and rap, sometimes a bit of EDM too. But pop inspired me to do what I’m doing now; it gave me a lot of hope.
What was the first album you remember owning?
That’s such a hard question because I own so many albums now. I think it was Charlie Puth’s Nine Track Mind. That album changed me and has definitely shaped some of the ways I make music.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I love this question. I always think about it and realize I will never be able to give one song as an answer—there are just too many. But off the top of my head, we’ll go with “Deserve You” by Justin Bieber.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Nope! Each time is different, to be honest, but what I do know is I go into the studio intending to come out with a pop smash, haha!
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Charlie Puth (always), Justin Bieber, and Henry Moodie are some of my all-time favourites.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I have always said, and I will always say, Justin Bieber. He is such a huge inspiration to me, and he’s exactly what I want to be like (with my own twist, of course)—the whole pop star package. Plus, his fans are incredible, and I’d be honoured!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Recently, I keep hearing from fans that my music helped them through their lowest times, or that they felt like no one else was going through what they were going through until they heard my music. That’s super important to me—that my music is actually helping people and making some sort of positive change. It feels so rewarding.
And what is the most frustrating part?
At the start, the most frustrating part is the sheer amount of work, time, and even money sometimes you put in only to get little result. It hurts really bad when you put your entire blood, sweat, and tears into a project and are so passionate about it, and then it doesn’t go anywhere because you don’t have the audience (or the significant amount of money needed to market to your target audience). However, I’m already seeing both sides of this. When I started three years ago, I felt like that—I still do feel like that from time to time—but now I actually have a pretty nicely sized fan base, and I feel like my work is being appreciated. That drives me to want to do even more and make it even better than before! It’s a slow process—in five years from now, we’ll probably be quadruple the size!
What is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The most invaluable piece of information I ever received was to be kind to EVERYONE. It does not matter who or what they’ve done to you. You never know who can help you in one year or even ten years’ time. Plus, you don’t want to come across as a mean artist (not me, anyway).
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Max Sarre's new single 'Brother' is out now. Listen to it in the player below.