Maximono's musical journey has been a thrilling tale of evolution and collaboration. The partnership of Nick and Sebi birthed a unique sound that catapulted them into the global DJ circuit, making waves in iconic venues from festivals to underground rave havens. Following Nick's departure in 2018, Sebi embarked on a reflective period that ultimately gave birth to The Outtakes, a poignant 12-track album that serves as a farewell treasure chest of unreleased compositions.
The Outtakes is a testament to Maximono's enduring spirit, capturing the essence of their collaborative ethos. This intimate album holds sought-after tracks that fans around the world will hold dear. As August unfolds, Germany's streets will once again resonate with Maximono's vibes, as Sebi unites with Kyle Watson, revisiting the sonic origins in Hannover.
With The Outtakes, Maximono's legacy takes center stage, reminding us of their boundless creativity. Sebi's journey, marked by a commitment to pushing boundaries, stands as a testament to the power of rule-breaking in crafting music that defies limitations. We spoke to the talented artist about his new project and his journey to date
Hi Sebi, you just signed off on the Maximono project in style with a sold-out show with long-time friend Kyle Watson, talk us through how it went.
It was obviously an emotional one. We actually played a weekend of two shows together in Germany, both have been packed and full of energy. It was Kyle’s Germany debut and at the same time my final run so it was just set to be special. As you said we know and follow each other for quite a while so it was just great to see him again as the last time was right before covid in LA. Both shows went down really well and we even ended up playing b2b in the end which was pure fun surprising each other with some almost forgotten jams. On both nights we had many many close friends and family with us so I couldn’t have imagined a better way to end this project.
The album "The Outtakes" is a collection of records written over the years which never were released, was it hard to select what would make the cut to include on the album?
When going through the harddrives it became quite clear which ones to choose for the album. Pretty much all of them have been written in special time of around 2 years (2016-2018) where it felt like the project found its own sound and trademark. There are a lot more unreleased records from other years but we wanted to show that side of the project one more time where we felt the most productive and unique. Another factor was to pick the ones that have been requested by fans and other DJs over the years.
Reflecting on the body of work you've created under this alias, what are the most memorable moments or achievements that stand out to you?
There are too many moments to mention but I’d say the most important ones were when we got together for our legendary 2-3 days non-stop studio sessions where we created all the song ideas together. I still remember when we listened through the results of a session (usually 5-10 tracks) on the way to the airport (either in London or Hannover) and cranked up our car speakers way too loud. We couldn’t wait to play these out and send them to the labels. We’ve got obsessed with the idea of creating a new style of house music by blending it with our musical background of drum&bass, breakbeats and hip hop.
Another important moment was when we got sent videos of Justin Martin dropping our track “Don’t Give A Fuck Style” at Dirtybird Campout in the US. Seeing the DJs and crowd go mental on the track was definitely a point where we realized that we were onto something. Thanks again to Ardalan for passing it on to him. Shortly after that Amine Edge & Dance signed some tracks to CUFF and I still remember my talks with Amine who was trying hard to find a name for the style we were doing as the music didn’t fit into any existing subgenre. That showed us we were creating something new.
Given you are putting this alias to rest, what will you miss most about producing music under this moniker? Are there any signature elements or experiences that hold a special place in your heart?
The Maximono project was our vehicle to escape boundaries that we felt in other projects and music genres. We often called it the no-rules mentality and thats something I will definitely try to carry with me towards new projects. Another thing that I’m going to miss is the way of writing music with Nick. There was a special energy and hype when we sat down in the studio to come up with new ideas. It sounds a bit cliche but it opened my eyes on what can happen when like minded people work on something together. It’s not just the doubled amount of input and outcome, it’s way beyond that.
Will this transition mark the end of your involvement with this alias entirely, or do you envision revisiting it at some point in the future? What factors might influence that decision?
After Nick had to leave the project in 2018 I decided to keep it going as it felt like I have a lot more to say and to create under that name, which definitely worked out well. But at the same time I realized that it’s becoming something different. Artists have to re-invent themselves over and over again to stay relevant, that’s a matter of fact. It just felt wrong to do that under the Maximono alias as Nick wasn’t part of it anymore. We never know what happens in the future but one thing is for sure: it could only be the two of us.
Looking back, are there any lessons or experiences from this alias that you believe will shape your future projects or artistic endeavors?
The whole project has shaped me as an artist and as human being as well. Doing the Maximono project including producing the music and touring the world whilst at the same time doing a full time job in IT plus running a successful record label (This Ain’t Bristol) has brought a lot of challenges and a steep learning curve. First and foremost it forced me to optimize my daily structure and workflows and also showed me how important prioritizing is. It also showed me how important things like family and real friendships are and that you often need to take a step back from all the opportunities to focus on other things in life in order to be happy. It also taught me how to identify and worship real friends.
Musicwise the work as Maximono has showed me how important it is to avoid looking left and right and just do your own thing. Boundaries are set by others, not by yourself. It’s not easy once you get sucked into a certain direction but it’s even more important then to stay aware of it. Trying to sound like someone else has never helped any artist on this planet in the long run. It should be the opposite, try to sound like no one sounded before.
When artists move on from a long-standing alias, they often undergo a process of rebranding or reinvention. Can you give us a glimpse into what's next for you in terms of your musical identity and direction?
The thing I will carry on from the Maximono project is that I will only put my time into music that I deeply feel. I’m in the lucky position of not living from music so there’s no pressure on being successful with what I do musically. I’ve found my love for D&B back last year so I’m writing new stuff under an alias called “Drumantle” with a friend from south germany. We’ve already had a release on one of my all time favorite D&B labels “Shogun Audio”. Besides that I’m a big fan of Afro House and Deep Melodic House so that might be something I’m already working on ;) I’m also planning to do more with my label Parasoul Music in the future so stay tuned.
Listen to "The Outtakes" below
