Artist Spotlight
Exclusive Interview With Maxx, A multi-talented Pop Artist Who Is Making A Name For HerSelf In The Music Industry
Maxx is a multi-talented pop artist originally from Ocean Township, New Jersey. She began singing, performing, and writing at a very young age but never viewed it as her career because she was pursuing horseback riding. She has developed a unique sound and hopes to create moments to remember in her music videos and while performing. She hopes that the stories she tells in her music will help others feel less lonely and encourage them to find strength through their passions as she has.
During her childhood, she encountered traumatic experiences which affected her mental health. After suffering from depression and anxiety, in 2017, Maxx began to write about her feelings and experiences. That’s when her music became her therapy. Music saved her life, and it kept her prevailing through challenging times.
As maxx grew older, she began analyzing successful female artists’ careers and inspiration, mainly in the pop spaces. She identified with artists like Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande. When she finally moved to Los Angeles, she sought to find unique ways to create a fresh sound and brand that would be groundbreaking and compelling while allowing her favorite singers and other artists to serve as inspiration.
In her recent song Hostage she expressed her undying love for music and her relationship with her anxiety at that time.
Listen to Hostage on Spotify:
Hello there, welcome to Honkmagazine. Can you tell our readers about what really inspired you to write music?
Maxx – The first inspiration I had to write was the day I found out my great grandma passed away. I was very young and wasn’t really able to understand what I was feeling or how to process the emotion. After that writing and music became my way of dealing with all of my struggles and emotions. It became and still is a very healing and therapeutic way of coping for me.
When did you realize you were going to make music professionally?
Maxx – In about 2018 I was really trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life and what I wanted to go to school for. I was working with a voice coach at the time who suggested going to a music school. That sounded like a dream to me since I was never a big fan of traditional school. As music started to become my everyday life I began making it more of my personal life than just school and absolutely fell in love with it which made me decide to make it my career.
Tell us what is so unique about you and your music?
Maxx – What is unique about myself as an artist and my music is that I write about my deepest darkest struggles and traumas with all honesty and authenticity so my lyrics and sound come from a very raw and vulnerable place that I don’t let many people see.
Can you tell us about your latest releases and what inspired you to create them?
Maxx – My latest release is my song and video Hostage. For me the song is about my relationship with my anxiety at the time. I wrote the song while I was struggling with the worst anxiety I’ve ever experienced. I was shaking and couldn’t breath all day everyday. It felt like it was taking over me. I decided to write about it hoping to release it in a way which is exactly what happened. I walked into the studio shaking and once I was done writing the song I felt amazing! The song really helped me.
Can you give us a brief insight about your upcoming projects?
Maxx – my upcoming projects aren’t as heavy but definitely relatable. I’ve been writing in new ways about all kinds of experiences, some of the things I’ve been writing about aren’t even my own experience which has been a lot of fun!
What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out?
Maxx – I wish I knew to not be so trusting honestly. In the past I’d say there have been times where I gave my trust to people a little too fast which has had negative outcomes.
What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
Maxx – Not much honestly! Music has become pretty much my whole life so when I’m not writing, singing, performing, or playing the piano I’ve found I have a hard time knowing what I want to do with myself lol! But I’ve always loved animals and nature, especially horses, so anything that involves that I usually enjoy. I also love fitness, working out, and going to the gym!
Any last piece of advice for those artists who just started making music?
Maxx – My biggest piece of advice would have to be two things:
- Don’t compare yourself! Focus on you and stay in your own lane. Worrying about others and their work/progress will only slow you down and distract you from your own work. Your path is unique and specifically made for you so trust that you are exactly where you need to be!
- Stay true to yourself! Don’t let anyone or anything change you for any reason. That can be a hard thing to do in this industry sometimes.
How can our readers follow you online?
Maxx – You all can find me on my Instagram @maxx.nies
To know more about me, visit my website: www.itsmaxxmusic.com and you can find my music on all streaming platforms under Maxx!
You can also visit my link tree for more:
Artist Spotlight
MEET THE ARTIST MEL THE PROPHET
Hello Mel The Prophet, Thanks for coming to Honk Magazine to talk about your career.
Tell us a little more about when you first got into music?
Mel the Prophet- I first got into music in 2016. I used to freestyle with my friends and I was becoming really good and around that time I went to a NIpsey Hussle concert and an epiphany and was inspired to speak about my truth over music to inspire people how I was inspired by Nipsey
If you could describe your sound/style in one word, what would it be and why?
Mel the Prophet- If I could describe my music in one word it would be, [ UNIQUE ] because , my music comes from real experiences while being witty and aggressive with intention to motivate the listener to view themselves and the world in a different perspective.
What would you say to any aspiring recording artists who look up to your work?
Mel the Prophet- What I would say to aspiring artists who look up to my work is always be a learner and humble but always be honest with who you are before doing music, no matter what!
What quote or mantra do you live by?
Mel the Prophet- The mantra I live by is, if no one existed on the earth but you, how would you feel and what would you do and who would you be? ,,, now feel, do and be that with everyone existing on earth!
What is your hobby outside of music?
Mel the Prophet- My hobby outside of music is working out, reading and learning new ways to help others become more self aware.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Mel the Prophet- Where I see myself in 5 years is living on a ranch with multiple acres being a household name in music and the mental health industry providing value in creative ways to those who need help.
Do you have anything new or upcoming we can expect to see from you?
Mel the Prophet- What I have upcoming is a musical project, “SELF HELP” the self awareness guide and I’m also working on a RnB album
What is the inspiration behind your latest song?
Mel the Prophet- The inspiration behind my latest song, “Help 1 Self” (Mental Health Anthem) was experiencing the pandemic when a lot of people became afraid and aware of the fact their mental health was at stake.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
Mel the Prophet- The 5 things I wish someone told me when I first started:
Expect no support from the people you want or expect support from. I was always a good person and a person who was “friends” with many people, not just around me or in my community but all around and thought I was going to get support from them because I was doing something good.
INVEST IN YOURSELF: Even though I did invest in myself, I was expecting others to invest in me because of the ideas I had and how beneficial they would be for others.
FOCUS ON THE BIGGER PICTURE: As much as I thought I was focusing on the bigger picture, I actually wasn’t. I was rushing the process to become what I knew I am and I would attempt to force myself and my vision onto people without trusting the process of just doing the work day in and day out.
KNOW WHEN TO SAY NO!: Being a good person can be tiring when you’re attempting to help anyone and everyone. Some people do not align with your mission or purpose. I would give my hand out to anyone who asked for it and then be in a situation where the person or people would just attempt to take advantage of my kindness.
FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE and not your ego
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Mel the Prophet- Some tips for my colleagues not to burn out:
1: SOLITUDE (spend time with yourself and your own thoughts).
2: Spend time in nature without technology . Nature is the essence of our being, being able to breathe in the air and listen to the natural habit of nature is a key element to self awareness to redirect your energy.
3: SLEEP WELL + REST.
4: Spend time with family and people you love doing things that are fun and not just work all the time .. finding the balance.
How can our readers follow you online?
Mel the Prophet- Readers can find me on ALL social media platforms, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube,Tik Tok under @meltheprophet or Mel the Prophet my direct website is www.help1self.com
Artist Spotlight
Exclusive Interview: Rising Artist Rasta Man Jay
Hello Rasta Man Jay, Thanks for coming to Honk Magazine to talk about your career.
What 3 things does anyone starting in your industry need to know?
Always stay focused and consistent on your goals,never give up no matter how hard life gets,also never let people bring you down.
What would you do differently if you were starting in your industry now?
I Would be dropping music constantly and making my fans happy with new music every week so my audience is always listening.
Which people or books have had the most influence on your growth and why?
When I was younger I always listened to great music from Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa,Young Jeezy and many other artists from the early 2000s.
What would you say is the #1 key to success in your music career?
I would say dropping different tracks constantly spitting lyrics from my struggle and pain in my life that is why I came a long way in the music industry.
Talk about the biggest failure you’ve had. What did you learn from it?
Getting criticized about my rap flow and will people accept it which eventually my fans started supporting me from out of town.
What has been your biggest success story and why do you think it was a success?
When I hit News Weekly, that was the best moment in my life. I started building my confidence again with my music.
What keeps you going when things get tough in the music industry?
Having 2 Daughters that count on me to win and I won’t let them down so they won’t have to struggle like I did.
What made you pursue being an artist full-time?
Wanting to prove people wrong that didn’t believe in me having a lot of non supporters and hate back in my hometown.
Would you sign to a label?
Yes but it has to be a label that lets me own my music and doesn’t control my music and all my royalties.
What projects are you working on for the rest of 2022?
I just dropped my album with Distro Kid called Don’t Try to Be No One You Not and also has multiple songs and projects dropping this year so stay tuned.
How can our readers follow you online?
Anyone can follow me from my instagram account @jholder051817 which already has an impressive following already from joining instagram within 1 year.
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