With the release of ‘Intoxication,’ Max Frost is winning hearts of R&B and indie lovers around the globe.
22-year-old Max Frost is one of these artists who’s got the whole package. This all-around nice guy was born in the indie-haven of Austin, TX, has been playing different instruments and genres since childhood, has all kinds of good influences, quit college to become a professional musician and has the looks of a movie star, which never hurt any up-and-coming musician. He’s been gathering attention and collecting favorable reviews for a couple years now, but 2015 sees him really breaking through with the newest EP Intoxication, a beautiful music video for “Withdrawal” and lots and lots of touring. Here are the 10 things you need to know about this charismatic contemporary R&B singer on top of the fact that he’s clearly The One To Watch.
He Quit College to Play Music
Max Frost’s life story is a simple one: “I was born. I found music. We fell in love. I lived crazily ever after”. Frost was born in Austin, TX in 1993 and fell in love with music after he got his first guitar lesson in the local music camp. He’s been toying around with all kinds of genres since then, constantly learning new tricks and conquering new instruments. He loves music so much that he actually quit the University of Texas-Austin (he studied English) after his young professor listened to his records and told him he’d be better off pursuing his dreams and becoming a full-time musician. That’s what Frost has been up to ever since.
He Plays Mutant Rock
In his own words, his sound is “an eclectic mutation of rock'n'roll, hip hop, pop and kung foo,” but we’re also hearing a lot of R&B in his songs. His first EP Low High Low came out on Atlantic Records in 2013 and got The Hype Machine buzzing. Now he’s ready to take the next step.
His Main Inspiration is Jimi Hendrix
And also his mother, J Dilla, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Bob Schneider and Kydd (who became his mentor). Before going solo, Frost was in a rock band (Joy Ride) and a blues and soul act (Blues Mafia). Eventually all of his influences united and gave birth to the Max Frost sound.
He’s a Multi-Instrumentalist
Frost plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and a little kazoo.
He Recently Toured with Fellow Austinites, Wild Child
“It’s been a blast. Nicest group of folks I've ever toured with. It’s been a very rugged tour. Feels almost more like a road trip. I literally drove nine thousand miles this month. Crazy!” Frost says. He also supported Fitz and The Tantrums and Gary Clark Jr on their tours. The downside of touring is “having less and less time for my family. But that’s about it and I feel like that happens to everyone”.
His Drink of Choice is Black label on the Rocks
His latest EP is called Intoxication and came out in September. It includes singles “Paranoia” and “Let Me Down Easy.” He also plans to score a basketball movie Rush Brothers, which you can help kickstart here.
Sometimes He Sleeps with a Bottle of Jameson by His Side
But it “only happens on holidays... of many different religions”, Frost assured us. He also can’t remember the wildest party he ever had. “But if I could remember it... How wild could I really say it was?” As wild as you want, Max!
While Filming the Withdrawal Video, He had to Stay in the Sand for a Long Time
“I had the idea and we had to try it out in a volleyball court. Then it worked so we tried it in White Sands, NM on the shoot...We didn't like what we got so we did it all again the next day... I've logged a total of at least 3 hours buried deep in the hot sand at this point.” It was all worth it: The stylish video compliments the song’s gentle guitar riff, catchy chorus and general feel-good vibe. Max’s dressed in white in the video—hiss color of choice recently.
The Most Magical Moment of His Career so Far was Meeting Quincy Jones
He got to meet the R&B legend when Frost was writing songs with Canadian jazz-pop singer-songwriter Nikki Yanofsky in Los Angeles. Last year he also collaborated with Wilco’s frontman Jeff Tweedy. We’d love to know who else he’s got in his phone book!
His Goal as a Musician is to Surprise… Himself
“And to hear something that makes me feel transported,” Frost adds, while his plan for the nearest future is to “make a lot more music and put it out in bizarre and creative ways!” Please do; please do.
