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Max Baker
  • Work
  • Services
    • Summer Sessions
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  • Store
  • About
    • About Max
    • Testimonials
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  • Archive

Jake Miller Presents the "Wait for You" Tour

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*disclaimer: if any photos from the following article are to be shared on any social media platforms, please take the time to tag me @maxbakerphoto and give proper credit. Thank you!


After two months of being on the road promoting his latest EP release of BASED ON A TRUE STORY., pop artist Jake Miller performed to an exuberant amount of people at the El Rey theatre in Los Angeles for his last stop on the Wait for You tour. With some amazingly talented opening artists like Just Seconds Apart and Logan Henderson, there was no doubt that this was going to be a show stopping event full of positive energy and good vibes. With Henderson showing off some new unreleased music as well as undeniable bops like Pull Me Deep and Sleepwalker, the crowd was warming up for the anticipation of Miller to perform next. Opening his set with popular tracks like NIKES, Think About Us, and The Girl That’s Underneath, the fans went crazy for the special moments during the show - from taking a fan’s phone facetiming said fan’s friend, to even spraining his ankle, Jake proved that no matter what happens, the show must go on. From recent hits like NOBODY ELSE and SKINNYDIP, to throwback songs for the OG fans like Dazed and Confused and Selfish Girls, it turned into being an incredible evening for both friends and fans of Miller, and it was a surefire way to end a tour like this one.

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Thank you to Jake and Scott for having me out and shooting the show, and thank you Justin for being an incredible person that I’ve been blessed to have a part of this journey of life and always believing in me. Check out the photos from the last stop of the tour below! (click on the photos to expand if need be).

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If you attended the show, what was your favorite part? Leave a comment below!

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tags: jake miller, logan henderson, wait for you, wait for you tour, el rey theatre, hollywood, west hollywood, music, live show, concert, concert photos, jake miller concert, based on a true story, live, music event, tour photography, jake miller tour, jake miller tour photos, jake miller wait for you, jake miller max baker, max baker photo, max baker, pop music, big time rush
categories: Photo Galleries, Show Review
Sunday 05.19.19
Posted by Maxine Baker
 

Artist Feature: Violet Days for Grumpy Magazine

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On a chilly morning in Hollywood Hills, Swedish Pop artist Violet Days and I had the chance to meet and shoot together for the amazing Paris publication Grumpy Magazine. Editor-in-chief Jasmine Perrier talked with them and learned a bit more about their debut EP ‘‘Made In My Head’’ and working on the next phase of their music project. You can find the full article here, but for now, enjoy the gallery below! Thank you to the amazing team, who you can follow below and support their work.

Who would you guys like to see me work with next? Leave a comment below and let me know what your new years plans are going to be!

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STYLING: TARA BUENAVENTURA

GLAM: HALI MCGOWAN

LIGHTING: JOEY MIRELES

WORDS: JASMINE PERRIER

BTS: ASHLY NICOLE & JESSE GILBERT

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tags: grumpy magazine, max baker photo, max baker grumpy magazine, violet days, sweden, swedish, music, pop muisc, pop music, musician, interview, violet days grumpy magazine, paris, paris france, paris magazine, artist feature, fashion, editorial, editorial violet days, max baker, max baker blog
categories: Artist Feature, Interviews, Photoshoots, Photo Galleries
Friday 12.21.18
Posted by Maxine Baker
Comments: 1
 

New Music Friday: The Night Game Debuts Self Titled Album

Photos by Patrick Tracy @ptracy1990

Photos by Patrick Tracy @ptracy1990


In the summer of 2017, I somehow managed to find last minute tickets to go see the one and only John Mayer perform during his The Search for Everything tour when he made a stop in Sacramento. After somehow finding parking in Downtown and rushing to catch our seats before the opener went on, my sister and I had no idea what was to come that night; little did we know that we would stumble upon an act that was familiar to us. The curtains lifted from the stage as the opening band walked out and started performing, with funky guitar riffs and an 80s style pop vibe, we couldn't figure out how we had heard those raspy powerful vocals before. But clearly, this band had the audience entranced. It wasn't until a couple songs had passed that we had realized it was none other than former frontman of Boys Like Girls, the one and only Martin Johnson. Now, who was this new act, this new project Johnson has unleashed, as he casually opened for John Mayer? Say hello to The Night Game, an eclectic and moody solo project Johnson officially released the same year we had seen him perform at an arena filled with thousands of people. Fast forward to 2018, and TNG released his debut album, with 11 songs that will be giving you all the vibes as we transition into fall. 

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The opening song, The Outfield, was the song that got people talking about TNG in the first place when it was released as a single in early 2017; it was also all John Mayer had to hear in order for him to want Johnson to open for his summer tour. The song has power, as we hit the chorus and get punched in the face with some crazy vocals backed up by Gotye. As we transition throughout the album, we can find a common theme of losing someone you're not quite over just yet. With songs like Do You Think About Us?, The Photograph, and Die a Little, TNG reveals a story about a girl he once knew, someone he loved; and even though he's trying to move on, he still thinks about what she could be doing right now if they were still in each other's lives - and yet, he finds it to be better to just be left alone. 

The Night Game is the type of album that has a cinematic feel. The emotion pulled through the vivid poetry and imagery that TNG paints for the audience is something hard to find in the mainstream culture, that "something" being a feeling. A feeling of nostalgia, heartbreak, and the current state of having ourselves to depend on vs someone else. Summerland and Coffee and Cigarettes reflects on a moment in time that plays back in our minds, brings back emotions that we had forgotten about, and the realization that it's all in the past and it's a new world in your today. The intoxicating emotions can bring anyone back to a time where we had someone in our lives that we thought would be there forever. As the album comes to an end with the fun up beat Back in the Van, imagine yourself driving alone, somewhere on the highway, wind blowing through your hair, blasting this album and taking yourself back into that feeling of just being. Yeah, it's that album. And it's fucking good. 

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You can stream the album on Spotify here and take a listen to the epicness that this piece of art encases for yourself. Oh and by the way...The Night Game is going on tour! You can check out the dates below:

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Like what you see? Be sure to follow TNG's journey and find tickets for their tour here, and if you want to get all the latest news on music, interviews, and more, you can subscribe to my newsletter here! Leave a comment below of what you think of the album and what your favorite song is. Until next time!


tags: the night game, martin johnson, blog, max baker photo, max baker, max baker blog, music review, new music friday, album review, the night game album, the night game debut album, the night game tour, tour, tour news, music, event, music event, pop music, boys like girls, review, interview, follow, los angeles, hollywood
categories: Music Review
Friday 09.07.18
Posted by Maxine Baker
Comments: 1
 

Artist Feature: Fly By Midnight

*disclaimer: if any photos from the following article are to be shared on any social media platforms, please take the time to tag me @maxbakerphoto and give proper credit. Thank you!

*disclaimer: if any photos from the following article are to be shared on any social media platforms, please take the time to tag me @maxbakerphoto and give proper credit. Thank you!


When I first came across a band called Fly By Midnight one day on Spotify, I couldn't believe how good these guys were. There was something special about them; I knew the second I heard a few of their singles such as Vibe and XL. A few months later, the guys announced a show they were playing in Hollywood in just a few weeks time. After exchanging some emails and some ideas, I had the opportunity to meet and grab coffee with the NYC based duo while they were visiting Southern California; not only are they talented, they just so happen to be charming and genuine people, with a great sense of humor. You can watch the full interview below (10/10 would recommend) or read on to see more photos from the shoot we put together in West Hollywood, find out what Fly By Midnight is about.  

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Max Baker chats with the gents of funk pop duo Fly By Midnight, Justin + Slavo. How did these two start making music together? Are there plans for a tour? What's in the future for these two? Check this out and be sure to leave a comment below and give this a thumbs up! Filmed and edited by @samanthabakerfilm

“We constantly want to kind of turn the creative knob a bit left of center, and if it doesn’t work, you go back; but if it works, that’s what will set you aside from the rest. ”

Me: If you guys want to introduce yourselves, where you guys are from, and what you do exactly in the band.

Justin: My name is Justin Bryte, I play keyboard and sing in the duo, and I'm from Staten Island, New York, born and raised.

Slavo: My name is Slavo, I am from Florida, and I play guitar and I sing. 

M: For those who might not be familiar with the band, how did Fly By Midnight get started and where did the name come from?

J: Yeah, two very different things, because the name was definitely not an organic process, but I guess coming together was more natural. Slavo moved to Florida from Staten Island, about, how many years ago, what was it?

S: Yeah, 5 years ago. I moved to New York from Florida. After being there for a couple years, I met Justin at a studio on Staten Island, and he was doing a solo project. I was producing, and we started working together, wrote the first song we released as Fly By Midnight called Brooklyn, and that was one of the first songs we ever wrote together; that was kind of the birth of Fly By Midnight. The name itself was- it was funny, we spent like a whole week trying to figure that out. 

J: We drove around looking at signs and stuff...

S: Exactly, yeah, just looking for inspiration.

J: It was funny, we wrote the song first, and we knew we wanted to be a duo, and then we were like -

M: You're like "now what?" 

J: Yeah! We wrote the song and were like "who are we?". But it all came together, and now here we are.

S: We like to say that because our sound is fly and retro, we came up with the idea of "Fly", and then "By Midnight" came from the idea that we're up past midnight pretty much every night. 

M: I feel that. So you just released your latest single, All the Feels, what was the inspiration behind the song and how has the feedback been from the fans and the general public so far? I know it literally just came out. 

S: Yeah, it's been what? A day?

M: A whole day!

J: Yeah a whole day! (laughs) I mean, for being a whole day, it's been really really positive. I think what we were really striving for the track was to just be universally relatable; it's such a feel good, positive song, and we just really wanted to inject those positive vibes into everyone. Because everyone has their feels; you know, whether it's a romance, or, like we said, a cup of coffee in the morning -

S: Ice cream, puppies...

J: Yeah, ice cream -

M: Pizza -

J: For me, it's coffee over romance any day of the week. But yeah, the story, the real story, is that we were sitting in the studio right, and we were searching on Spotify just listening to the music because we're music fans as well, and I came across a playlist on Spotify called "All the Feels", and I looked over at Slavo and I was like, "yeah this is a cool title for a song", and we looked it up and no one had wrote a song yet called All the Feels, and we were like "quick! write it! release it!". It's been really cool, I think the video came together - it was the first video also we filmed a little bit of awhile ago - we've kind of had it in our pocket for awhile, so it was cool to kind of hold onto it and be excited for it to come out. 

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M: And how has the feedback been as far as the song goes? Have the fans been reacting really well? 

S: It's funny, everyone that's a fan of Fly By Midnight, they show us so much love, and we appreciate it, and we've been getting great feedback; people are going crazy about the song. The one thing I will say is we have a guy named Matt Reed, who's over at Mix 107.1 at Boston radio station, and he's been showing us love since, I think Malibu, or before that, he's a great radio host over there and he's been supporting us. One thing he said that I thought was really cool was that he premiered the song on the radio over there, and talked about how he was playing the song, you know, driving down the coast, and it was gonna be the next summer smash; just having that kind of energy and support behind the song is really important to us, and keeps us going. 

J: And I think for us too, because he has heard all of our songs, he's premiered a lot of our songs, I think the fact that he - we speak on a friendly basis kind of now - and he's like "yo, this is like the one", and we were like "ah alright, this is the one". 

M: It's like "Yeah, let's hope so"! (laughs)

J: We'll find out!

M: That's awesome!

J: Thanks!

M: With the new music you guys have released this year so far, is there any plans for a tour in the US, or maybe even globally? Maybe? Hopefully?

S: I mean yeah, we've been trying to go do a tour, like since we started we wanted to do a sorority tour, we thought that would be a lot of fun, it's more of our demographic and ya know, colleges are always a lot of fun. We played a lot of college shows in the beginning too, so yeah as far as touring the states, we've been trying to get on a booking with another artist that we kind of work well with. If we could do it on our own, we would do it in a heartbeat. It's more of just the whole funding process and just making sure everything's set up, so it's more timing for us, making sure it;s done the right way, and we want to take advantage of trying to meet everyone that we can while on the road. And you know, as far as international, we've been trying to go to a lot of these - we have a lot of fans in Europe, Australia, we even have a cool little fan base in Asia, Asia is a really cool fan base; it's all timing. We just want to make sure when we do it, it's done right.

M: Totally, makes sense. What has been the difference between New York and the East Coast, versus the West Coast? As far as the fan scene, the music scene -

S: The weather!

M: Just everything, the weather (laughs)

J: Yeah, it's exciting, and slightly nerve-wracking at the same time, because New York is kind of the birth town of Fly By Midnight, so whenever we do play a show there - we usually play a big one every year that's usually like a summer party, like one we just played - it's always packed out. We know it's gonna sell out and bring in people. I think LA is really exciting because we communicate with fans through social media here, but obviously we don't live here. So we don't know what to expect. I think it'll be really cool, and I think it'll go over really well so I guess we'll find out.

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M: That's awesome. So, this is the last question, and I always ask this with everybody I interview with: what's some advice that you might have for creatives and other musicians to stay inspired and to keep pursuing the dream?

S: That's a really good question. It's easy to get caught up in doing and being creative, and get overwhelmed by the constant hustle, and for us, we've been very fortunate that we see the increase every time we release a new song, and we've seen it with the content, and we've seen our numbers go up, so it's definitely rewarding. That's something that's tangible, and we can feed off that, but you know, every now and then we get worked up and it's tiring, so it's just kind of understanding  what you're capable of doing as far as content and what you're putting out there and making sure you're resting for these things. I don't know, it sounds stupid, but -

J: No, I think it's a good point. I mean, especially if you do hustle, and I know you hustle, and for the Fly By fans, you know that we hustle, and I think we've learned, even especially lately,  that we were pushing ourselves 1000 miles per hour, but sometimes you gotta kick it back to 999. Kind of just take a day to heal your mind and stuff.  But I would just say, experimenting because, especially for Fly By Midnight,  and even also on the photography and video side,  it's easy to get caught up in what everyone's doing. So we constantly want to kind of turn the creative knob a bit left of center, and if it doesn't work, you go back; but if it works, that's what will set you aside from the rest. 

S: Spice things up.

J: Yeah, spice it up, and don't be afraid to fail.

S: Fuck with the flava - quote me. 

(everyone laughs)

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VIEW FULL GALLERY

Be sure to follow Fly By Midnight on their social media:

Follow FBM

And while you're at it, check out their latest single, All the Feels, below! 

Thanks to Justin & Slavo for such a fun afternoon and taking the time to shoot and hang! Might have an excuse to go to New York in the future, but maybe that's just me. Who would you like to see me interview and shoot with next? Leave a comment below and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on all things photo and music related! Until next time! 


Written, filmed, and photographed for Fly By Midnight, in association with The Gypsy Shack Collective (www.tgscollective.com)


tags: artist feature, feature, artist, music, musician, interview, photoshoot, max baker photo, fly by midnight, new york, los angeles, hollywood, west hollywood, pop music, all the feels, gallery, video interview, youtube, blog, max baker, justin bryte, justin slavo, slavo, vibe, xl, malibu, california pop, retro pop, midnight, follow, california, new york city, staten island, florida, lifestyle, photography
categories: Artist Feature, Interviews, Photoshoots
Saturday 06.23.18
Posted by Maxine Baker
Comments: 1
 

New Music Friday: Lauv Releases Long Awaited "I met you when I was 18. (the playlist)" LP

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I like me better when I'm with you. Does that ring a bell? You might have heard it once or twice while on your commute to work, or out at a party on a Friday night. And if you haven't heard it yet, where have you been? San Francisco native Lauv has been slowly but surely taking over the radio airwaves with his hit single I Like Me Better, and has finally released his debut album entitled I met you when I was 18. (the playlist), originally known as a playlist collection of songs of love and heartbreak listeners could find on Spotify or similar music platforms. When talking about the long journey behind the story of I met you when I was 18., Lauv says, "I thought I was just going to be writing/producing songs for other artists. But I kept putting songs out to express myself, and eventually that turned into this playlist...(it's) a project that helped me sort through being in love for the first time and figuring out the person I wanted to become." The full statement can be found on his twitter. 

photo by @rickydirects

photo by @rickydirects

With 17 tracks (!!) fans can listen to (and quite possibly either sob or dance to - maybe both), there is no doubt that the rhythmic beats and soulful vocalizations will make you bob your head and save the entire LP to your favorites, like, right now. If you aren't listening to it by now, what are you doing with your life?

We're introduced to this story with the single I Like Me Better, and taken onto an hour long journey of finding oneself, falling in and out of love, and trying to find the balance of life and love and what it means in the chaos of life and relationships. We're always left into a confusion of the aftermath of a breakup, wondering what went wrong, what could've been done different to save what you had with someone you were crazy about; maybe even diving into frustration, paranoia, and a madness of emotions we can't escape from. I highly recommend taking some alone time to really analyze the lyrics and the storytelling played throughout the songs and how they flow together. It creates such an insane and heart wrenching visual, and, maybe, just maybe, make you reflect on the failed romances you've experienced in your own life. It's a tale that makes you want this to work, but in the end, you might move on even though that person is always going to be hanging by a thread in the back of your mind.

photo by @rickydirects

photo by @rickydirects

Songs like Paris in the Rain and Comfortable make you feel all the feels when it comes to loving someone, and then slowly but surely as we dive into songs like Paranoid and Enemies, we're drawn into the sorrow and craziness of the ugly side of relationships. The album ends on a reminder that "For as long as I live and as long as I love I will never not think about you", as stated in the finale of Never Not. A piece of art that truly stands out in the pop industry, Lauv surely proves himself on this record as an all around creative individual any artist should aspire to be like. The album is available on Spotify and other streaming services, and available for purchase online and in stores. Lauv is going on tour, and you can see the dates below to see if he's coming to a city near you!

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You can follow Lauv on social media by following the link to his site below, and thanks for checking out my site! Want more news like this? Be sure to follow me on instagram and twitter while you're at it and subscribe to my newsletter for the latest music reviews, interviews, photoshoots, and more updates!

Lauv's Social Media
Check out the link below to listen to Lauv's newest release now!

Check out the link below to listen to Lauv's newest release now!

Listen to the Album Now

tags: lauv, music, music review, album review, new music friday, new music, pop, travis mills, spotify, artwork, i met you when i was 18, the playlist, playlist, pop music, indie pop, tour, tour news
categories: Music Review, Tour News
Friday 06.01.18
Posted by Maxine Baker
 

Artist Feature: Corii

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As any other Saturday morning may go, from brewing coffee and trying to recover from Friday night festivities, my friend Corii came in with her contagious energy that instantly makes you feel a bit more awake (even before a glass of coffee). I had asked her to come over, told her about how I started blogging and wanted to ask a few questions about her and her music, and all in all, just another excuse to hang out and have fun. She's one of those people you feel an instant connection with, and I can honestly say she's someone I felt as if I had known for years, even though we had only just met a few months ago from a mutual friend while at Disneyland. 

With her charm and infectious laugh, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to feature her on my site!

Who is Corii? Find out below by checking out the interview. 


Me: Alright so, for anyone who might not know you, what's your name, where are you from, and what is your favorite song at the moment?

Corii: Okay so, my name is Corii [artist name], I'm from New Jersey, and my favorite song at the moment... 

M: I know, there's so many good ones out there right now!

C: Oh my god dude, this is like asking me what my favorite potato chip is [laughs] I'm gonna say Concentrate by Demi Lovato.

M: Ugh that album is so good.

C: I'm obsessed. 

M: So how long have you been in the industry?

C: I went to music school, and then probably the first time that I released something that considers me being in the industry would probably be in 2010, I would say. I mean, I started writing and putting songs out when I was younger, that was before Spotify and stuff, so 2009. I was still working in studios, but I would say consider it more serious around 2010 or 2011. 

M: And what made you get into the music scene?

C: Well, I'm only really good at music so...

M: That's how I feel about art in general so I understand.

C:  Exactly! I have always just loved singing, I became more comfortable with songwriting when I was in my senior year of high school, that's when I really got into it. Before, I was just singing other people's songs, and then I got really into writing my own stuff. I think that's how it started, I just wanted to write my feelings because I had my first breakup, so I had to release it someway.

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Photoshoot-Interview-Corii-Max Baker.jpg

M:  What was your first concert?

C: My first concert?! So I would say my first concert was at Berkley, it was when I had a different [artist] name, but that was my first big concert, and then I got into another one and another one, and it just kinda lead from there and continued. But my biggest show was when I opened for The Weekend Riot at the Trocadero in Philly. But my first big concert where people actually came just to see me I was in college at Berkley. And then I had my own big show at the Hard Rock in Philly, and then it got bigger when I opened for the Weekend Riot.

M: So awesome! And how big was the crowd for that one?

C:  We sold it out, I couldn't tell you the exact number but I'm sure the guys would know.

M: We'll just ask Bruce next time we see him [laughs]

C: Yes exactly, but I want to say it was around 250 or something around that!

M: Awesome! If you could tour with anyone, who would it be and why? What's your dream lineup? 

C: It's hard because my dream lineup, to what I am, is different. I'm obsessed with Paramore, everyone knows that, like I would love to tour with her. I'll pick three; Paramore, Demi Lovato, and Sia. 

M: Interesting! So if you could compare your sound to anyone, who would it be? So people can get an idea of what type of music you do.

C: I'd say probably Sia, like a mix of her and Demi. More Demi vocally, and with Sia, I like to put a little dark twist on things, and belt really high. That's what both of them do, so I would saw the two of them. 

M:  They both have a sort of unique sound as far as pop music goes, because they're always changing what they do, you know?

C:  Oh definitely, Sia has one of the most distinctive voices ever; like one of the songs I'll be releasing very shortly, everyone says it sounds very much like Chandelier, so I would definitely say Sia, but Demi too, just because I love to belt really high, and both of them do that.

Photoshoot-Interview-Corii-Max Baker.jpg
Photoshoot-Interview-Corii-Max Baker.jpg
Photoshoot-Interview-Corii-Max Baker.jpg

M: What's something that most people might not know about you?

C: I'm pretty much an open book, but I guess for people who might not know me, I would say I'm really really into working out, like I was a really big runner and super into that, but I got injured so I stopped doing that, but a low-key passion of mine has been running. I did cross-country like I did it for a different college because I was going to music school. I've done a half-marathon, I still haven't done a full marathon yet, but I do love running a lot.

M: Nice. And what would you say is something you like to do to refocus, like what you do for your "me time"? Whether it be yoga, or reading, or what's something you do for you?

C: Definitely running or spinning, and I also love cooking.

M: Oh fun! What's your favorite dish to cook?

C: The best thing I've made this year is borsh soup. 

M: What the heck is that?!

C:  [laughs] It's a beet soup; I learned it at the restaurant I worked at. I'm not gonna lie, when I made it and took a bite of it I was so impressed with myself. I had never heard of it either, but I always like to try new things. Like if I try something new when I'm out somewhere, I want to try it out myself at home. It's just very comforting to get out and do food shopping, and then coming out and prepping, like cutting celery, and just being in my own zone. You don't really have to worry about other things and just be in your zone. 

M: What's some advice that you might have for when creatives get stuck in a rut?

C: Honestly, I think my biggest advice is to not compare ourselves to others. I feel like that's what we as creatives do, and whenever we see someone do something that you think is better than what you're doing, you're holding yourself back. I know for me, I'm a perfectionist, so I'm constantly fighting myself all the time, so it gets me stuck in ruts. I'm doing all these things but then I'm always like "oh my gosh, that wasn't good enough, I'm not gonna post that", when it's really your own self that's holding you back, so I always say try to not compare yourself to others and try to put things out and do things, and if people like it, then great, and if they don't, they don't, because if not, then you didn't even get the chance to show that. 

M: I completely agree. So, final question, what's one thing you want to do before you die? What's at the top fo your bucket list?

C: Top tier priority, would be to go to Ireland with my dad. We're Irish and Italian, but everyone has been to Ireland except me, because my sisters and cousins and such are 10 years older than me, so I was in 3rd grade or something, and everyone went to Ireland except me, and my parents had already done as well. They felt bad about it so they decided to take me to Disneyworld to make up for it, even though we went to Disneyworld a ton of times (I love it though, obviously). I just have this dream to take my dad to Ireland one day, just the two of us, drink beer, and see where we're from and learn the culture and whatnot. 


Corii will be releasing her first official single, Good Love, in May! Be sure to follow her at all her socials below:

corii's twitter
Corii's Instagram
Corii's Youtube Channel
Photoshoot-Interview-Corii-Max Baker.jpg

Like what you see here? Let me know in the comments who'd you like me to interview and shoot with next! And be sure to follow me on my socials if you don't already! Thanks for taking the time out of your day for checking my site out, and I hope to hear from you soon!


tags: interview, music, event, corii, corii music official, music review, pop music, demi lovato, paramore, cooking, blog, questions, good love, twitter, instagram, youtube, subscribe, follow, california, new jersey, social media, sia, people, portrait, photoshoot, max baker photo, max baker, photography
categories: Interviews, Artist Feature
Sunday 04.22.18
Posted by Maxine Baker
 

New Music Friday: The Aces LP Debut "When My Heart Felt Volcanic"

Left to right: Alisa Ramirez, Cristal Ramirez, Katie Henderson, and McKenna PettyPhoto by @alexanderbortz

Left to right: Alisa Ramirez, Cristal Ramirez, Katie Henderson, and McKenna Petty

Photo by @alexanderbortz


I'm just gonna say it; The Aces is the badass feel good girl group we need. I hate to even have to categorize them in something that is incomparable to their sweet sound, but they are more than just that. I know a lot of people are out there saying, “I don’t normally like girl bands” or something along those lines, but these ladies will prove you wrong and show you a good time with their debut LP entitled When My Heart Felt Volcanic.  

photo by @gabriellahughes

photo by @gabriellahughes

The indie rock/pop band bring a sound reminiscent of LANY, Pale Waves, and similar artists of the popular California Pop genre, heavily influenced by fun 80s pop/rock, with lots of guitar riffs, synthetic vibrations, and stunning vocals and instrumentals all around. From start to finish, WMHFV is a solid album, and you might think I'm kidding when I say this, but every song is a jam and could be strong as a stand alone single. Not only is their sound absolutely fun and memorizing, but if you really listen to the words throughout this LP, the lyrics are what make The Aces stand out. The adventures of falling in (and out) of love can be found in songs such as the opening and closing number Volcanic Love and Waiting for You, as well as songs like Hurricane, Bad Love, Last One, and more, that anyone can relate to and send chills down your spine. 

Don't underestimate these ladies; their eclectic sound is way too catchy to not blow up sooner than later. I know I'll be having this one on repeat for, well, probably forever. You can listen to their music via Spotify now, and you can find the album on their website for only $8! 

Buy the Album Here

Thanks for checking my site out, and be sure to follow @theaces on all social media, and me @maxbakerphoto while you're at it! The band is currently on tour opening for X Ambassadors, and that sounds like a show you do not want to miss. Check out the link here below to see if they're coming to a city near you! 

IMG_1364.JPG

 be sure to follow the ladies here: @cristalramirezz, @alisa_ramirez, @kt_hendy, and @kenpettywap


tags: los angeles, band, rock/pop, indie pop, new music, photographer, pop music, x ambassadors, LANY, new music friday, review, music, max baker photo, music review, album, california pop, when my heart felt volcanic, Pale Waves, the aces, indie, album review, california
categories: Music Review
Friday 04.06.18
Posted by Maxine Baker
 

New Music Friday: Jake Miller's Highly Anticipated "Silver Lining" Will Not Disappoint

photo by @crowbrennan

photo by @crowbrennan


Silver Lining. What does this mean for singer/rapper/songwriter Jake Miller? The very definition of the term is "to emphasize the hopeful side of a situation that might seem gloomy on the surface; even the worst events or situations have some positive aspect." This perfectly describes the sounds and words heard on Miller's 5th studio album. What seems to be his most personal album yet, we listen to a story of heartbreak, making it through thick and thin, the good and the bad, and what has yet to come when it comes to the adventure (and sometimes misadventures) of life, love, and relationships. 

At the age of 25, and starting his career back when he was posting videos online as a high schooler, the growth in his work is shown clearly on Silver Lining,  even if it means finding out someone broke the heart of this heartthrob, making your heart break for him, as heard on the heartwrenching song Permanent (amiright, ladies?). If you want a summary of what to expect before diving head first into SL, I can tell you that it's heavily influenced by sounds like Michael Jackson with a hint of LANY and a dash of Jon Bellion, found in songs like Think About Us, Vibrations, Love Again, the callout on fake girls in Hollywood entitled The Girl That's Underneath, and Drinkin About You. I've personally been a fan of Miller's work for awhile now, and it's always inspiring to see how an artist grows over the years, working and perfecting their craft in the process. With a great response already over social media, fans of Miller's will not be disappointed with the new route he's taken on this album. Because of how personal Miller gets through his music alone, it's an awesome take to hear a voicemail from his parents before the album comes to an end, revealing some pretty amazing life advice from his father, entitled Headlights. The voicemail goes like this:

"Don't stress about what you can't control. You know everything is going to work itself out, okay? It always does. Imagine if you were driving, from one end of the country to the other, and sometimes the drive is easy, and sometimes you're driving in the pitch black, and you can't see in front of you; but you got the headlights, and that lights up about 100 feet, and you focus on that 100 feet, and you get through it, and then the headlights focus on another 100 feet, and you keep going, and you trust yourself, and you're going to get to the other end of the country. Good stuff happens to good people. Just gotta be yourself and don't ever change for anyone, keep busting your ass, okay? I'm proud of you, kid.... and also, remember what Bob Dylan says; you gotta keep swimming or else you'll sink like a stone."

Long story short, take some time out of your day and give this a listen. Starting off with the upbeat LANY/California pop style song, Think About Us, and ending in the awe-inspiring lyrical synthetic sounds of Be Alright, it's the type of music to get you going through your day, and you may find yourself listening to it on repeat...for the next week or so. 


photo by @crowbrennan

photo by @crowbrennan

 

Miller is set to go on tour soon, entitled after one of the songs of this album called Hit and Run. You can see the tour dates below, snag a ticket if you want, or if you really want to, see if VIP packages are still available. Catch him when he comes to a city near you!

https://www.jakemiller.com/

Promo Poster for Jake Miller's upcoming tour, starting in April - taken from twitter

Promo Poster for Jake Miller's upcoming tour, starting in April - taken from twitter


photo by @crowbrennan

photo by @crowbrennan


all photo credit used in this article goes to @crowbrennan. be sure to keep up with @jakemiller on all social media platforms.


tags: jake miller, new music friday, friday, music, album, silver lining, music review, album review, review, pop music
categories: Music Review
Friday 03.09.18
Posted by Maxine Baker
 

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