Exclusive Interview with Max Graham

Recently we had the opportunity to speak with Max Graham. Read up on a lot of interesting things you may not have known about Max.

Hello Max, nice to have you on MaxMuzik! As this is your first interview with us, let’s start off with a little background. How did you get into music? Please tell us about the beginning of your career as a DJ.
I started out as a hip hop / top 40 DJ in the 90’s and then discovered the underground around 97. Started producing around 2000 then due to the success of the early singles starting touring worldwide.

For our readers who’ve never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words.
It’s energetic, driving, melodic, emotional dance music.

Susana & Max Graham – “Down To Nothing”

Can you offer insight into some of your musical inspirations? And who is your favorite artist from Electronic music outside your own specific genre?
I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks, people like Cliff Martinez who incorporates electronic sounds with live orchestra beautifully. As a DJ people like John Digweed who just wants to be in a dark room DJing for hours rather than on a stage with bright lights, he plays amazing music without all the fan fare. That’s how I like it.

You’re releasing your new compilation on your label Rebrand with Armada in early 2014, how’s the experience working on this album like for you so far?
Well it’s the fifth in this series and the tenth in my career so it’s pretty automatic for me now. I work hard to find new gems that people haven’t heard yet and put them together in a natural way.

What is the most challenging part of the production process of your new compilation?
Tracking down the music, the actual mixing and programming (choosing what goes where) is quite natural to me after 15 years but finding those tracks in the first place is definitely the hard part.

You started your radio show/podcast “Cycles Radio” back in 2010, and you cover interesting track selection. How’s your experience so far and how do you pick your tracks for the show?
That takes a full day each Monday. As the show is 2 hours, I try not to rely on tracks from the previous week. I go through all the new releases in the genres I use (tech-house, techno, trance, progressive) each week on Beatport plus listen to about 200 tracks emailed to me each week. Then I edit all the ones I like but cutting them up to make them suit exactly how I play. It’s a full 10-hour day each week but it actually keeps me more on top of music that before I had the radio show.

Could you tell us about your music production process? Also your equipment and the setup you use in your live shows.
For live shows, it’s a standard Pioneer Pro DJ mixer and CDJs. In the studio, I use Ableton on a Mac and I’m completely inside the box (no outboard gear), which allows me to work while being mobile.

RebrandTV Episode 1 – “Max Graham in NYC”

Speaking of shows, you’ll perform at Toika Lounge Open to Close on November 15, 2013. Are you excited for this home country venue? How’s it going to be different from the venues outside of Canada?
I’m always excited to play a long set for an appreciative crowd regardless of where it is but it’s def nice to come back to Canada. I have friends in Toronto that I get to see and I can pick up all those Canadian things I can’t get overseas.

What artists would fans be surprised to find on your iPod?
Massive Attack is on there right now, I was listening to Tipper the other day too.

Any final thoughts or parting words?
Find me on Twitter and Facebook and say hi :)))

NEW WEBSITE: http://maxgraham.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maxgraham
Facebook: https://facebook.com/djmaxgraham
Tour Dates: http://bit.ly/MaxGrahamOnTour
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/maxgraham
YouTube: http://youtube.com/maxgraham
iTunes: http://bit.ly/maxgrahamitunes
Instagram: http://instagram.com/maxgraham
Spotify: http://bit.ly/maxgrahamspotify
Tumblr: http://djmaxgraham.tumblr.com
Cycles Radio: https://cyclesradio.com