Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Max Boyle

Singer-songwriter Max Boyle recently competed on the 17th season of NBC’s The Voice. There, he wowed America and all four judges with his artistry, signature falsetto, and incredible range. He earned John Legend’s only block and Kelly Clarkson’s only save. He became a standout in the competition and the ultimate dark horse. Pop Culturalist recently caught up with Max to chat about his journey in the competition, his biggest takeaway, and what’s next.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Max: I grew up in a big family; I was the youngest of six kids. Everyone casually played music around the house, and I always wanted to be like my older siblings, so it came pretty naturally to me. That’s how I fell in love with music. At a young age, I remember listening to songs and trying to sing along, but I didn’t sing publicly until I was about seventeen or eighteen-years-old. I discovered that I loved music at a young age, but I didn’t start pursuing it until I was a lot older.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Max: There are so many influences. The first would be my family—they’ve been so incredibly supportive. They helped push me and are always at my shows. They’re really my rock through this whole process. Other than them, I’m inspired by Kelly Clarkson and John Legend. Seeing their work ethic and getting to work with them first-hand was very inspiring and influential.

PC: Tell us about the back story on what inspired you to audition for The Voice.
Max: I was contacted by them for an early audition. There’s a whole process before it gets to the blind auditions. They saw a video of mine and I said, “Why the heck not?” and then I made it as far as I did!

PC: When you look back at your journey on The Voice, what sticks out to you?
Max: Oh my gosh. A lot of things! It’s been the most amazing experience ever. One of the coolest aspects of the whole experience has been getting close with all the contestants. That’s not something you think about going into it, but moving forward, it’s one of the biggest takeaways. I’ve built these really close friendships from this whole process. We all lived together and we’re all musicians, so we jammed together all the time. Everybody is so supportive of each other.

PC: You were in this unique position in the competition where you got to work with both Kelly and John. How did their styles vary?
Max: John is very down to business. He knows what he wants and what sounds good—he’ll straight up tell you if something doesn’t sound good. You can see his analytic side and how intelligent he is. Kelly has a lot of energy, but it’s kind of the same thing with her where you can tell that she knows what she’s talking about. She’ll tell you when something doesn’t sound good and really tell you if it does. She helps you get in the space of the song and connect with it. It was cool to work with both of them. They’re both amazing.

PC: Now being done with the competition, what’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
Max: This whole process has helped me believe in myself more. You dream of playing in that atmosphere and setting where you’re on national TV. I mean, you’re singing for icons in the music industry! Before all this, I would dream about that, but I would always wonder if I could do it and not faint on stage. [laughs] Getting the reassurance from these coaches that I’m talented has meant a lot. Kelly has really helped me with my confidence; she kept saying how she thought I was so talented. I definitely believe in myself more as an artist now.

PC: Prior to The Voice, you released an EP. If you had to choose one song off Something to Hold that best encompasses you as an artist, which would it be and why?
Max: That’s a hard question. “Angel” is this acoustic upbeat pop song, but I have a lot of other singer-songwriter type songs like “On My Mind” and “Pictures”. As a whole, it represents me well. I have this pop side but also this more acoustic, singer-songwriter vibe. It’s hard to just pick one song.

PC: What’s next for you?
Max: I hope that I keep growing. I hope the fan base keeps growing. I want to release a ton of new music…hopefully, something soon! I’m also looking forward to playing bigger shows.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Max: Billie Eilish

PC: First album you bought?
Max: Usher’s Confessions

PC: First concert you attended?
Max: Rascal Flatts in eighth grade.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Max: Continuum by John Mayer. It’s one of the first albums that I really dove into and appreciated every song.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Max: Red Rocks

PC: A must-have on the road?
Max: Lots of water, immune boosters, and snacks.

To keep up with Max, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.

Photo Credit: Tina Thorpe/NBC