In less than two years, Max McNown has released 3 albums, a handful of singles and even teased fans with a few EPs – as well as instantly selling out his first European tour – it’s safe to say the world is McNown oyster – and we caught up with him ahead of his debut Scottish gig here in Glasgow.
Now, before we start, Max, we have a bone to pick with you. The last time you were here in Europe for C2C, you had loads of Scottish fans and loads of Irish fans – but when we saw on the poster ‘London Exclusive’, we were HEARTBROKEN – is that why the tour kicks off in Dublin and Glasgow out of guilt?
Max: HAHA maybe a little bit, but in all honesty, we just wanted to hit the places that we hadn’t been to before – and selfishly, some of my heritage is from Scotland and Ireland – so I wanted to see the home of my Ancestors – you know, McNown – it used to be MacNown
So lots of pints and lots of rain?
Yeah! Which, if you think of the north of the Midwest, that is kinda the same thing – I feel at home.
This is such an exciting time for you, I mean, debut headline European tour, and it sold out in a flash – people are begging online for tickets
I was just reading a message from somebody who said she has been crying for 3 months to get a ticket. Firstly, that’s a long time to cry. I’m not that good! Haha but no seriously, it’s always a balance trying to find the right sized venue to play like here – The Barrowlands is apparently very iconic and a tonne of Scottish acts have been through – and I just heard that Conway Twitty performed here a long time ago so there definitely so much history here – and it’s always the balance of what venues to choose and which ones are a right of passage for artists when should you pull the plug and get bigger venues to accommodate more fans, but what I know is 3000 tickets sold in a 5000 cap room is a lot worse than 3000 tickets sold in a 3000 cap room – so we’re taking it slow – we’ll be back again and again and again – im only 24 we have a long way to go!
That’s what’s kind of exciting – you’re only 24, but as of next month it’s only been 2 years since your debut album and all of the belters you’ve given us in that time max! Are you not exhausted?
You know what – I love it – you; ve got to love it to keep going – I definitely have a few different outlets because if your passion becomes you job, you have to find other passions so for me that is spending time with my wife and her family and video games – as well as playing basketball with the crew on the road – it helps take my mind off things and journalising is su[per helpful for me – you find new ways to cope with it – as far as im concerned this is my lifes path and im not going to turn away from it – so I find ways to adapt as I go
And you’re doing a damn good job of it!
I’m trying, I hope the (eye) bags aren’t starting to come out!
You’re looking youthful as ever, selling out these venues!
We recently saw Both Sides of the Blade land, which is an absolutely beautiful EP. I felt that with this record, it was a lot more focused on emotion and life stories. Was this one of those EPs that had a ton of tracks to whittle down, or did you know what was going to be included and nothing else would make the cut?
No honestly those were the tracks, and I was so antsy to put out NIght Diving that whole album and the Cost of Growing Up – so those songs had to take a backseat sow e could move forward with the Nightdiving Era, I like to write albums within the short space of tie so theyre kind of snapshots of my life an that time of my life – sobits hard for me to write songs years ago and then put them out – so it was a little bit like pulling teeth to get this one out – but I want my fans to hear the music that I have created so I figured whilst we are working on the next album – why not give those songs out to the fans – and 97 on that EP is bery meaningful to me – so I’m really happy with this EP and Both Sides of the Blade and all of the EP songs have a special place in my heart, but I see them as an older Max era – back before – they belong to the Wilfully Blind family and thats why they came out as a surprise like “hey you guys can listen to some music as I finish up making up the next album”
Hey, we are close to almost a Taylor Swift Eras – Max McNown session
Hey, I plan on an album a year for as long as I can!
One thing I adore about your writing and the records you release is that you are king of the collabs – from Hailey Whitters to Corey Kent and someone we recently had here in Glasgow, Cameron Whitcomb.
He’s a crazy boy! Hey, if you think I have a hard time keeping up, I can’t imagine what that dude goes through – even his social media videos, I’m like – what time is it? Did you just wake up? He is so passionate about his work, and I respect it so much.
But Cameron, Corey, Hailey Whitters and Avery Anna, the queen of harmonies – it’s hard to say this, but honestly, my favourite woman in music is Avery Anna.
Even with the collabs – you’ve worked with some spectacular artists, but is there anyone in the pipeline pending or someone you’re hoping to team up with one day?
I’m testing a few things at the moment – I have a few potential possibilities – I mean I love some of the people I have opened for – Micheal Marcagi, The 502’s, definitely looking at writing with them – but my dream collab is Noah Khan and I’m also hoping to try and meet Gregory Alan Isakov he is one of my favourite artists of all time. I love collaboration, I think it’s one of the most exciting things about music and meeting other people and hearing from people who have a similar or even more experience in music than you. SO you can relate, ask questions, especially someone like Noah or Gregory – ask them for advice on the life that you’re living and ask them anything I need to know!
I would love to sit in an advice session with Noah Khan.
Oh my gosh, yes, first of all, that dude is HILARIOUS, so funny.
So we’ve finally got you over to Europe, and you’re back again next summer for State Fayre down south – supporting Kings of Leon, which is a really cool festival – a mix of Americana, Country and Rock – do you get surprised when you come overseas and see country fans here?
You guys are just as rowdy, but it really depends on state, where we go – Canada is great, Australia is great – everytime I go anywhere I have never lived in my life, and there’s crowds of 1000s people – I think it’ll take me longer than I can ever anticipate to sink in – like it’s wild I’ll never get over that – like I was walking around on the street today as I went to get sushi and I was recognised twice like – this is happening more and more – it’ll never get old 0 I love it but its so strange.
Have you ever been mistaken for the wrong person?
No, never BUT there was one time I was in Quebec City in Canada, and I was in this clothing store, and I wanted a Henley – look, I wear a black shirt and jeans to every show I play, I needed to switch it up, so I was like, right lets enter a new era of max and get a Henley! I’ll probably end up cutting the sleeves off. As that’s what I do, but as I’m browsing, this woman approaches me and says “I know you must get this a tonne.. But you really look like Max McNown”, and I went “No, I don’t get that a lot” and walked away – so that’s the weirdest interaction!
Looking ahead to 2026, which I cannot believe we’re weeks away from already, what does the year hold for Max McNown?
I don’t like to hear 2026 is around the corner; time is going too fast! But we’ve already booked quite a few shows – upwards of 50 so far, and we plan on playing 80-100 – I mean this year, if you count radio performances we’ve done over 150 this year. But a lot of bigger shows, new collabs as I enter into the higher realms of respectability – I feel the longer you’re in the industry, the more respected you are, so I am just excited – taking it day by day!
What can the fans here in Glasgow expect tonight?
YES GLASGOW! My job is to make you shed a tear, cheer and laugh, and if I can do all 3 things, I have succeeded – there will be a lot of gratitude!
My final final question for you, one thing I always like to ask is we know how hard it is to make your path in this industry, so who is someone you want to give a shoutout to or put on our radar?
Oh, I love that! I’ll give you two – so this artist, during COVID I became really close friends with my youngest sister and we would take trips with our dogs, drive and listen to music – find cool camping spots, go fishing and freediving it was super cool and the soundtrack to many of those journeys was a man called Sam Birchfield and we’ve been listening to him – I found him when he was one of those artists you feel pride like “I’ve found them before they’ve exploded” he’s doing great but he deserves so much more than he has – so he is number 1 and then a good buddy of mine who has just moved to Nashville, Ethan Burdick – I met him on American Idol he’s just brilliant and a lot like Noah Khan in that folk/pop space so I’ve been listening to some of his stuff – so Sam Birchfield and Ethan Burdick get them on your playlists!
Interview by Lauren Page
