Max's Music Mondays with Austin Max and Isabella Elise
Flying through my YouTube recommendations and these stunning songs
For the last week and a half I’ve found myself lost in a new youtube wormhole. Inexplicably, I am obsessed with watching pilot content. Pilots of small planes and jets rigging up a handful of cameras and taking their audience along for a flight. What’s confusing to me is why I’m so interested. Take CitationMax. He was the first pilot I was handed from the algorithm. Every flight, every video (typically alone), he welcomes you on board, runs through checklists, communicates with whomever the hell you talk to in order to get to fly, takes off, lands, and taxis on in. I found that sentence hard to write because I still barely know what’s happening. The communication is all coded. Phrases, numbers, and commands that I just do not understand and have made zero effort to learn. Can I repeat some of them at this point? Sure! V1 rotate, positive rate, gear up now pouring out of me without thinking as he takes off. But that’s muscle memory, I don’t know what any of that means.
And despite all of that, the experience is… delightful? I am entirely ambivalent when it comes to flying, and have no desire whatsoever to pilot a plane myself. So what is it that has hooked me? I guess the views are great, I’m sure that’s a part of it. There’s a small thrill every time someone nails a landing? Yeah maybe that. But I still can’t put my finger on why. I’m tempted to say that it’s mostly about being transported into a world that I know nothing about. Getting to see a different life from a pro’s perspective has a charm to it. Maybe a deviousness to it. Something that feels so secret/unknown shared so earnestly and transparently, like I’ve gotten an invitation to a private thing (so private… hundreds of thousands of views on each vid…). But as of now, that’s the best reason I can come up with. And is the same reason I find myself lost in the worlds of songs I love. That same deviousness that feels exciting. This week’s songs are personal and generous and beautiful, and I’m thrilled to share them.
This Week’s Songs
Please please follow along here ^^ for this week’s and every week’s songs. They’re all really good I swear!!! <3 Please like and enjoy and send to someone you like and enjoy!!
Austin Max - Good Times Comin’
Anytime there’s a song I love that comes my way via my work at Sofar, I’m always hesitant to choose it. Scared that I’m “cheating” or “breaking a rule” for MMM’s. But like…? What?? The only rule I’ve got over here is sharing music I love, music I believe in, and boy oh boy that’s exactly what this is. The latest from Austin Max, a gorgeous new single bursting with warmth. I can’t help myself… that intro!! A triforce of perfect tones from the lead guitar, the pedal steel, and that cozy bass. All joining hands as Max finds his feet too. The vocals are amazing. That tone feeling so close and intimate but managing to bounce out to the edges, feeling bigger than this one moment. His lyrics suit the moment too, someone eager and scared at the same time. However long that time might be. Exploding out of nowhere, the only warning a quick drum hit and kiss of fuzz, the wisdom-soaked chorus is a winner. Reminding himself, and all of us, that the good is around the corner if we just reach out and move towards it. A reminder I always need, one that I can always use. And listen if that means I need to play this more often, I can get on board. The drums feel huge without taking up too much space, bringing the moment and the guitar’s chords to life a little more. Lalala-ing our way through another lap, I’m grateful for the chance to savor the message, to really sit in the advice before moving into the next verse. It’s a tender balance to the full band’s power. As everything fades we’re sucked right back in. A quick verse, encouraging us to get closer to those thoughts and feelings that keep catching our interest, keep pulling our attention. The kick drum not willing to wait any longer, gets the momentum chugging along again, rocketing us back into the chorus. It feels as much a note to self as it does advice for the crowd this time, almost mantra-esque. The second half of the chorus breezes by again, so dang charming and inviting. Spilling forward into this instrumental bridge. Guitars scattered from side to side, a little tug-of-war between them all, pulling, reaching, straining for their next note. All the while, the bass finding some nice room to run too. Somehow finding another gear, the song then launches into this massive new scene - drums letting loose, bass taking a hot and dark turn, more vocal layers to fill out the sound, Max pushing out from the middle of it all. It all fades to our final moment, timeless organs like a sunrise out of that climactic scene, Max offering mom’s advice one last time. A loving, encouraging, and optimistic tune, I love it.
Follow Austin Max on IG / Spotify
Isabella Elise - If We Never Try
What an opening lyric. A synth floating behind it all, the song opening its eyes after a good night’s sleep, waking up to its reality. A vulnerable moment, Elise’s stunning voice holding us close. The verse continues, and the opening lyric takes a harsher shape, now contextualized by the pain and confusion that’s filled this relationship. At first listen it’s a coy, looking at your feet, can’t believe this is real earnestness. But now, just thirty seconds in it feels like the disbelief is earned. Another lyric to seal the deal, Elise powerfully denying an apology as that guitar goes for a tasteful little run. It lands hard with the bass, punctuating the moment. The drums start to peek around the corner, their pace giving Elise the energy to break from the melody, reaching into this higher register, still so warm and lush. It falls easily back down into the chorus, the vocals the clear star of the show - drums and bass holding back behind a layer or two. A second verse keeps the drums around, now clearer than ever. A helpful bit of edge as Elise outlines the truth of the situation and the pain she’s feeling. I really admire the shift it takes, an honest declaration of her feelings and where she stands. That embarrassment lyric a deeply human feeling to share, a brave admission to this potential/former/???-lover. It boils over with that run-on, “and I’m so sick of the, ‘baby wait a little longer’, how much fucking longer?” a hard to swallow exclamation point before the chorus soothes the scars. This time around adding that gentle synth to help ease the tension. “I’ll bare my heart / it’s ok if you break it / I’ll pick up the pieces / just tired of waiting” coming through even stronger this time around, taking the leap of faith no matter the consequences. There’s pain but the love is still winning out. Powering into the bridge, with that ear-catching chord. Adding the choir of voices to support Elise through the fear and the vulnerability shared. It’s a heart-warming moment. That one fuzzy vocal taking gnarly runs around on either side of the mix is a really delightful surprise and perfect addition to keep the scene interesting and exciting. Standing alone, Elise starts the final plea, the band hitting back in at just the right down beat. The song softly layering over itself. Even in giving this ultimatum, it finds room for gentleness and grace. One heck of a debut, I can’t wait to see what’s to come.
Follow Isabella Elise on IG / Spotify
If you have any recommendations - pilot youtubers and new music alike - don’t hesitate to send it my way. Can’t wait for a good old fashioned weekly roundup on Friday, I’ve got a lottttt to share.
Talk to you then,
Max