Read me in the original French
Originally from Béziers, electro-pop artist MAXIIM has been writing songs for about a year now. His gentle, caressing voice, accompanied by melodies laden with symbolism, speaks a universal language that captures the attention. The pain of toxic relationships, the melancholy of fleeting time, but also the hope of escape and the joy of emancipation, are the emotions that resonate in the artist's first album. Released on October 11, Swimming invites listeners to dive into a world where "anything is possible".
His pianist's fingers are the first thing that strikes you. No coincidence since, for MAXIIM, the piano was the start of a dream that has now become his musical career. His childhood was tumultuous and the instrument quickly became an escape, a lifelong companion. His expansive gestures betray a great sensitivity to the vibrations of a turbulent world. Maxime, the man behind the artist, is revealed through a sincere and intimate account. “The piano saved me,” he declares, his voice trembling. It was his grandmother who introduced him to the instrument at the age of seven. And the rest is history: MAXIIM soared towards his liberation, managing to throw off the shackles that had imprisoned him all his life.
A risk taker from the beginning
After starting tennis studies, he eventually abandoned them as music was always present within him and his burning desire for artistic fulfilment never disappeared. And so, a radical change: "You have to take risks.” Driven by unbridled passion, he turned to jazz at the Toulon Conservatoire. It was there that a pivotal event transformed his life for the better. A strong bond developed between him and his piano teacher, who honed his artistic skills and enabled him, in 2015, to work with the electro-pop trio STEREOSCOPE. It was also his teacher's encouragement that prompted him to move to Paris in 2018 to pursue his dreams at the American School of Modern Music. To this day, the artist never stops thanking his mentor.
"Improvisation is my compositional process"
Paris offered itself up to him. The city opened new doors, both professionally and personally. At first, bars and hotels formed his musical landscape. But no longer wanting “to play in the background", he decided to embark on a new project: fashioning his voice into an instrument. Nevertheless, his work as a composer continued. Numerous collaborations flourished, from rock and pop with Mathieu Chedid to reggae with Tryo, Ayo and Donald Kinsey—an eclectic mix of genres that attests to his artistic versatility. The common thread running through all these collaborations is a cinematic vision of the world, for "painting pictures, transmitting strong emotions" is the very essence of his music.
An unending source of inspiration
His songs are born out of images. His habit of observing people and nature sends him into a state of trance, of enchantment in the face of the serene and complex unfolding of life—for "inspiration is everywhere". He always carries a notebook in his bag, a precious object that collects his spontaneous ideas. For, unlike other artists, he is not afraid of the unknown: “Improvisation is my compositional process,” a symbol of his freedom. But the refinement of his music is the fruit of continuous efforts that can take years. For him, writing a song is like "a seed that germinates until it blossoms".
Lockdown put the development of his live show on hold but his sources of inspiration were inexhaustible. MAXIIM turned the world's misfortune into motivation, using this period of inactivity to explore the inner recesses of his soul: "You build a little garden inside yourself.” And in his garden, he pulls out the weeds to plant flowers by "the path of introspection". The unspoken finds its voice in MAXIIM's music, turning his songs into personal reflections of unmistakable emotional subtlety. MAXIIM's artistic identity is defined by the resonance of his deeply moving experiences with his lyrical, poetic arrangements.
"Mystery is what makes an artist compelling," he believes. And so he stops there. That said, MAXIIM is currently working on his second album and planning an international tour.
Swimming is available on all streaming platforms
Find him on: Instagram | Facebook | SoundCloud | Spotify | YouTube
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