Maxi Curnow — Music in Motion
Q: Please introduce yourself to the readers and what made you want to become a musician?
Hello, I’m Maxi, a composer, producer and filmmaker from the UK. I compose music for TV/Film alongside my solo project, and I work in music production in the day, namely for Spitfire Audio and Horizon Mastering. From a young age, I loved the technical side of things, I built a couple of guitars in my teens and that soon evolved into making DIY lenses, outboard equipment and camera rigs. I’ve worked in the industry for over a decade, yet due to technological advancements and accessibility to new ways of making music, I’m happy to say that it’s always felt fresh. My production work informs the way I make music and vice versa, and that feeling of endless possibilities to create sounds, inspires me to write!
Q: Who has been your most influential teacher or mentor?
When I was starting out as a teenager, I was grateful to learn from Tim Laws (Stevie Wonder, Gabrielle, Sugarbabes) as a studio assistant — my first hurdle was learning to make good cup of tea, I remember my first attempts being dubbed as “chicken soup”!! Tim is a phenomenal writer of pop music and a kind mentor, the opportunity to learn how he wrote was invaluable to me, and we went on to collaborate together in the following years. Also in my teens, I was a trainee at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London, where I developed a love for sound engineering and eventually did sound for shows also, and for NYJO. So early on, I developed a love for both pop music and jazz, writing and engineering, and I am very grateful for that.
Q: What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
I love a lot of music within various genres, and particularly enjoy bands that genre mash! There’s pop music that I absolutely love, the simplicity and power of a really good song can be life changing, however within the same genre there are pop songs that don’t hit home for me. I’m open to everything, there are good songs and bad songs of every flavour!
Q: What would you say is your greatest weakness as an artist?
When I write for a documentary for example, it’s very clear what’s needed. However for my own music, because there are no limitations I tend to get very excited with an idea and write very technically as a challenge to myself, which does not always serve my song. I’ve recently started writing with just vocals and guitar, instead of at the computer, layering orchestration and throwing the kitchen sink at an idea. A good melody always lands, so I am urging myself to simplify at the moment.
Q: In terms of the overall composition, what is your favourite song and why?
Grace — Jeff Buckley. This has been the case most of my life, it’s simply sublime. This will become an essay if I’m not careful, but if you haven’t already, take a listen and see how many incredible moments or arrangement, instrumentation and melody you can pick out!
Q: What kind of music artist would you classify yourself as?
For my own music, versatile and experimental. I’ve written for so many genres due to work and wanting to broaden my horizons, and working as a Mastering Engineer also exposes me to a multitude of styles which I oftentimes find myself wanting to try when I’m inspired.
Q: Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
Hearing songs which made my heart beat faster, through headphones with a walkman or accompanying a film, and wanting to have the same effect on others with my own work someday. Music and film had a massive impact on me as a youngster, so it became the dream early on.
Q: Would you agree that it is very important to learn, study and understand the old music and music history?
Yes to an extent, but there’s so much to learn, I wouldn’t force it. Learn what you have an interest in, don’t spend time on things because you think you “should” if your heart isn’t in it. And frankly, various people in your life will expose you to music anyway! For example, my parents played Dave Brubeck and my guitar teacher played me SRV when I was young, and I didn’t warm to either at the time… yet as an adult, it’s definitely been inadvertently ingrained and now I love both!
Q: What’s next for you?
A lot of music and filming for music, and I have quite an ambitious audio/visual project in the works. There’s another album in the works too (although there’s always an album in the works!) And I’m continuing to compose also. There are some new collaborations I’m extremely excited about. For myself, I’m keen to experiment with genre more in my own music, and re-indulge in some singer-songwriter-style music!
Q: How did you come up with the idea for your Music video?
The song is about the massive technological advancements we are experiencing at the moment and AI, and the effect it’s having on us. So I made a blend of AI and footage that I filmed of myself in an Air BnB, to see what I would create with the bare minimum! I then re-fed it into AI and experimented around to try to demonstrate both worlds. The song and visuals were fun to play with — I hope you enjoy it!
Q: social media profiles:
https://www.instagram.com/maxicurnow/
https://www.youtube.com/maxicurnow
https://maxicurnow.com/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14998423/
