Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Max Berlin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Max, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

On June 16 (2023), I release my most personal project to date. A full EP for my indie artist concept, “Berlin w/ Strings,” featuring explicit lyrics, a neoclassical strings instrumental, a trancy disco track, and a moody ballad sped up for TikTok cooking videos. It’s film music, music theatre, and art pop rolled into one. My favorite review of this project has been “a perfect mix of symphony and chaos,” which is exactly how it felt to make. The central goal behind this music was to not limit myself in any way; I wanted to make the thing that I would make if given no restrictions and a pot of coffee. Therefore, this music is very deeply a part of me–which in itself feels like a risky venture for an oversaturated and volatile music industry.

Still, when it comes to being an artist there is no greater strategy than being yourself. It’s 2023, Hollywood is on strike, A.I. is polarizing the creative world–who’s to say what works and what doesn’t work. I’m releasing my art pop album with strings and it’s f***king awesome. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did composing it.

Max, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In 2019, I moved to Los Angeles from Detroit, MI almost entirely on a gut feeling–that it was the place I needed to be, and in that place were the people I needed to create with. I was lucky enough to be thrown into Hollywood film music early on, but once pandemic hit it was clear how much the entertainment industry was shaken up. My idea of what I could do with my film scoring and composition skillset blew wide open.

I write music with a specialty in collaborating with other types of media. This includes film and TV–but I also have a deep interest in the media that will define my generation, like social media and immersive live performance. Everything from modern dance to 15-second TikToks to entire film scores performed live-to-picture!

Something I’ve tried to bring into my work from the start is a sense of openness and a belief in infinite creative possibilities. While often times I’ve felt that jumping around from medium to medium signifies a lack of focus, I am realizing more and more that the ability to diversify myself as a musician is an investment into the future of creative careers. What I bring to the table is a wide range of skills and interests that are all backed by real experience and a commitment to excellent work.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The Hollywood strikes and the general fear of A.I. all share one common anxiety: technology has vastly outrun the economic systems in place for professional media creatives. The genie is out of the bottle: innovation and advancement will happen regardless of what or who it replaces. The bitter truth is that there is no moral plea large enough to stop this–in a very neutral way, we’re all in this together.

But what we can do is take a look at our community, our values, and the power systems in place. The WGA strikes have turned into a beautiful example of grassroots activism; for those working in the “industry,” (like myself), it’s an inspiring thing to be reminded of the creative community that exists behind the rolling credits of your favorite streaming show.

Ultimately, we get to decide how much we value art and entertainment. What’s a livable wage in Los Angeles? Should unpaid interns exist? What sacrifices are appropriate in exchange for a full-time creative career? If we want to support artists we have to examine these questions with extreme sobriety and the utmost compassion.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2019, I wrote out the first ideas for what would become “Berlin w/ Strings,” and at the time I was a burnt-out music school graduate and insecure about both singing and songwriting. I came from a jazz and studio background, but I knew the music I wanted to make was a new genre entirely and had me absolutely buzzing with ideas. My last summer in college I crammed 8 string players, bass, drums, and guitar into the bacterial basement of the famous party house on campus and sang my own songs for the first time. I was truly shaking with nerves.

After family illness, a global pandemic, and four crazy years in the music and entertainment industry–in some ways I’m still shaking with nerves. “Berlin w/ Strings” has gone through such a variety of collaborations, iterations, and moments of doubt, but what makes more excited than ever to share this E.P. is that all these experiences in life and music have led me to this release. After all of it, I’m still buzzing with ideas.  

Contact Info:

• Website: maxberlinmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themaxberlin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/max.berlin.7
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-berlin-73b227197
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJSloAPre8xTAfjBACXb3QQ
• Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/berlinwstrings/berlin-w-strings

Image Credits
Michael Strauss, Vita Kari, Evian Daye, Joe Hagen