I’m a real sucker for a moody pop song that holds and releases tension so precariously, like a hammock waiting to spill gallons of rainwater onto the ground. Max Leone’s first single post-signing with Darkroom (the label that Billie Eilish is signed to), “First Grade,” plays with that tension so perfectly. It’s gooey and dark but also incredibly catchy and has a skip in its step. It’s a high key gentle bop that hits hard. And it’s honest! I liked the song immediately, and while he’s got the tools, team, ambition, and talent to play to Eilish-level crowds, he’s only just starting out.
I sat down virtually/over a Google doc with this very self-aware 20-year-old and asked the most important questions first, with integrity: how’s he look so cool?
Style before substance: who or what do you look to for inspiration for how to present yourself? I’m asking not only to be superficial but because grabbing people’s immediate attention before you even have a chance to prove your talent is very real these days.
Max: I just try to present myself as honestly as I can. I take a lot of inspiration from film and fashion. I think intention is very important and I try to ask myself what my intention is in everything I do. For me, it’s less about appealing to others and more about being true to who I am. I think people generally gravitate towards authenticity. That being said, sometimes you have to be a little uncomfortable to continue to evolve as a person and an artist, and that generally involves stepping out of the comfort zone.
Are these socks from Bodega the band?
Max: Yes! When I went to Berklee I lived less than a block away from the Bodega store in Boston. Whenever I needed to get out of my dorm I would walk down there and pretend I could afford anything except the socks.
Ahh, I didn’t realize there was a store called Bodega, I thought they might be a merch item from the band haha whoops! Onto your music, though. It’s also immediately catchy. How do you identify what will stick and what won’t?
Max: It’s honestly just a gut reaction. Our ears do the work for us as listeners in terms of picking out what sticks and what doesn’t. If you have to listen back to a melody a bunch of times before it’s stuck in your head then it’s probably not very catchy. The chorus melody for first grade is something that I just improvised after a rough take of the verse and it just stuck.
There’s something a little filthy about “First grade” – like, filthy in an irresistible way maybe in the heavy bass or maybe the mellow/summery pace it takes while you talk about basically ghosting someone. Does that make any sense? There’s a little bit of cruel satisfaction or even lightheartedness mixed in with how you consider accepting this person for who they are?
Max: I love how you described that. The song is meant to deal with both the beauty of accepting someone but also the darker feeling of not wanting to take a chance. The first thing we (Luke Niccoli and I) talked about in the session when we wrote ‘First Grade’ was the duality of isolation, which is both a loneliness and a sort of empowering feeling of being fully in control of yourself. Or at least thinking you are in control.
Have you been able to accept someone for who they are since writing this, and have you had to deal with the disappointment that you wrote about?
Max: I’ve definitely taken chances with people in my life that I probably wouldn’t have prior to writing this song. Not necessarily romantically, but just opening up to acquaintances and allowing myself to be less of a closed book. So far I haven’t been disappointed!
I think that there’s something kind of punk about writing really good, really honest pop music. I don’t know if it’s just because I love pop music and really want it to be punk, or because I think it’s badass for any songwriter to do cool shit however they want to do it. Do you agree and why/why not?
Max: I definitely think anyone who is writing good, honest music is doing it however they want to do it. If you make sacrifices in any aspect of your vision, then it loses its honesty. You mentioned punk which is valid I think in the way that punk music, and the scene surrounding it, has a reputation for being very raw and in your face. And being raw is really the only way to connect with an audience, especially one that, as an artist, you will most likely never meet face to face. That realness is what separates a popstar from an icon.
Do you even consider what you write to be pop music?
Max: I don’t really consider my music to be any “sort” of music. I think, especially in this age, genres are so limiting. If people want to call my music pop that’s great! If they want to call it something completely different, that’s cool with me. Pop music just means “popular music”, so technically, it really can’t be defined to a certain sound. As long as people have an opinion, I’m happy.
Do you mainly listen to acoustic singer/songwriters, since that’s how you write? What’s your favorite kind of show to go to live?
Max: I listen to pretty much everything. I’d say I’m most intrigued by music that makes me think about something, whether it be a production technique or a lyric or anything in between. In terms of live shows, I’m honestly not sure. I can more easily pick out specific artists I’ve seen that have blown me away (John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Tyler the Creator, FKA Twigs).
Do most of your songs get written in one day like “First Grade” ?
Max: Usually I (or we if its a co-write) have pretty much the entire song done by the time I feel like quitting. If I’m on a roll I try to ride it out as long as I can. That being said, most songs require a couple days of revision or production work, but it really depends song by song. For “First Grade” everything just came together so fluidly that it didn’t really feel like a “session”, it was more just the two of us in a room getting super hyped about what was happening.
Does where you’re located affect how your songs sound? This sounds super sunny even though it’s the middle of winter. How does being in LA instead of Boston change your songs, if at all?
Max: I think it’s less of a seasonal thing and more emotionally based. I’ve written some very cold songs in the middle of the summer.
You left Berklee to do this thing FT in LA. Was there a pin-pointable moment that drove you to that decision?
Max: I’m not sure if there was a specific moment to pinpoint, it was more of a slow burn. I remember my mom came to visit me in Boston towards the end of my second semester and I think we both knew I was done with school before we even started the conversation. It’s ironic because I had looked forward to college all through high school and once I got there I immediately wanted to leave. I realized I was spending more time on youtube watching production tutorials and artist interviews than on schoolwork. It’s like I was in this weird limbo zone and I just wanted to be doing something that felt real and productive. I’m a little amazed I was able to convince my parents it was a good decision to leave, because I was definitely winging it!
What was the biggest con of that decision and has your time in LA proven to be worth that con?
Max: The biggest con was definitely moving to a city with no friends and no connections. It was really rough for the first 7/8 months, but I refused to let myself give up that easily. But it’s definitely been worth it so far, no regrets whatsoever. And there’s something beautiful about that journey because I look back on that period of my life now and wonder how I managed to get through it, and I’m so glad I did.
Is it different than you thought it would be?
Max: I’m not sure I really had any conscious expectations when I moved. I just kind of had this pipe dream that things would work out. There were a lot of people that told me I was making a huge mistake, but I never really listened to them. I’m super grateful I’ve had the experience I’ve had.
What’s the music scene like for a 21-year-old artist in LA? It seems like everyone in the Brooklyn scene knows each other and runs into the same people all the time at the same bars. Is it anything like that?
Max: LA is a very big place, but as soon as you open one door, others follow. The music scene feels incredibly small here, given that it’s one of the biggest music scenes in the world. And there are pros and cons to that, but in the end everyone is just trying to make good music and that’s what makes it exciting.
Do you feel like you’re ahead of the game getting signed so early? Can you even imagine where you’ll be in a decade?
Max: I have so much confidence in my team; I think there’s nothing we can’t accomplish together, and that’s something very few people are lucky enough to have. In terms of the future, ten years is a long time! I like to imagine myself touring all over the world. Thinking about that always gives me chills.
What’s next in the near future and what are you the most excited about?
Max: My next single is coming in February and I can’t wait to share it with everyone! I’m really excited to start playing live shows and releasing more content. This is just the beginning and I could not be more stoked to see where it goes from here.
Watch the video for “First Grade” below, and follow Max on Instagram and Twitter.