Born in London but raised in Canada, Max Graham is a well known name to both Canadian and International dance music fans. From his early days learning his craft at Atomic nightclub in Ottawa to his current tour schedule that includes over 65 countries to date.
This DJ/Producer has left his mark in a big way. With his Prog Trance classic “Airtight” (2001) Which was nominated for a “Juno” award in Canada. His monster 80’s hit “Owner of a lonely heart” (2005) and his diverse artist album “Radio” (2010) Graham has shown time and again that he has a knack for melody, for drive and for emotion.
First noticed by Paul Oakenfold and Nick Warren, then quickly snapped up by Hope Recordings, Graham was well on his way. In 2001 He mixed the fourth installment of the legendary Transport series and won highest new entry in the DJMag poll with #23.
In 2004 he released a prog/electro smash called “Crank” that was a beatport #1 as well as an emotional dance track entitled “I Know You’re Gone” with vocalist Jessica Riddle. 2005 saw the release of a Cheeky bootleg of “Owner of a Lonely Heart” that went top 10 on the UK Pop Charts.
Graham has now evolved into a tastemaker in his own right with his labels ShineMusic and Re*brand which have both partnered up with powerhouse Dutch label Armada. Through these labels Graham has reached the entire planet with his brand of energetic and emotional dance music.
First noticed by Paul Oakenfold and Nick Warren, then quickly snapped up by Hope Recordings, Graham was well on his way. In 2001 He mixed the fourth installment of the legendary Transport series and won highest new entry in the DJMag poll with #23.
In 2004 he released a prog/electro smash called “Crank” that was a beatport #1 as well as an emotional dance track entitled “I Know You’re Gone” with vocalist Jessica Riddle. 2005 saw the release of a Cheeky bootleg of “Owner of a Lonely Heart” that went top 10 on the UK Pop Charts.
Graham has now evolved into a tastemaker in his own right with his labels ShineMusic and Re*brand which have both partnered up with powerhouse Dutch label Armada. Through these labels Graham has reached the entire planet with his brand of energetic and emotional dance music.
Graham’s first solo album “RADIO” was released in 2010 on the strength of the monster vocal hits “Sun in the Winter” and “Nothing Else Matters” that, after ten years of producing, showed that the man still has what it takes to get people moving and feeling through music. Along with the pumping house the album also showed that Graham has a wider creativity with a selection of chill and downtempo tracks.
Cycles is another of Graham’s brands. Primarily a weekly two hour radio show The first double cd came out in 2008, the second in 2010 and the Third in fall 2011. The Cycles cd’s are a reflection of Max as a DJ, one who understands how to program a night, how to fuse different styles of music into a story that makes sense, the often overused cliche of “journey” fits well here.
Also in 2011 and you’ll find the release of “F.Y.C.” a tech trance stormer featured on Markus Schulz’s “Space Ibiza” compilation and Max’s next bomb “So Caught Up” with Neev Kennedy Released on his own label Re*brand. So Caught Up has received multiple plays on the biggest radio show’s in the world such as ASOT and TATW as well as being featured on Armin Van Buuren’s cd “A State of Trance 2011”. Along with these moving studio productions Max is more than at home In the Dj Booth. When Max plays he shows an enthusiasm for the crowd he’s performing for with interaction and energy that’s infectious. He plays a signature brand of dance music that, while containing primarily Trance and Progressive, is by no means closed to great music from all genres. His sets have rocked over 65 countries in his illustrious career and show no signs of slowing down
Graham is never one to stick to a single style of easily marketable music but rather follows his own path of finding great tracks from so many different genres. At one of his sets or on his Radio show you’ll hear House, Trance, Progressive and even Techno but if you let go and trust you’ll have the night of your life.
The 3rd episode of his compilation series Cycles has been just released so its a wonderful opportunity to request an interview with him and learn about the making of this great compilation plus to ask him about his successful singles that he has released and also his remix along with Protoculture on Grace's evergreen classic Not Over Yet released on Perfecto that reached top positions in many download portals. His answers are very intresting and I highly recommend you to read it as I am sure you will learn things about Max Graham that you dont know for sure. I'm very happy for this interview so enjoy it along with a warm cup of tea.
Interview is written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Radio/Club Dj and Music Journalist
Dimitri: First of all many thanks for accepting my request to organize this interview. I would love to take you back in your childhood and ask if you are coming from a family that has any connection with culture, arts and particularly music. When you told your parents that you want to get into djing and music did they encourage you to do it or did they stayed indifferent about it?
Max Graham: My parents have always been supportive of me doing anything with my life as long as it’s not destructive nor does it hurt others. So they have been 100% supportive of my career.
Dimitri: Is it possible to choose for us the 5 most influential artists (djs/producers/authors/poets etc) that have influenced the most your productions and your djing technique as well?
Max Graham: Sasha(dj/producer)/Mark Farina(dj)/BT(producer)/Derrick Carter(dj style)/Digweed(Dj/Programming)
Dimitri: Have you attended formal music education courses or are you totally self taught producer? What is your opinion about the younger generations that learn how to produce through YouTube video tutorials?
Max Graham: I am totally self taught other than some piano lessons early on. YouTube is an incredible wealth of knowledge, much like the internet as a whole, that it giving people the power to learn about basically anything. It’s no substitute for Talent though.
Dimitri: Can you recall for us when and where and how did you felt the first time that you played in front of a big crowd as a dj? Was a pleasant experience for you or you don’t feel comfortable infront of large crowds?
Max Graham: I felt very comfortable, as if i was born to DJ. Never had any issue with stepping up to the decks with anything less that confidence. I’m far more comfortable djing in front of thousands than being in the studio, i still feel i have so much to learn in the art of making music.
Dimitri: Which track was your first major success and from which point onwards did you felt that you start getting recognition and become well known in the scene?
Max Graham: Airtight was the first that really got lots of attention, Nick Warren started to play it then Oakenfold heard it and was really into it. That’s pretty much when it all kicked off.
Dimitri: Can you please take us on a guided tour in your studio and let us know your favorite piece of hardware and software that you are using more often and typify the Max Graham sound as well?
Max Graham: The only bit of hardware i still own is a Virus A but i never use it, for me i use sylenth, omnisphere, Ableton mostly. I combine a lot of different sounds to make my riffs, i try to stay away from presets :)
Dimitri: You just released the superb double CD compilation Cycles 3. That means that this compilation series is a success and you carry on with further episodes. Is there a particular secret recipe on how to compile and mix a successful compilation like Cycles 3?
Max Graham: Not really, I think that is just being a dj, knowing what works together and how to create a flow. There’s no secret formula as its dependent on the songs you use and knowing how they fit and that’s different for every group of songs.
Dimitri: What kind of tracks you are looking for to include in your compilations and are there any exclusives that made it into this double CD?
Max Graham: Yes, from my own label was Protoculture’s”Topaz” as an exclusive. Also a DNS Project track as well as Orjan Nilsens “Lucky Strike”. I was just looking for music that turns me on. One persons trance is another persons progressive so i try not to use words to describe what i’m looking for. I just go with what i like regardless of genre.
Dimitri: Did you mixed it as live with CD players or did you use the aid of computer software? Do you believe that djs who use laptops in their gigs are less competent with the more traditional ones that use cd players or even vinyls?
Max Graham: I would never mix a mix cd for home listening live unless it’s advertised as live from a gig. i want to provide the best possible product for the listener rather than say “look how great i can beatmatch”. Ableton allows you to make a mix very similar to your dj sets but with more polish and more extras. Also if you need to make changes you don’t have to start over. WIth time being our enemy that’s something that’s beneficial. For the second question Djing to me is what you play and when you play it, not how you match the beats. Anyone can beatmatch it means nothing to me. Anyone can write words on paper, doesn’t mean you can write a book or a poem that moves people. DJing is the art of programming, playing the right music at the right time to move people. Laptops don’t do that for you and neither does the SL 1200. Only you can program a night in a way that works. People who get caught up in the technology of djing are missing the entire point of what our job is. Beatmatching is about 1% of djing and I would prefer to hear a guy who doesn’t mix at all play amazing music rather that someone who is so caught up “matching the speed of two records” that he’s playing the wrong records for that moment in time. Hope this makes sense.
Dimitri: It would be great to choose for us your Top 5 tracks from this compilation and give us a short comment about your affection with them?
Max Graham: Protoculture - Topaz -progressive at it’s finest, nice little riff that lifts you.
Orjan Nilsen - Lucky Strike - a monster exclusive for the CD, driving and simple. Nothing too fluffy just proper club music.
KhoMha - 507 - another very original track, pumping but with a really cool riff. Amazing production quality too.
Heatbeat - Roses Never Cry - Probably the best produced record on the CD, these guys know their way around both the emotion of music and the coolest studio tricks to keep things really interesting.
Soundprank - The Time Machine / Beginnings - Anything by Soundprank at the moment is just excellent, his melodies are really good and smooth.
Orjan Nilsen - Lucky Strike - a monster exclusive for the CD, driving and simple. Nothing too fluffy just proper club music.
KhoMha - 507 - another very original track, pumping but with a really cool riff. Amazing production quality too.
Heatbeat - Roses Never Cry - Probably the best produced record on the CD, these guys know their way around both the emotion of music and the coolest studio tricks to keep things really interesting.
Soundprank - The Time Machine / Beginnings - Anything by Soundprank at the moment is just excellent, his melodies are really good and smooth.
Dimitri: Your label Re*brand is going really well and there are clubbers who are expecting to get each release from this label. Why you decided to set up this label? Is it because its trendy for the djs to own a record label or there is a deeper artistic need for personal expression?
Max Graham: It’s trendy? First i’ve heard of that would have to disagree with that assessment. I think it’s a common brand building move to create a record label that you associate with yourself and your sound. Also it’s great to have more control over your own music so it makes perfect sense for a dj who releases their own music to create an outlet that speaks to who they are and the style of music they are releasing.
Dimitri: We are reaching the end of 2011 so it would be great to choose for us your Top 3 Re*Brand tracks of the year and offer us a small comment about them?
Max Graham: Protoclture Feat Shannon Hurley - Sun Gone Down - one of the vocals of the year to me.
Max Graham - FYC - I love this track, it’s diff to the vocals i’ve been making lately and really goes down well on the dancefloor.
Max Graham - FYC - I love this track, it’s diff to the vocals i’ve been making lately and really goes down well on the dancefloor.
D-Mad - Forsheez - Nice chunky progressive house, love it.
Dimitri: Your remix along with Protoculture on Grace seminal classic Not Over Yet as a huge success at the various download portals. Is it possible to tell us how long it took you to produce it and if you had any signs that this remix is going to become so successful?
Max Graham: Took about a week, I wrote the main riff and a lot of the music around it then sent it to Nate to write the drums and bass in his awesome style, we rearranged it a bit and thought it was nice but had no idea it would do as well as it did, very surprising :)
Dimitri: Can you reveal to us your future personal releases and the releases from other artists that we should look out for in the coming year? There is a rumour that you are going to collaborate with the lovely Susana? Is this going to be released soon?
Max Graham: The Susana track is pretty much finished will be out likely in the new year, then a new album from me in 2012 probably in the summer. :)
Dimitri: In 2011 you played in various clubs, countries and festivals. It would be great to choose your best and worst djing experience that happened to you this year and you will remember for ever.
Max Graham: Not really any bad ones, it’s been a great year. Best was probably ASOT 500 just for the sheer size of the event overall. So nice to see everyone also.
Dimitri: One of my favorite questions to all the djs is that one about self-reflection and self-criticism. Out of 10 with what score do you rate the various elements of your dj performances and why?
a) your mixing skills:
Max Graham: I’m old school, I learned to mix on Vinyl with no headphones, bringing up the volume and differentiating the records and the speed right away to mix them. Then moving to headphones made it seem so much easier. I’m a dj through and through so this is something I think I’m pretty good at.
b) your ability to choose the right track for the right occasion:
Max Graham: Not sure I would still be in business if I didn’t know how to do this :)
c) your friendly attitude towards the fans that are coming to shake your hand when you perform and after that?
Max Graham: I’ve had my moments when i’m just not in the mood and/or people expect too much like grabbing your neck and start pulling you to tell you about their djing but overall i really like to take the time for photo’s and conversation. After all we all love the same music so I quite enjoy meeting people at shows.
Dimitri: Do you use actively internet and the social networks like facebook, twitter or YouTube? Do you believe that those tools are vital for your selfpromotion?
Max Graham: Yes I think it’s amazing to be able to connect directly with fans using social media. They are vital for self promotion but if that’s only how you use it you’re completely missing the point of “social media”
Dimitri: How your Cycles radio show is going and which particular episode you remember the most? Do you think is important for any dj and producer to produce his own radio show and for what reasons you believe radio shows are so successful?
Max Graham: I don’t have any particular episode but I do feel the smartest move this year was to take cycles weekly, it’s a TON of work every Monday but it has paid off bigtime with more and more new listeners each week and a real community being based around it. Every Tuesday during the show people log into to twitter using the hashtag #CyclesRadio and join along with feedback and commentary and it’s so cool. I love it and wish I had done it sooner.
Dimitri: Do you accept demos from new artists to release in your label? Do you have any piece of advice or wisdom for the young artists who would love to get the attention of a record label like yours and Armada Music? What they should and what they should not avoid to do in order to become well known in the scene?
Max Graham: Of course, how else do we as dj’s find the new artists? I think being original is the best idea, although it’s probably the most difficult. Imitation is ok when learning but you have to innovate to stand out. Keep it simple is something I tell people a lot, a quality riff goes a lot farther than a whole bunch of ideas packed into one song.
Dimitri: Please give us your wishes for the forthcoming festival season and the New Year too? Do you get actively involved in any charities or good causes activities to help people in need?
Max Graham: I do actually but I don’t like to advertise them as I think it’s cheap to use what you do to promote yourself or increase peoples opinions of you. But anyone who follows me on twitter knows very well that I think a lot about what’s going on the planet and also the plight of those less fortunate. I think everyone should do a little something during the whole year but especially during the holidays.
Thank you so much for having me! :)
Many thanks to Max for his lovely answers. Its great interview to read and after think a lot around it in Cycles maybe...
Big thanks to Marije de Konink at Armada Music offices for her fantastic support to organise this interview
Thanks to Tjerk at Armada Music offices for his support too.
Various Artists - Cycles 3 compiled and mixed by Max Graham
CD1
1 Soundprank - Beginnings
2 Stannis - Sky Drops
3 Andrew Bayer - Counting The Points (Matt Lange Mix)
4 Solarity - Marsh
5 Sophie Sugar - Skyline (DNS Project Remix)
6 EDU - Step In Time
7 Norin & Rad vs Audien - Thrust
8 Heatbeat - Roses Never Cry
9 Protoculture - Topaz
10 Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Chriss Ortega - Ocean Drive (Protoculture Remix)
11 Mehilove - Daylight
12 A.M.R. - Sand Dunes (Estiva Remix)
13 Foyle & Zo - Simple Things
14 R'm Electro - Sundown Of The Day
1 Soundprank - Beginnings
2 Stannis - Sky Drops
3 Andrew Bayer - Counting The Points (Matt Lange Mix)
4 Solarity - Marsh
5 Sophie Sugar - Skyline (DNS Project Remix)
6 EDU - Step In Time
7 Norin & Rad vs Audien - Thrust
8 Heatbeat - Roses Never Cry
9 Protoculture - Topaz
10 Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Chriss Ortega - Ocean Drive (Protoculture Remix)
11 Mehilove - Daylight
12 A.M.R. - Sand Dunes (Estiva Remix)
13 Foyle & Zo - Simple Things
14 R'm Electro - Sundown Of The Day
CD2
1 BT & Adam K - Tomahawk
2 D-Mad presents Yummy L.Y. - Blaze Away
3 Protoculture - Liquid Logic (Nhato Remix)
4 DNS Project - Exclusive (Bigroom Mix)
5 D-Mad - Forsheez
6 Orjan Nilsen - Lucky Strike
7 KhoMha - 507
8 Max Graham - F.Y.C.
9 Myon & Shane 54 - Futuristic (Green and Falkner Remix)
10 Grace - Not Over Yet (Max Graham vs Protoculture Remix Edit)
11 Astrix - Reunion
12 Edu & Cramp - Human Turbines
13 DNS Project feat. Madelin Zero - Another Day (KhoMha Remix)
14 Soundprank - The Time Machine
1 BT & Adam K - Tomahawk
2 D-Mad presents Yummy L.Y. - Blaze Away
3 Protoculture - Liquid Logic (Nhato Remix)
4 DNS Project - Exclusive (Bigroom Mix)
5 D-Mad - Forsheez
6 Orjan Nilsen - Lucky Strike
7 KhoMha - 507
8 Max Graham - F.Y.C.
9 Myon & Shane 54 - Futuristic (Green and Falkner Remix)
10 Grace - Not Over Yet (Max Graham vs Protoculture Remix Edit)
11 Astrix - Reunion
12 Edu & Cramp - Human Turbines
13 DNS Project feat. Madelin Zero - Another Day (KhoMha Remix)
14 Soundprank - The Time Machine
