Interview: Max Gall

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What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today? 

My dad played guitar, as a kid he would always show me little things here and there.  I remember often my dad having his friends over for jam sessions.  We had this set of congas that I would sit with while they played all sorts of songs.  I recall a lot of Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Paul Simon and John Prine being played.  My mother was really into music as well.  I remember specifically this Pearl Jam Album she would always play while we were in the car.  I enjoyed this music but of course as a kid you aren’t always crazy about what mom and dad are listening to.  So I went through all sorts of phases with music.  I was into everything from r&b and hip hop to whatever you would call third eye blind and red hot chili peppers.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

What I like to do and what I do are totally different things.  What I do when I am not playing music currently is work at a restaurant.  Gotta pay the bills.  My goal is in the next year to be able to fully support myself through music.  For now though I spend my “free time” working.  When I do get some time to myself though, I like to try and get out for a hike or meet with a friend at a coffee shop and chat for a while about life.  I am new to the Nashville area so I’ve been doing my best to make new friends and connect with people.

How long has music been your career?

Music has only been partly my career for the past 10 years or so.  I have always had a small income through playing live shows, but never enough to support myself fully. My goal is in the next year to be able to fully support myself through music.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I am based out of Nashville now, however I grew up outside of Pittsburgh.  I was lucky that in the small town I was in there were a lot of really good musicians.  When I was just finishing high school I linked up with a few guys who were a few years younger than me.  They were in a jazz band with a friend of mine who was a drummer.  We got together to jam one time then it turned into more than just jamming.  We just ran with it and started playing cover gigs as we worked on original music.  Eventually we started playing mostly original music and recorded a few records.

Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played.

When I think of the best shows ever played, one in particular comes to mind.  I was with my band, Coastal Remedy, at the time and we got an opportunity to open up for Melanie Martinez.  This was maybe 2014 or 15 and we drove into the city for the show at Stage AE in Pittsburgh.  The show was sold out and we were hanging in the green room backstage.  We were just 4 kids from a small town without much of a following.  Well when we came out the crowd didn’t know any of that about us.  I think they just assumed we were famous.  They were certainly welcoming of us as we walked out to play and I remember being just amazed at how good it felt.  After the set we sold out of all our merchandise and signed so many autographs (which I really hadn’t done much of).   So many pictures that my face hurt from smiling.

Worst show I have ever played.  That is a tough one.  This wasn’t exactly a bad show but looking back it’s funny to think of how stupid we were at the time.  Or at least particular members of the band, one being myself.  We played a set at some club I can’t even remember the name of.  I can’t even remember how old we were but in the green room at the club they had a fridge full of beer that wasn’t for us.  We took advantage of that fridge anyhow.  We got pretty tuned up before we played.  My friend who was drumming at the time lit some incense on top of a rock and under the rock was this tie dye cutoff that he always set the rock on.   Well it fell off the rock and nearly caught the shirt on fire.  Luckily it didn’t but it definitely was a close call.   We played well but we weren’t invited back to that club to play again.  You win some, you lose some.

Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

When I was first starting out my band and I used to play at this dive bar called the brown hotel.  That’s some of my fondest memories of making music with those guys.

Now I’ve been in Nashville for about 7months and have been playing out at a lot of writer's rounds.  One place that I think every songwriter wants to play in Nashville is “the listening room” so I would say that’s at the top of my list.

My dream venue if I had to choose one would be Red Rocks though.  It’s just a beautiful venue.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

This is actually a pretty easy one for me to answer.  Though there are so many bands/artists I look up to, I would have to say Tadeschi Trucks Band, Marcus King Band and Leif Vollebekk.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into music?

I would say if you are drawn to playing music and it’s fulfilling a need for you then it’ll happen.  Don’t try to cater to what you think people will like because you’ll lose a lot of the joy that comes with playing and creating music. Lastly, although I could go on for a long time on this topic, I would tell them to get out of their own head and go for it. I definitely hesitated a lot throughout the years and called myself a songwriter even though I was doing a poor job at pursuing it as a career.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?

I suppose that takes me back to the last question. I would tell myself to be mindful of the inner critic that we all have inside of us.  Learn to navigate that and understand what inner dialogue is just irrational self doubt.  If you get caught up in that then you’ve failed before even giving yourself a chance.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? 

The song that brings me here today I would have to say.  I have been writing for about 12 years now and I think this is my best work yet.  The songs called “right where we need to be” and it’s about letting a good thing be what it is.  It really relates a lot to what we just talked about with the advice question, but instead of music it’s about relationships.  No matter how much you try and direct where life is going to take you, sometimes you just can’t.  Get out of your own way and just live your life.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

One of my favorite songs to play is Look at Miss Ohio by Gillian Welch.  I heard a friend of mine cover it about 10 years ago and ever since I’ve been a huge fan of Gillian.

What gets requested most, well none of my own tunes because I haven’t gotten the word out enough yet.  So hopefully if you’re listening to this you’ll go check me out and figure out what you want to request when you come see me play.

What is the creative process for you, and what inspires you to write your music?

Well my guitar inspires me the most I would say.  Picking that thing up has always been an outlet of mine.  It’s a way for me to get out of my head and let go for a while.  I would say the songs just kind of come from that.

When it comes to my writing process I’m definitely a music first, lyrics second kind of writer.  I get to finding melodies first and then let the words fall in place.  Kind of like a puzzle that needs putting together.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Different messages with different songs really.  Overall though my writing is a way of assuring myself that things are okay.  I have dealt with a mood disorder as my doctor called it.  I tend to get down and get anxious from time to time.  Music really helps me in those times.  So if anyone who shares those types of feelings can hear my music and get some sense of relief then it would give more meaning to what I do as a songwriter.

Do you ever have disagreements when collaborating and how do you get past them?

So I’m a pretty easy going guy and haven’t really run into any major disagreements that weren’t easily resolved.  If I throw out a line and someone says “no that’s dumb” (which usually is said in a much nicer way) then usually I take a step back and think about what it would be like if they were right.  If I can see any merit in their claim then I just side with them.  The bad lines have to be thrown out in the open though, if you hold back you’ll never get the song finished.  You have to sort through the garbage to find the good stuff.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

One thing I really would like to highlight is my new song “right where we need to be” that will be releasing on November 5th.  *More info to come on the single*

I’m really just figuring things out.  When I moved to Nashville my idea was to say yes to everything (within reason) and see where things take me.  Afterwards reflect on things and move forward accordingly.   One plan that will not change for me is continuing to write new music.  I’m constantly working on new stuff.

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https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lTDzt0NNWBpSfWSbmJOVf?si=sTdshTaxQPuB5fv9zjYFzQ&dl_branch=1