Maxim Releases Some ‘Animal Anger’
Drinking a glass of champagne, looking ever a swanky British gent, Maxim exudes cool. And that’s not because he first made his mark as the frontman to revered electronic band the Prodigy; we’re pretty sure he was just born awesome and intriguing. We caught up with Maxim, née Keith Palmer, to discuss his solo career and his new EP, Animal Anger.
What is it like to reinvent yourself as a solo artist and break out from your previous work with the Prodigy?
People know me from the Prodigy, but I’ve done two solo albums. Hardcore Prodigy fans always want you to be the same person. But it is hard trying to break out and make people think that you’ve got more strings to your bow. I’m still creating and thinking of ideas—what ideas may go for the Prodigy or my solo stuff, whatever it is.
“I think if you’re in your comfort zone, you just do the same things. Then life becomes a bit boring.”
On event flyers, you’re billed as “Maxim (of the Prodigy).” Does that help, or is it a hindrance?
In some ways it’s good, in some ways it’s bad. It obviously helps to bring the attention to people because it gives you a little step up. If I just come as Maxim here, people are going to go, “Who? Of the Prodigy! Oh, you’re that guy!” But it’s how it’s worded. I noticed on one flyer it said, “Maxim of the Prodigy (DJ set),” and they think I’m just going to be playing Prodigy music. A lot of people think, “I don’t know who the Prodigy are!” [Laughs] A lot of these kids haven’t got a clue. It’s a challenge for me; I’m here and trying to work it. I like to challenge myself. I think if you’re in your comfort zone, you just do the same things. Then life becomes a bit boring.
Some artists try to collaborate with as many people as possible on an album. However, Animal Anger features collaborations specifically with MC Cianna Blaze.
I’ve only worked with one MC—Cianna. I’ve worked with other artists and singers around me, and I’ve written tracks with them, but my focus is just Cianna, because she’s a good MC. She’s not an average MC; she’s got an edge. I’m an MC myself, so I know what I like to listen to. There’s a nurturing stage. I’ve taught her a little bit about MCing, and I’ve brought some of my ideas into what she does. She’s taken them on board, and she’s seen a totally different way of MCing. I’m only working with her and doing this EP—and probably the next EP as well—trying to build her career and build her as Maxim’s MC as well. There will be other tracks I put out featuring other people, but the focus is Maxim and Cianna Blaze.
What is it about bass and trap music that inspired you to go in that direction?
Bass music—it’s all about bass! I always say if there weren’t any bass, I wouldn’t be in the band. The whole trap scene… I just like the creativity of it. There are some really good, energetic tracks out there.
“It is hard trying to break out and make people think that you’ve got more strings to your bow.”
One of the tracks that really excited me into DJing was Zeds Dead’s collaboration with Mavado [“Undah Yuh Skirt”]. It was a crossover between a bit of drum & bass and a bit of reggae influence. As much as I love drum & bass, I don’t like the monotony of the drums sometimes. When the whole trap scene came on board, I liked the hip-hop side and the 808 and the big bass drum and the snare. I like bringing in the reggae influence on top of it. I grew up in the reggae scene; that’s where I learned how to MC. People don’t know that. They think I was just in the Prodigy and have always been into techno. No, I grew up with that music.
SEE ALSO: The Era of Trap Is Now Upon Us
You released Animal Anger as a free download, along with bonus track “Lucky Bitch.” What gives?
It’s not about selling music for me. It’s just about getting the ideas and music out there. And the next EP will be a free download as well. And the one after that. I’ll probably do free downloads for the next year. I just want people to have music. I don’t want to scare people off. I’d rather people just download it, listen to it and play it. Share, man!
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