A Chat with Joey Maxwell
Most people have spent the last locked-down year making their way through Netflix’s entire library and baking various forms of banana bread (most people being me), but some lucky few have flourished in this time, allowing quarantine to spark their creativity and productivity. From putting the finishing touches down on his debut mixtape, to creating a brand new YouTube series and an intimate fan mail-out, Joey Maxwell has been busy.
The 23-year old South London-based star has rocketed in the last year since dropping his debut EP ‘Natureland’. With his straight-talking, witty lyrics matched with a charismatic delivery and slick production, it’s no wonder why… This time last year we were packed into a crowd at Bermondsey Social Club, watching him perform a set alongside a couple of other artists for a YALA night. Joey’s stage presence was a perfect balance of high-energy-calmness. He’s great at being his own hype man and getting the crowd buzzed, whilst simultaneously showing his vulnerability and sincerity on stage. This was the first time I’d seen him live, and also happened to be the last gig I went to before COVID hit, so thankfully it was a good one.
We caught up with the man himself and spoke about his latest single, quarantining with Mike D and the importance of destigmatizing mental health whilst not trivialising it.
Starting off, on your Last Bus story takeover you said your sound was basically everything you liked and listened to. If you were making a playlist made up of your influences who would be on it?
It would be Beatles solo projects like Paul McCartney’s Ram and Plastic Ono. Then some American indie like Pavement and late 80s/early 90s hip-hop like Slick Rick, A Tribe Called Quest, some KMD etc. Also 50 Cent and some Action Bronson/Alchemist Productions!
You've been busy providing your fans with countless treats, from new music to your wicked video series, Trying Not To Deep It. A multi-media man! Firstly tell us a bit about Trying Not To Deep It & how the idea came about.
Thank you! So the idea came about in the absence of shows, trying to find a way to connect with other artists. One of the best things about playing live and at festivals is all the other artists that you meet, often you end up seeing the same people every weekend at different festivals and that ultimately leads to collaborations. TN2DI is a way to spotlight collaboration and also provide a platform for up and coming artists to show a bit of their personality, be themselves and have a good time really. It’s edited by Theo Batterham who’s one of my boys from college so it’s sick to be able to work with him regularly now.
You’ve also created a new sort of newsletter, Uncut Gems, where people sign up and receive demo tracks of yours. How did this come about?
Yeah I’m super pleased with Uncut Gems ! It’s slyly a mailer… but yeah I send out a private soundcloud link with all demos and beats that I love but realistically wont release. I’m glad that some of these things get to see the light of day in a way. The reception to it has been great so yeah, definitely going to continue with it.
If you could hear any artist's original demo, what would it be?
I feel like some original Mac Miller demos would be interesting to listen to.
You also said on your takeover that your dream artist would either be Mike Skinner, Mike D or Britanny Howard. Who do you reckon would be best to quarantine with out of those 3?
Mike D. I saw his house on Architectural Digest and it is fucked. It’s some peng Malibu crib so if I could quarantine there that would be lit.
What have you been watching in quarantine?
Lupin, Queens Gambit, See, re-done Parks and Rec and now watching Married at First Sight Australia to name a few…
Your new vid for Leaves Blow Over has just come out - mad green screen vibe. Tell us about this process & how your creative process has changed over lockdown?
Haha! Yeah green screens are fresh. Obviously I had to shoot the LBO vid right in the middle of this lockdown so did it over zoom with Theo. I guess the creative process has reverted to becoming quite insular again, having to crack on and get things done on my own again. I’m used to it so it’s not too deep but I do miss going to the studio to record or to shoots where I actually get to see the people I work with!
Running's been something that's kept you sane. What else have you been doing to look after your mental health during qtine?
Yeah honestly I never used to enjoy it that much but it has grown on me a lot and I’ve made it a habit now. When I set my mind on something I get quite fanatic about it so I’ve been watching a lot of Youtube vids and doing research into the science of it all. There’s a runner on Youtube who described running as being “the only constant amidst the chaos” and I think that sums it up perfectly for me. It’s the part of my day that I control and know can’t be taken away from me, also it often sucks so once I get it done my day is only going to be easier.
You write about mental health overtly in some of your songs which is so cool to see. Why is this important to you?
Thanks! I’m very lucky to be a part of a generation that isn’t stigmatising mental health and is having healthy discussions about it. It’s important to me because it affects me and I’ve come to learn the importance of sharing personal experience. As much as I encourage all the conversations people are having, if I’m being honest I also feel we’re in danger of trivialising it a little bit, it’s almost become an insta ‘aesthetic’. I want to have these conversations with my community but 100% understand the importance of sharing information responsibly.
Your debut mixtape is coming out soon. How are you feeling about it?
I’m excited! I love this project, it’s got a bit of everything. The music has been finished for a while and COVID slowed down the release but we’ve been working hard on all the visuals and I’m super pleased with everything we have released so far.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
The new slowthai album right now, it’s a great record.
What do you listen to on the Last Bus home?
I’m not listening to anything, I’m throwing up into my own hands.
