Brighton-based singer-songwriter Maximilian has been making waves with his powerfully introspective indie-folk songs. He has just shared the title track for his debut album ‘Surrender’ out today via Mango Wax Records.
Spellbinding , haunting and skilfully drifting feather like between dreamlike shades of warmth and pathos, the emotionally raw track skilfully swings with psychedelic guitar swells and ever-expanding ripples of vocal harmonies offering one of Maximilian’s most accomplished releases to date.
Recorded, as is the rest of the album, across various bedrooms, lounges and kitchens in Brighton across a 3 year period , the track mingles the emotional-intimacy of hero Jeff Buckley with the fluorescent extravagances of Grizzly Bear, and provides one of the songwriter’s most personally significant tracks, and Maximilian himself explains:
“This is the first song I wrote that I actually loved. It signalled a turning point for me as a writer, because for the first time I had made something that felt new to me. It is hard to encapsulate the meaning of this song, because I wrote it so long ago and in a state of creative naivety, but the last line “don’t look down, it’s your ghost, is in your mind” is still, 5 or 6 years down the line, such a cathartic line to sing and it still rings truth to my ears each time.”
Born and raised in the Channel Island of Jersey, Maximilian Feighan’s love of music blossomed in his teenage years after digging through bargain bins in local record shops, and forming bands on the small island. Compelled to spread his wings, he relocated to Brighton to immerse himself in the city’s fertile grassroots scene, and has remained there ever since.
Sometimes performing solo, sometimes backed by a 6-piece band, Maximilian has shared stages and collaborated with many Brighton mainstays such as Porchlight, Ellis-D, Hutch, Martha Eve and Flip Top Head, also achieved notable support slots for the likes of Naima Bock and Junior Brother.
‘Surrender’ offers the fourth and final teaser from his upcoming debut album, due 28th March released via South London independent label Mango Wax Records – founded by folk artist Lando Manning alongside Tim Harper of cult Camberwell record shop Dash The Henge. Previous cuts ‘Kill Time’, ‘For Now’ and ‘Red Wine’ have ushered in backing from indie press outlets like Still Listening, Hard of Hearing, Wax Music, Noctis Acute Pop, Post-Brexit Pop.
Discussing the album as a whole, Maximilian states, “Having written the first song of this album in 2018, with it set for release in 2024, this project has been my raft throughout some really crucial years in my life. Comprised of the songs I wrote from age 18 to 21, and meticulously developed and mediated on for a further three year independent recording and mixing process, I can finally say I’m proud and ready for it to be out.
This album is a collection of songs derived from personal experiences wading through self doubt, loneliness and longing for love, with the eventual tide of surrender, acceptance and tranquillity within those emotions.”
Accompanying the announcement of a special album launch show at Brighton’s Fabrica on 4th April with Skydaddy as special guest.
Upcoming Live Dates:
APRIL
4th: Fabrica – Surrender Album launch w/Skydaddy + Opal Mag, Brighton
12th:The Garibaldi Hotel w/Ideal Living, Northampton
16th:The Windmill (headline), London
20th: Tin Music and Arts , RSD show, Coventry
Maximillian’s Album ‘Surrender’ is out today. See here for more details.
Follow Maximilian on Social Media:
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Photo credit: Freddie Willatt
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