Press

True to form, Swan bends genres and bares his soul – this time, on a record that explores the humanity in our flaws, and the disconnects that arise within our relationships.

Max Swan from Philadelphia refuses to be confined by and one genre, each of his tracks pulls in grooves from jazz, jazz-fusion, hip-hop and more. His sleek voice and wicked saxophone on this track truly touch the soul. As a self-made multi-instrumentalist and producer of his own material, his inspiration from the likes of Frank Ocean and Tom Misch is not misplaced. Max’s upcoming EP ‘Gone Away’ is out October 30th.

Max Swan was a cheerful discovery. Captured by his perfect vocal harmonies and a sharp and precise tone, we are proud to be presenting to you Swan’s latest effort, a heartfelt cover of Henry Mancini’s 1967 classic ‘Two for the Road’. 

‘Two for the Road’, arranged in a rather classical style, in its basic form represents an intense showcase of Max Swan’s best quality: advanced technical control, and the ability to fully immerse himself in a specific emotional universe, in this case a retro one. And it’s a triumph! A sonically pleasant triumph 

Genre-bending Philly native Max Swan released a music video to accompany his take on the 1967 Henry Mancini classic, “Two For The Road.” The hopeful, harmony-rich ballad — updated by Swan with sprinkled-in touches of modern pop — is a tune about stress-free, life-long companionship. In this instance, however, it is contrasted by visuals of Philadelphia’s abandoned public spaces taken during quarantine.

"Kill Your Internet" Podcast Episode 35 "If You Love Something, It Requires No Thought" ft. Max Swan

Colin sits down with artist Max Swan to discuss the creative process, show memories, famous people, internet culture, pie vs. cake, and so much more. 

Also Available on Apple music

“ I can see the similarities to Frank Ocean from the first notes - Swan has the same kind of flowing, bubbly sound that Frank does, and he leans toward dulcet tones, which are, generally, my favorite kind.”- Rowan Butler

“These days, Swan’s feeling pretty good about where his musical journey has taken him. He’s aware of his tendency to overanalyze, and tries to keep that habit at bay to allow himself creativity without unnecessary doubts… But as of late, he’s had a string of very good days, staying up until the wee hours of the morning and relishing that inspiration while he’s got it.”

“With vocals reminiscent of Stevie Wonder and a synth pop sensibility that feels like an ultra-smooth combination of Christopher Cross and M83, Max Swan is carving out a unique, yet accessible niche for himself in the modern music landscape.” - Gerard Longo

"The Waters" captures Swan's fountain of influences perfectly, exhibiting signs of Kanye West, Ray Charles and James Blake. "The Waters" starts off with a dramatic, tension-filled string arrangement, then pulls you in with a memorable, "turn the lights down" hook. — Bruce Warren, WXPN

"Boundaries don't exist when it comes to Max Swan's music. The Philadelphia based songwriter refuses to stay in any singular lane. Instead, he'd rather blend them all together. Watch as Swan travels effortlessly between worlds of R&B, jazz, and electronica on this live performance of "155", a song from his album The Fisherman. Recorded at The Back Room in Philadelphia, check out his ability to be a musical multitasker — from his vocal performance to engineering the sampler to the soaring sax solo at the end. Let's just say that when Swan finds a groove, he dives in deep and compels you to do the same.” – Mike Vasilikos