I first met Max at Voodoo Village festival last year, in his home country of Belgium. He greeted me with a smile and was very hospitable to my friends and I, which I really appreciated. I had no idea at the time he would soon become one of the scene’s hottest new producer/DJs. In a span of only 5 years, he has quickly made a name for himself getting worldwide attention from the industry’s best labels and DJs.
Photo Credit: Maxi Meraki – Facebook
Just last year he released ‘Dare Your Move’ on Spinnin’ Deep, which became a top track for the likes of Solomun and Keinemusik. His sexy style of blending the old with the new has a wide appeal and has led to more hot releases like ‘Nothing On Me’ on Blond:ish’s Abracadabra and ‘Don’t Leave Me’ on ARTBAT’s UPPERGROUND.
I recently caught up with Max to talk about his fast path to success and his passion for music.
Lisa Sant: Good to be with you today Maxi. You have moved quickly into the spotlight and now have several big hits, what was your journey into DJing and production?
Maxi Meraki: Thanks for the invite. I always wanted to produce but I didn’t know how, so I learned. I started taking lessons at SAE about 5 years ago. My first release was in 2019 and since I’ve had about 25 over the past 4 years. I was looking for my sound in the beginning, it took time to find that. Now, it is a mix of afro house and melodic vibes. And now that I have a defined sound, people started recognizing my tracks more.
Lisa Sant: Can you tell me about how the first release came to be?
Maxi Meraki: It was a track I made with Tensake. I followed him on Instagram and he followed me back. Then I got in touch to work together, as I was more into disco sounds at that time. It was around 2021 that I got more into the melodic sound. Then, ‘Dare Your Move’ came out at the end of 2022, which started getting me more attention. The bigger artists started paying more attention as they saw my tracks in the charts, so more would listen, and vocalists became more open to collaborations.
Lisa Sant: There seems to be a hot trend these days of bringing back classic tracks through samples in new productions. Peggy Gou did it on ‘Nana’ with ATB’s ‘Til I Come’ and on your ‘No Longer Human’ EP, you sampled Rui de Silva’s ‘Touch Me’. It’s like remaking old movies for the new generation to enjoy, what are your thoughts on this trend?
Maxi Meraki: People like to hear music they know and I think the recognizable part in the middle of the set gives a nice vibe to the crowd.
Lisa Sant: What new releases should we watch out for?
Maxi Meraki: ‘Don’t Care Anymore’ was released on August 11th on MoBlack, and ‘Kama Yeah’ is a remix of a Defected song that will be released on Get Physical on September 8th, 2023. At the end of the year, I have a collab together with my good friend Samm (BE) for a big edit of a 1996 Belgian classic, but released as a new song on Armada under our own names, so not as a remix.
“You just need to keep on pushing your own sound and what you believe in… And then there will be a day when everything falls into place!”
Lisa Sant: What has been the key to your success so far?
Maxi Meraki: Determination and to keep on pushing… also, you can’t always be in line with everybody’s taste on the dance floor, or please every promotor. You just need to keep on pushing your own sound and what you believe in… And then there will be a day when everything falls into place!
Lisa Sant: What inspires you to produce and play? Where do your ideas come from?
Maxi Meraki: As I said earlier, in my DJ life I tend to be more influenced by the disco sound. I’m a big fan of the late 70s and 80s. Now, it’s more of a mix between melodic house and Afro vibes with indie influences. I also try to at least play 1 classic, as people seem to be expecting it lately in my sets.
Lisa Sant: You have been touring the US and Canada a lot. What have been some memorable moments?
Maxi Meraki: My first gig in New York with Deep House Bible was pretty impressive. It was sold out as a headliner together with Pippi Ciez, and the vibe of the people was so vibrant and amazing. Totally different from what I’m used to in Europe. Everything feels dynamic and innovative, with influences from around the world. Probably, also because there’s a mix of students, expats, and tourists from all around the world that come to party in big cities like New York, Los Angeles, or Miami. Each with their own musical tastes and experiences.
Lisa Sant: How are you adjusting to your new touring life?
Maxi Meraki: I try to eat well and stay fit during the week. That helps a lot.
“What I admire more about the older generation of DJs is the rough sound and pureness they brought. People came for their music and the show they brought on stage, everything felt more clear.”
Lisa Sant: Do you prefer playing at festivals or clubs more? What has been your experience with the difference between the two?
Maxi Meraki: While I already had the honor of playing at some of my favorite festivals such as Tomorrowland, Extrema Outdoor, and Voodoo Village, a club setting still has a different vibe. I must say I pretty much adore the more intimate vibe a club can give; while a festival is bigger and everything is more depending on different time slots, areas, stages, etc.
Lisa Sant: What do you look to learn from the older generation of DJs?
Maxi Meraki: What I admire more about the older generation of DJs is the rough sound and pureness they brought. People came for their music and the show they brought on stage, everything felt more clear. Now you see everything tends to be more bright and polished, and it’s also more about image and marketing these days.
You can find Max touring the Middle East in the last quarter of the year and he will be making his debut in Mexico at the end of August.
Follow Maxi Meraki: Soundcloud | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
