#max leone

[Verse 1] Didn’t mean nothing at all by it It’s just I don’t wanna wake up beside you I gave you all that I got to give Even left some clothes in your dresser We used to burn like my bridges did Hotter than hell, but alive and fleeting And movin’ faster than anything (Anything) Don’t wanna go but I think I’ll be better [Pre-Chorus] ‘Cause we’re the Silence when the music ends love Dying when the…

Alexander 23 & Max Leone – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL – November 24, 2021

Max Leone – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL – November 24, 2021

Photo By: Clyde Munroe

The savviness of production nowadays is without a doubt impressive. But there’s an untouchable power that a completely stripped down, acoustic song with real, raw instrumentation possesses. All that matters is the voice, melody and lyrics. Max Leone’s new demo track “in case (there’s a change of heart)” is a testament to this quality.

Max Leone’s decision to directly upload “in case (there’s a change of heart)” to YouTube and Soundcloud shows his desire to put out music for his fans to intimately enjoy. He seems to really know who he is and what he wants to say. But it wasn’t all that long ago that Leone, born and raised in Portland, first started composing his own material and playing in jazz bands, while also teaching himself music production and posting remixes to Soundcloud. His love for music led Leone to attend Berklee College of Music for just one year before relocating to Los Angeles and signing to Darkroom Records.

The strongest quality of “in case (there’s a change of heart)” is its unapologetic honesty. The lyrics are extremely vulnerable, essentially granting us access into Leone’s inner thoughts and mind. In support of this lyrical truthfulness, Leone’s vocals sound perfectly real, not overproduced in the slightest.

“in case (there’s a change of heart)” arrives on the heels of Leone’s recently released single “5,” which also demonstrates his style of being minimalist yet mesmerizing. Max Leone, his music and entire artist brand, is likable and outright impressive. If Max Leone continues to be authentic and vulnerable like this, he is guaranteed to continue garnering more and more success. I’m extremely excited to watch him grow.

With such a massive catalogue of music that has been gifted into the world over time, it’s always shocking and exciting to me when I hear an ingenious reinvention that sounds anew. That is the challenge modern-day artists face, right? With there being an open invitation to everyone to release original music freely online with the digital age, the question persists: how do you authentically stand out?

Max Leone rises to the occasion and offers a successful response to this question with his latest single “Malleable.” It’s safe to call him a prodigy in anti-pop. “Malleable” demonstrates Leone’s technical understanding of what makes for good, new-sounding music along with his in-depth emotional capacity and ability to convey a feeling. You know simultaneously that the song required complex musicianship, but the finished product also sounds effortlessly soothing to your ear. A beautiful introduction of the guitar and Max’s vocals, followed by a distortion of the guitar that pulls at the heartstrings, and then the perfectly locked-in beat drop makes for quite the masterful combination.

“Malleable” dives into the pain and frustration of drifting apart from someone who once felt close. Needing to be DIY, Leone and his sister crafted the music video while quarantined in their hometown of Portland, Oregon. The camera follows Leone through lonely landscapes and empty streets, intensifying the song’s bittersweet aura.

Max Leone’s signature sound continues to impress the industry. Billboard hailed him as a “Gen Z bedroom pop star.” His previous single “The Beach” was produced by Alexander 23 and received high praise. Riding this wave and being a songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist at the mere age of 21 years-old, Leone is destined for even greater success. We can expect to enjoy his debut EP later this year.

Songwriter/Producer/Multi-instrumentalist, Max Leone has released a new single “Malleable”. “Malleable” channels the pain and frustration of drifting apart from someone who once felt close. The single follows the release of “The Beach” and “Cautious” which were released earlier this year.

Stream/Download “Malleable” here and watch the music video below!

The Beach - Max Leone