There are some musical discoveries that arrive because you deliberately go looking for them, and then there are those that sneak up on you. My recent Max Styler discovery definitely falls into the latter category.
It all started with an evening watching Calvin Harris return to his native Scotland for that spectacular televised Hampden Park show. Seeing such an accomplished DJ and producer commanding a huge stadium naturally got me thinking about the next generation of dance music names building their own worlds from behind the decks and in the studio. Enter Max Styler.
I’ll admit, Styler has been sitting on my musical radar for a while. The U.S. tech-house producer has been steadily gathering attention across the dance music landscape, with support from BBC Radio 1, Capital Dance, SiriusXM, Triple J, KISS FM Australia and 538 Dance Department, among others. Clearly, I was a little late to the party!
So, I decided it was time to press play on his latest EP, “I Don’t Think I Can Stop“. And, well, the title rather accurately describes what happened next. Once those beats started rolling, I was happily swept along for the ride.
“My sets in general right now are getting longer and longer, and I think the music I’m making lends itself to those extended sets,” shares Styler. “The EP reflects a bit of the pacing and sonic identity of my live sets. When I release a single, a lot of the time they’re slap-you-in-the-face-type tunes. “I Don’t Think I Can Stop” shows a bit more of the journey.”
That sense of journey is exactly what makes the EP work for me. I particularly love it when electronic music finds that delicious middle ground between club-ready production and genuine pop appeal. “Love Forever”, featuring U.K. dance collective Kuuda, delivers that crossover beautifully. It has the sort of energy that makes sitting still feel like an entirely unnecessary activity.
The accompanying visual takes us into Styler’s world too, with a fast-moving collection of footage from his sold-out shows. It captures the sweat, scale and sheer exhilaration of his live performances. While offering a glimpse at the artistry and connection driving his rapid ascent.
So yes, Calvin Harris may have sparked the thought, but Max Styler has certainly kept the dancefloor conversation going for me. Consider me officially caught up — and judging by the repeat button, “I Don’t Think I Can Stop” might be becoming a rather accurate description of my listening habits too.
Connect with Max Styler
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