“Creativity is dead!” is a reoccurring sentiment often iterated by the cynical and the elderly (or the over-experienced as I like to call them) – scared or unwilling to trust the vision of the young – and is a sentiment I see far too often. However, as a younger man surrounded by multiple aspects of the arts, I am inclined to believe the youth still have ‘it’.
Enter Max Amos, a recent graduate of BIMM Brighton, music producer and founder of the up-and-coming Moose Audio brand, planning to elevate emerging talent from the Sussex region and beyond by not only giving them a platform but allowing for a networking web between all those that use the service. I sat down with Amos in a small bottle shop in Brighton, over an overpriced beer and some underappreciated jazz music, to discuss his time at BIMM and his plans post graduation, here’s how it went.
Skipping formalities, this is an unbelievably good place to choose for an interview. Why here, of all places, if it even means anything at all?
I like to cultivate working relationships in places like this. Busy but peaceful. You can hear yourself think as well as other people talk. It’s the perfect balance for fostering creativity.
And because of that it does make the conversation a lot more personal, for a brand priding itself of the network it will provide; I suppose that’s key for Moose.
Exactly! The whole idea I have is to work with those I really understand and connect with. And, in turn, be able to recommend and connect others with like-minded individuals. Somewhere like this is the perfect place to vet who I want to collaborate with.
So would you say the networking angle is the main goal of the brand?
Oh no, not at all! That is the USP for sure, but we are a production and sound company through and through, it’s what I invested three years of my life in and my passion. It’s the goal I’ve been working towards for the past two years. And, with graduating, it’s finally begun to take action.
Looking back on your three years at BIMM, how do you personally recall the journey from then till now with hindsight?
That’s an incredibly good, yet incredibly difficult question. Hindsight is a beautiful thing. There were highs and lows, as there are in anything you spend enough time with. Despite that, I can say BIMM offered the chance to explore my creative side without restriction. I was supported through every crazy idea I had. Nothing can top that. It was from that support and the meetings with my lecturers that inspired me to pursue this idea I have with Moose Audio.
Any lecturer you’d like to shout out, spread the love?
I’ve gotta show some appreciation to Josh Harrison; he helped improve my overall production ability, taught me how to meet the industry standard of production and expanded my knowledge of software and hardware. Business-wise, there’s Danny Corker and Andy Rossiter. Danny showed me how the industry worked, and how important it was to work with up-and-coming artists to diversify my creative portfolio. Andy built on these skills teaching me about business plans, social media, etc. giving me the confidence to get my business up and running.
Now, fancy letting the readers know what kind of action you were talking about prior?
In the name of a ‘diversifying my portfolio’ I’ve been undertaking commission work recently. My favourite was mixing Beyoncé tracks into a medley for a group dance at a wedding. I saw the video of them all and it made it worth sitting through 10 hours of Beyoncé’s music.
The irony of shoehorning ‘Single Ladies’ into a wedding dance isn’t lost on me, you might just be a genius.
Christ, I hadn’t even thought about that…
And now you’ll never forget it. Now is there anything else you’d like to let readers in on before we wrap up?
Yes. Get on the Ellie Carballeira bandwagon. Something big is coming and it will be the first major project for both of us. We should start taking steps to release it in the beginning of November. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on.
And with that, watch out world. The kids are still coming for you.
