Max on being ‘Stupid in Love’: Go for what’s in your gut

Rarely does an artist come onto the international music scene with unfettered talent that makes you shamelessly predict that this guy would soon be playing gigs in huge arenas. That’s how we would aptly describe singer-actor Max Schneider or simply called Max, who recently held a sting of live performances in Manila hosted by Ayala Malls and presented by Warner Music Philippines.

Dubbed as a “young pop god” by GQ and named “a top pop star to watch” by Billboard, Max recently visited the country for the second time to promote his fourth studio album, “Love in Stereo.” Boasting 10.5 million monthly listeners and a whopping 2.6 billion streams on Spotify, the 12-track album is a hefty serving of pop and R&B, laced with acoustic, EDM, funk and ’70s soul vibe. This eclectic musical treat is evident in tracks like “Gucci Bag,” “Love Never Felt Like This” and “Summer ’16.”Sharing the story behind his latest offering, Max said, “In ‘Love in Stereo,’ I’ve had realizations between the birth of my first daughter and my eighth wedding anniversary this week, and just feeling love from the beginning and how it revolves…[It’s about] staying loyal and true to someone and all of the mixtures of love. I think that’s what this album is really about.”

Just listen to tracks like “Butterflies” (featuring Ali Gatie) and “Edie Celine” to get a feel of the kind of love Max is talking about.

The same album also carries the single “Stupid in Love,” where he collaborates with Huh Yun-jin from the K-pop group Le Sserafim.

“She’s so amazing. She’s such a wonderful person. She’s so sweet. She’s so talented and a great songwriter. We really did get along so well. It felt like ‘little sister, big brother’ energy. I’m so honored that she took part in the song. I’ve always wanted a female voice, and the universe just sent Yun-jin my way.”

Collaborations

Not a stranger to collaborations, Max recalled the time he teamed up with BTS’s Suga in the hit song “Blueberry Eyes,” from his 2020 album “Colour Vision.”

“It was beautiful when we first met,” Max recalled. “We were sitting in a room and bonding over basketball. I wrote my part and he joined ‘Blueberry Eyes.’ Often, the collaborations happen just like that. It’s natural. We meet and we somehow get along. It’s nice to be part of such incredible music and artists.”

With his boy-next door charm and down-to-earth demeanor, it was such a treat to watch Max perform live as his effervescent energy drove the crowd to a frenzy. Joined by his bandmates and collaborators RyanEXOE (from their group Party Pupils, on acoustic guitar) and Michael Cody Dear (keyboard and saxophone), Max connected with the audience and took them on a ride that made everyone get lost in the music.But the real magic of that evening was hearing Max’s most popular songs, stripped raw and unplugged, highlighting raw emotions and breezy melodies with vibrant gusto.

He started off with “Love Me Less,” a song about vulnerability and acceptance. The upbeat tune navigates the delicate line between fear of rejection and longing for a true love, warts, flaws and all.

Fans gamely joined the singing and Max had this to say to the warm reception, “This is very intimate of a show for us and you guys are loud and passionate. I appreciate you so much!”

He followed this up with “Acid Dreams,” a steamy summer ditty whose infectious beats were seasoned with a beautiful saxophone solo from Cody. Max’s clear runs and gorgeous falsetto, together with RyanEXOE’s guitar playing are reminiscent of Justin Timberlake’s 2002 hit “Señorita.”

As expected, the audience went wild when he performed “Stupid in Love,” which he cowrote with Cody. In a recent local appearance, Max said, “I got engaged within four months to my wife and we got married in nine months. I know it sounds crazy, but we just had our eighth wedding anniversary this week. Sometimes, you just gotta be stupid enough to go for what’s in your gut. That’s what the song is about.”

Max then performed his most viral hit to date, “Butterflies,” an acoustic treat that talks about the inexplicable lightness of falling in love.

Moved by his audience, Max said “I did not know what to expect tonight, but this is crazy. This is amazing. I am so grateful to be back in the Philippines, you guys are so beautiful, your energy is so confident. Thank you, guys, for coming out. I know that there’s a lot of traffic out there, so thank you for being here.”

Showmanship

“Checklist,” came next on the setlist. With a jazzy, funk vibe, this song showcased Max’s dance moves. His expansive theater background came into full swing with this track placing a spotlight on his confidence and showmanship as a performer, while keeping things light and playful.

With the audience dancing and vibing to his tracks, Max couldn’t help but say, “Next time we come back, we’ll return with the whole crazy show!”

Things slowed down a bit when Max delivered his acoustic take on the Frankie Valli classic, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” with the crowd singing along to every verse.

Versatility

Towards the end, RyanEXOE’s guitar playing transcended samba bossa nova feels when he segued to the intro of the all too familiar “Blueberry Eyes.” With his vocal range on full display, Max’s versatility as an artist was highlighted, as he shifted between flawlessly rapping the Korean verses sung by Suga and slowing down towards the end, scaling those high notes with such ease and aplomb.

He then sung “It’s You.” Max serenaded the audience with this gentle pop ballad, singing about finding “the one” and foreseeing a lifetime spent together.To his surprise, Max willingly catered to request from his fans and sung a part of “Someday,” from the 2012 Nickelodeon film “Rags,” which he played lead alongside Keke Palmer.

Capping off the night was a heartfelt rendition of his hit, “Lights Down Low,” a gentle ballad with a dreamy feel that evokes a sense of intimacy and devotion. With only mobile phones lighting up the place, the song served as a soundtrack to his cherished connection with his Filipino fans.

With an indelible smile on his face, Max’s deep appreciation and gratitude for the evening was palpable and all he could say was, “You guys are amazing, Manila. Mahal kita! Salamat for coming!” INQ