by L'Exception, on June 1, 2023
It would be difficult to sum up the artist Max Sokolinski in one sentence. If we had to describe him in one word, "versatile" would be appropriate, with him, there is only one step between music and fashion. L'Exception had the opportunity to meet this multifaceted artist.
More a dream than an evidence. The desire to create is obvious, in everyone, just look at the children. The challenge is to mix that with the more mundane aspects of life.
I started my guitar at 8, I wanted to play drums but my parents thought it was too loud! The rest was about how to make a living from my passion.
It is now the case for many years, and I never get tired of this freedom, despite the uncertainties that it brings...
What interests me in music are contrasts. For example, if I do rock, I am limited to rock. But if you mix it with any other genre, you create something unique and potentially new.
Same thing when I mix: I don't like to limit myself to one genre, when I can make people travel, between eras and continents.
I'm always satisfied when at the end of a set I realize that I've gone from new wave to Latin music, through rnb, italo disco and techno for example.
Every creation is a small miracle. Sometimes you let your fingers go and they find their way by themselves. Sometimes you try so hard and nothing happens.
I don't have a formula, and I think that if there was one, it would be known!
Clara taught me this sentence: alone we go faster, with two we go further.
Creating with two people is easier because we have the other person's reaction on the spot, which allows us to know if we are going in the right direction, and two minds are better than one. We also have the pleasure of sharing wonderful creative moments with someone.
Alone we can doubt more, but we also have less to compromise!
When I met Adah through a friend, I didn't think at the time that I had another band. I'd had a lot of projects before, and I was thriving in picture music.
The first song we wrote was "beneath the wave" and the duo became an obvious choice.
The cinematic aspect of the tracks comes naturally, because of my work with brands. The use of 1992 for this movie was great because it helped to get the song out there, especially since it was used in the end scene of the movie, which is always more memorable (hello "fight club"!).
After years of accompanying artists, I wanted to specialize in music for the image because it's very complete: I will compose, play all the instruments and mix. From the inspiration to the final result! Fashion wasn't a conscious choice, it just happened, because it's a world I know and love.
I love fashion but paradoxically I don't want to spend too much time thinking about it, so when I like an outfit, it becomes my uniform for several weeks until the next one!
As in music, I love contrasts: mixing genres and decades (with an affinity for all things 60/70's though), vintage and new.
In fashion: AMI for whom I played live and whose contemporary elegance speaks to me, and Bobo which reminds me of the seaside where I grew up.
In perfume: ds and dugas, debaser is my perfume of the moment, perfect for the beautiful days.
Right now: Anika Lena flare jeans, Rails sweater and Gant teddy!
I composed the last 3 campaigns for Louboutin which will be released soon. I also shot a campaign for erEvan in which I appear, as well as doing the music. I've just come back from Ibiza and Cannes, where I played for Maje and during the festival, so I'd like to rest a bit until this summer, when I'll be mixing in Saint-Tropez.
As for the rest, my emails will tell me, knowing what I'm doing 3 months in advance is already a luxury!
If you want to follow the adventures of Max Sokolinksi, it's right here.
Discover also our interview with with Quebec band Bibi Club just right here.
Max, you are a multi-instrumentalist composer and DJ, was doing an artistic job always an obvious choice?
More a dream than an evidence. The desire to create is obvious, in everyone, just look at the children. The challenge is to mix that with the more mundane aspects of life.
I started my guitar at 8, I wanted to play drums but my parents thought it was too loud! The rest was about how to make a living from my passion.
It is now the case for many years, and I never get tired of this freedom, despite the uncertainties that it brings...
In your works, you can mix classical music, jazz and rock. How would you define your musical style ?
What interests me in music are contrasts. For example, if I do rock, I am limited to rock. But if you mix it with any other genre, you create something unique and potentially new.
Same thing when I mix: I don't like to limit myself to one genre, when I can make people travel, between eras and continents.
I'm always satisfied when at the end of a set I realize that I've gone from new wave to Latin music, through rnb, italo disco and techno for example.
What are your inspirations to create new compositions ? Do you have a specific creative process ?
Every creation is a small miracle. Sometimes you let your fingers go and they find their way by themselves. Sometimes you try so hard and nothing happens.
I don't have a formula, and I think that if there was one, it would be known!
What is the difference between being an artist composer, where you are finally the "leader" of your creation, and being an artist who has collaborated with Christophe, Matthieu Chedid or Clara Luciani?
Clara taught me this sentence: alone we go faster, with two we go further.
Creating with two people is easier because we have the other person's reaction on the spot, which allows us to know if we are going in the right direction, and two minds are better than one. We also have the pleasure of sharing wonderful creative moments with someone.
Alone we can doubt more, but we also have less to compromise!
Max, you're also part of Bruises, a duo shared with artist Adah Dylan, and your first single 1992 was used in the movie "The Map of Tiny Perfect things" airing on Amazon Prime. How does it feel for an artist to have their project tied to a piece of film?
When I met Adah through a friend, I didn't think at the time that I had another band. I'd had a lot of projects before, and I was thriving in picture music.
The first song we wrote was "beneath the wave" and the duo became an obvious choice.
The cinematic aspect of the tracks comes naturally, because of my work with brands. The use of 1992 for this movie was great because it helped to get the song out there, especially since it was used in the end scene of the movie, which is always more memorable (hello "fight club"!).
You also work with big luxury houses as a composer or DJ. How did the idea of specializing as a fashion musician come to you?
After years of accompanying artists, I wanted to specialize in music for the image because it's very complete: I will compose, play all the instruments and mix. From the inspiration to the final result! Fashion wasn't a conscious choice, it just happened, because it's a world I know and love.
How would you define your clothing style ? Is it as eclectic as your music ?
I love fashion but paradoxically I don't want to spend too much time thinking about it, so when I like an outfit, it becomes my uniform for several weeks until the next one!
As in music, I love contrasts: mixing genres and decades (with an affinity for all things 60/70's though), vintage and new.
Are there any brands you like at L'Exception?
In fashion: AMI for whom I played live and whose contemporary elegance speaks to me, and Bobo which reminds me of the seaside where I grew up.
In perfume: ds and dugas, debaser is my perfume of the moment, perfect for the beautiful days.
What is Max Sokolinski's typical outfit for a night of Live ?
Right now: Anika Lena flare jeans, Rails sweater and Gant teddy!
Any great things coming soon to share with us ?
I composed the last 3 campaigns for Louboutin which will be released soon. I also shot a campaign for erEvan in which I appear, as well as doing the music. I've just come back from Ibiza and Cannes, where I played for Maje and during the festival, so I'd like to rest a bit until this summer, when I'll be mixing in Saint-Tropez.
As for the rest, my emails will tell me, knowing what I'm doing 3 months in advance is already a luxury!
If you want to follow the adventures of Max Sokolinksi, it's right here.
Watch the video clip of « Beneath the Wave »
Discover also our interview with with Quebec band Bibi Club just right here.
