Show Notes
In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of MAX, an artist who has continuously redefined pop music with his vibrant creativity and collaborations. MAX isn’t just a singer-songwriter—he’s a dynamic force in the music industry, known for his work with global icons like BTS’s Suga, as well as his own chart-topping hits.
But his story goes far beyond his music. MAX has faced his own challenges along the way, turning each setback into an opportunity for growth and reinvention. Whether it’s his heartfelt anthem "Blueberry Eyes" or his powerful collaborations, MAX’s career is a testament to the power of persistence, authenticity, and connecting deeply with others.
In this conversation, MAX shares the personal and creative moments that have shaped his journey—from the highs of working with BTS to the hard lessons learned along the way. His story is a powerful reminder that success in music isn’t just about the hits, but about staying true to yourself and embracing the twists and turns along the way.
More from Behind The Wall
I'm so excited to finally share this conversation with Mike Sabath! Mike is one of the incredibly talented songwriters and producers who's helped create some of the biggest songs in music today. From working with RAYE on songs like “Escapism.”, “Oscar Winning Tears.”, and “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” to collaborating with Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Selena Gomez, J Balvin, and so many others, Mike has been a part of some truly incredible music. But what makes Mike so special isn't just the songs he's worked on. It's the way he thinks about music, creativity, collaboration, and the relationships that make great art possible.In this episode of Behind The Wall, we dive into his creative partnership with RAYE, the stories behind some of their biggest songs, his experiences with legendary creative minds like Rick Rubin and Pharrell, and the lessons he's learned throughout his journey. And what I love about this conversation is that it goes so much deeper than just making hit songs. We talk about trusting your instincts, finding your own creative voice, building meaningful relationships, and what it really takes to turn an idea into something that connects with millions of people. 💡 This conversation is for YOU if: 🔥 You're an artist, songwriter, or producer trying to take your craft to the next level 🔥 You've ever wondered how songs like “Escapism.” and “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” came to life 🔥 You want to understand how some of the most creative minds in music approach their work 🔥 You've ever doubted yourself or struggled to trust your own creative instincts What stood out to me most about Mike was his passion for music and the way he approaches creativity. It's a reminder that behind every song we love are people, relationships, ideas, and countless moments that most of the world never gets to see. Mike, thank you for opening up about your journey, sharing your experiences, and letting us go deeper into the music you've helped create. I'm incredibly grateful we got to have this conversation, and I genuinely hope it inspires the next generation of songwriters, producers, and creatives. And thank you to everyone who continues to support Behind The Wall and makes conversations like this possible. It means more than you know.Welcome Behind The Wall with Mike Sabath. 🙏 🎵 Ready to release your own music? I’ve personally used DistroKid for over 6 years to release my music on Spotify, Apple Music, and streaming platforms around the world. You can also use DistroKid Direct to turn your cover art into merch and sell it directly to your fans. Use my link to get 7% off DistroKid: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/1296306 🎶 The interviews don't end when the cameras turn off. Join the Behind The Wall community, where artists, songwriters, and producers learn directly from the people behind the biggest songs in the world:https://www.skool.com/behindthewall/about 📘 FREE PDF: 15 Lessons from The Greatest Minds in Musichttps://nas.com/behindthewall/products/dxue ⬇️ More of Mike SabathInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikesabath/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EFIfAP2Nc6MH3?si=a26a38a6057e4f63YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkBY4T2IX68z3OYCSrtkr2A⬇️ More of DanielYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DanielsWallInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielwall/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielswall
Alex Warren has had one of the craziest journeys in music. Before millions of people were listening to his songs, Alex was homeless, had lost both of his parents, was afraid to sing in front of people, and was being told that maybe singing wasn’t for him. Today, he’s become one of the biggest new artists in the world. I got to sit down with Alex for Behind The Wall and go all the way back to the beginning to understand how he got here, the stories behind his music, and how so much of his life eventually found its way into his songs. We talk about losing his parents, the last letter his dad left him, his relationship with his wife Kouvr, learning to believe in himself as an artist, the strategy behind getting his music heard, and what it actually took to turn music into a real career. But this episode isn’t just about Alex’s success. It’s about everything that happened before it, and what artists and creatives can learn from his journey.
Tove Lo is behind way more hit songs than most people realize. From her own hits like “Habits (Stay High)” and “Talking Body” to helping write songs like “Heroes (we could be),” Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” and “Still Falling for You,” Tove Lo has quietly been behind some of the biggest pop songs of the last decade. In this episode of Behind The Wall, Tove Lo takes us inside the stories behind the songs, from the records that launched her career as an artist to the massive hits she’s written for other artists. We talk about how these songs actually came together, her songwriting process, becoming an artist after starting out as a songwriter, and the stories behind some of the biggest moments of her career. This is Tove Lo like you’ve never heard her before.
Ne-Yo didn't just make some of the biggest songs of the 2000s. He wrote them for himself and so many others! 🎵 Ready to release your own music? I’ve personally used DistroKid for over 6 years to release my music on Spotify, Apple Music, and streaming platforms around the world. You can also use DistroKid Direct to turn your cover art into merch and sell it directly to your fans. Use my link to get 7% off DistroKid: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/1296306🎶 The interviews don’t end when the cameras turn off. Join Behind The Wall Creatives to learn directly from the hit songwriters, producers, and artists behind the music you love, connect and collaborate with other creatives, and become a better artist, songwriter, or producer: https://www.skool.com/behindthewall/about In this episode of Behind The Wall, I sat down with Ne-Yo to go behind the songs, stories, and career of one of the most successful songwriters and artists of his generation. Before the world knew him for songs like “So Sick,” “Miss Independent,” and “Closer,” Ne-Yo was already building his career as a songwriter. He went on to write and collaborate with some of the biggest artists in the world, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Mario, Celine Dion, and more. We talk about the stories behind some of his biggest songs, how he approaches songwriting, what makes a song connect with millions of people, writing for other artists versus himself, becoming an artist in his own right, and the lessons he's learned throughout more than two decades in the music industry. This conversation is for YOU if: 🔥 You grew up listening to 2000s R&B 🔥 You want to know the stories behind some of the biggest songs of that era 🔥 You're a songwriter, artist, or producer trying to get better at your craft 🔥 You've ever wondered what actually goes into writing a hit song 🔥 You know Ne-Yo the artist, but have no idea just how many songs he's been behind One of my favorite things about Behind The Wall is getting to sit down with the people behind the songs we all know and give them the space to tell the stories we don't always get to hear. Ne-Yo has been part of the soundtrack to so many people's lives, both through his own music and the songs he's written for others, and I'm really excited for you to hear this conversation. If you enjoy the episode, subscribe to Behind The Wall for more conversations with the artists, songwriters, producers, and creatives behind the music you love. More of Ne-Yo ⬇️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ @neyo Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21E3waRsmPlU7jZsS13rcj?si=gjT0SMczSwWnLYJZYok1Xg 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neyo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neyo ⬇️ More of Daniel 📺 YouTube: / @danielswall 📸 Instagram: / danielwall 📱 TikTok: / danielswall
This is hands down one of my favorite conversations we’ve ever had! Russ has built one of the most unique careers in modern music. He’s released hit records, built a massive global fanbase, and became one of the artists who helped redefine what it means to be independent in the music industry. But what I loved about this conversation is that we got to go way beyond the success and really understand how he did it. Russ takes us through his journey from making and releasing music on his own, to songs like “What They Want” and “Losin Control” changing everything, to building a career where ownership, independence, and believing in yourself have remained at the center of everything he does. But this episode isn’t just about Russ’ story. It’s about what artists can learn from it. We talk about what being independent actually means, why artists shouldn’t wait for someone else to give them permission to succeed, how to build an audience that truly cares about you, the importance of consistency, and what Russ has learned from betting on himself throughout his career. 💡 This conversation is for YOU if: 🔥 You’re an independent artist trying to build a career 🔥 You’ve ever felt like you needed a label or someone in the industry to believe in you 🔥 You want to understand how Russ built such a loyal fanbase 🔥 You’re an artist, songwriter, producer, or creative trying to turn what you love into a real career 🔥 You’ve ever doubted whether you can actually make it on your own We also dive into the stories behind his music, the lessons he’s learned throughout his career, his evolution as both an artist and entrepreneur, and the next chapter of what he’s building. What hit me most about this conversation was Russ’ belief in taking control of your own life and career. There are so many people waiting for somebody else to discover them, validate them, or give them an opportunity. Russ’ story is a reminder that sometimes you have to create that opportunity yourself. I’ve followed Russ’ journey for years, and getting the chance to finally sit down and go through his story with him was incredibly special. I genuinely think there are so many moments in this conversation that are going to connect with artists and creatives who are trying to figure out their own path. Russ, thank you for the honesty, the advice, and for trusting me to help share your story. So grateful we finally got to go Behind The Wall together. 🙏🔥 And thank you to everyone who continues to support Behind The Wall and makes conversations like this possible. I truly hope this episode inspires the next generation of independent artists and creatives to bet on themselves.