Max's Music Mondays - The Compilation Vol. 2
It's out, surprise! oh and also I'm starting a label :)
Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays. My music discovery newsletter. Normally I dig up one or two songs from artists you might not know but certainly should. Songs that really excite me and I just have to share.
But this week, man oh man, this week I have the joy of sharing something a little different. I’ve been working with those artists directly and putting together The Compilation - Vol. 2!!!!
Wow is this a thrill!! It’s on Bandcamp now. Please give it a listen, and please if you can afford to, supporting the project financially would mean a lot. All the proceeds are being split equally amongst the artists and myself, so it will directly support these incredible musicians and this newsletter. While you’ve got your wallet out, maybe drop a few dollars across some of the GoFundMe’s on the Operation Olive Branch master list?
You might remember last fall when I dropped volume one. Holy moly, that was one of the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever taken on. I knew it was the start of something special. My pals, and incredible musicians, Soft Streak responded to my invitation to join that original project with a cheeky “Sounds like the beginnings of a little label…” I don’t think I even knew it at the time, but I’ve come to realize that it is exactly what it was.
Today, I get to officially announce Mendel Records. My own little label :) A new way for me to help artists I love. To help build and support the careers of artists who you need to hear. You’ll be hearing more about it in the coming months *eye emojis*.
While all of this is exciting, the opportunities endless, there’s one thing that is for sure, putting together these compilations will be a cornerstone of Mendel. It’s so fulfilling and such an honor to get to share these special songs.
So we’re back with volume two baby <3 <3 The compilation cementing itself as a chance for me to showcase some of my favorite musicians through demos and unreleased songs. Music so good it deserves to see the light of day. I’m so honored and grateful to share it.
I’ll be talking about these songs in depth over the coming weeks. But for now, I wanted to introduce you to, and thank, these eight wonderful musicians who are shaping the future of music and were generous enough to contribute to this compilation.
So without further ado, a round of applause for these amazing artists:
Seylu - https://www.instagram.com/naked.gala/ - an incredible NY based artist who you might remember from me writing about them like two weeks ago. There’s something so magical about every song out, and the compilation contribution is no different. There’s entire universes held within these songs. So much life. So much beauty. Really a special artist and special sound and I am grateful to have stumbled across this music.
jerod - https://www.instagram.com/jerodnaranjo/ - A member of the incredible Harcourt Paloma collective here in LA. He makes these ungenreable songs, full of big drums, gentle guitars, intimate vocals. I’m so excited about everything he puts out <3 also he contributed two songs and I couldn’t choose so I used both lol. As a fan I am thrilled to have more music from him.
mer marcum - https://www.instagram.com/mermarcum/ - Listen, I RIDE for mer nation. That isn’t news to anyone. I love her music so much, and am over the moon for this next era to begin. It’s thrilling indie rock full of exciting and surprising contrasts. Whether it’s like this track’s acoustic guitar that gets buoyed by heavy feedback or mid-song changeups that launch us into space, I am always excited to hit play.
Meiwei - https://www.instagram.com/lil.fingies/ - It is actually crazy how good Meiwei is. Like… Her voice alone will stop you in your tracks. It’s able to be so strong and so gentle, it flutters at all the right moments, punchy and guttural right when it needs to be. Tack on some poetic writing and it’s impossible not to love. While amidst making this comp I came across a recent clip of her playing and it was like the music gods were screaming at me, it just felt perfect. So excited to share this one.
coco smith - https://www.instagram.com/cocosmith__/ - coco sent me the first track for this compilation. I fell in love with it immediately. Not only do I love sumac, but I love coco’s music. Always honest and heartfelt songwriting brought to life by a unique voice and amazing music community they’ve built around themselves. I’m a sucker for every full band clip I see them post on IG, but having this raw solo demo feels like we get to see the seed before it gets planted. And the seed is somehow just as beautiful as the flower.
Miguel Maravilla - https://www.instagram.com/yellowmiguel/ - New to the MMM family, I fell in love with Miguel’s music and creativity via this mind-blowing “Always” LP (find it here) which reimagined and re-articulated the same idea into nearly fifty different songs. It’s so beautiful and ambitious I really admired it, knowing they’d add so much to the compilation. I’ve also been continually inspired by Maravilla’s dedication to anti-imperialism and the shared struggles of all us fighting for liberation around the world.
marlon amon - https://www.instagram.com/marlonamon/ - well well well, if it isn’t another singer-songwriter I am so excited about. The Portland-based artist just keeps making such beautiful songs. Tasteful guitar at the center, exploring how to give it just the right amount of edge or discover incorporate the more human side of its sound. Everything marlon makes is thoughtful, tender, and just a joy to listen to.
Salome Hajj - https://www.instagram.com/salome.hajj/ - I have been transfixed by Salome’s first release, Carry the Sun, since the first time I heard it. A voice with such depth and stunning tone, finding a home among beautiful harp and a very sick band. Her contribution here is no different, and it is such an honor to get to share this one as apart of the project. Another LA-based artist, I feel so lucky to have seen live and can’t wait for all that’s to come.
Keep an eye out for more in the coming days and weeks, along with our usual picks I’ll be gushing about this stunning collection of songs.
Thank you all for being along for the ride, I hope you enjoy the compilation, I am so proud of it. If you can’t read it, I’ve been beaming from ear to ear this entire time.
Yours,
Max