As one of the newest signings to Sony's RCA Records, a member of Tomorrowland 2016's lineup – and with over 18 million streams and 75,000 followers on SoundCloud – SAINT WKND is undoubtedly an artist to watch this year.
Check out the playlist featuring my favorite SAINT WKND tracks, his musical influences, and songs discussed in our interview.
At just 21 years old, German producer Max Seethaler, better known as SAINT WKND, has already released a track via Spinnin' Records, the word's leading dance record label that has released music by artists including Calvin Harris and Martin Garrix. His music has also received praise from Ellie Goulding, and he just announced that he'll be performing at one of the biggest music festivals in the world: Tomorrowland in Belgium. Now, he's signed to Sony's RCA Records and is working alongside BBC Radio 1's Danny Howard and Nigel Harding, who I had the opportunity to meet at SAINT WKND's studio in London.
Despite all of this early success, which he describes as "coming so fast, and all of a sudden," SAINT WKND is still equally humble and hardworking -- something that I found refreshing in an era where a large Internet following can breed vanity and hunger for more recognition. Although it was my first time meeting him, it seemed as though I was just grabbing coffee with a friend I hadn't seen in a while, as we shared our love of music and enthusiasm for up-and-coming artists like Sam Gellaitry and CYN.
I would describe SAINT WKND's music as a feel-good, melodic fusion of groove, house, future and disco, often laced with what he calls beautifully "strong" vocals. He's remixed a variety of both throwback and modern artists ranging from Baby Bash to Chet Faker. What is particularly unique about SAINT WKND is that his remixes can stand completely alone as their own songs. He has an incredible ability to make today's pop songs sound more innovative, and he's also unafraid to remix more "vintage" songs like "Set It Out," which he gave a sophisticated, modern house twist.
In short, SAINT WKND's music will make you feel good, and it'll make you want to get up and dance. He's what he calls both a music "selector" and "explorer."
We sat down at a Pret A Manger near my university in London's Clerkenwell neighborhood for the interview, and afterwards he generously offered to show me his studio. Coincidentally, and almost unbelievably, the studio – the same one where Maya Jane Coles records – was just across the street.
In the studio, I had the amazing opportunity to hear SAINT WKND's newest, unreleased tracks. And, let me tell you, it's clear that he's pursuing music for the right reasons. As he'd been working late the night before our interview, I asked if it ever gets lonely producing alone at those hours. He seemed almost shocked that I had even asked the question, noting that, "when in you're in the studio, everything else is a distraction since you're so engrossed in the music." Now, that really is the dream: to pursue a career in which you get so absorbed that you almost completely lose track of time.
What I admire about SAINT WKND is his dedication to perfection when it comes to creating a lush and fully developed sound in each of his tracks. With only 17 songs posted on his SoundCloud, and dozens of private tracks, it's apparent that SAINT WKND wants to showcase only the best music, no matter how long it may take to mix and master. We discussed how a number of SoundCloud artists have started to sell out and "jump on bandwagons" by recreating the latest music fads – Kygo's tropical house beats, for example. SAINT WKND just isn't like that. Based on the new tracks I heard, he's challenging himself musically – even experimenting with new genres – rather than latching onto the mainstream's current trends.
Now, let's get into the interview.
What are you up to here in London?
London is mainly for studio sessions. I recently signed with Sony RCA [Records], which is a sub-label from Sony, owned by Danny Howard from BBC Radio 1. I’m writing my first EP right now, and the second one as well. So, the main focus is really getting vocalists on board, and finishing off the tracks for the first EP. That’s the goal.
Do you come from a musical background?
No, not at all. I’m like a strange kid in my family. I’m different than everyone else. My grandpa used to paint, so he’s a visual artist, and my sister and my aunt both paint as well. I’m the one who does music. But I’m trying to bring music to my family by educating my nieces – because she’s learning to play the piano – and she loves it. So that’s cool.
What does your family think of you pursuing music full time? Are they supportive?
At first, they were a little bit concerned of course, because they were asking, “Can you actually live off that?” and I was like, “You’re gonna see what's happening.” And now they are just happy and proud. And yeah, my nieces, especially. In my hometown, a lot of people know my music as well, and I heard some kids talking on the bus on the way to school, and I was like “yeah that’s me, I’m cool” [laughs].
So what do you think you would be doing, career-wise, if not music?
I’d be a teacher, or a graphic designer.
“I met people who told me, ‘Pursue your dream, because you only have one shot so why don’t you just try it?’ So I said, ‘Yeah, let’s just try it.’”
When did you know you wanted to pursue music full time?
I was never the guy to work in a 9-to-5 job because I got bored so easily. I got a little frustrated when it was the same thing over and over again everyday – it kind of made me sad. I was studying and I was traveling a lot when I was young. I was working in Spain for three months, and that kind of changed my life because I met people who told me, “Pursue your dream, because you only have one shot so why don’t you just try it?” So I said, “Yeah, let’s just try it.” And in January 2014, this whole SoundCloud thing started so this was the starting point for me, and I’m glad it came together the way it came together [laughs].
In terms of music, who and/or what are your influences, and where do you find inspiration?
At the moment, from old records. I even like Nina Simone – all those classics – because I like strong voices and old disco records. Like the original “Set It Out” track is from ’85 [listen to the original and SAINT WKND's remix compared below], and it's from my dad’s collection. As well as some new stuff – it doesn’t even have to be the big names – like TRAILS – he’s also from Germany, and he’s super talented. Or you have Flume, Kaytranada, Disclosure – these guys are an inspiration.
How do you find your particular sound?
I don’t think you can find it – it finds you. Because the more you produce, the more you feel comfortable with what you do, and you kind of evolve to your style. So this is more like a process, it doesn’t happen overnight.
Would you say your sound has evolved since when you started?
Yeah. At first I was just doing edits, and now I’m making original tracks with choruses and verses and bridges, and I write all the music. So it’s on a different level.
I saw on your Facebook that you wrote a post about feeling sad and tired after a long period of traveling and touring. What was that like?
Well, some people think that touring is just fun and hanging out and partying, but if you play from Tuesday to Saturday everyday in a different city, and you travel from – let’s see, that was from Australia to America, so you have the time difference of 18 hours, and there’s not so much time to rest, you get very tired. And sometimes it’s depressing, because I travel on my own, so that’s why. I got a little bit sad and tired. But it’s cool when you come back home, and you have your parents around you and your friends, and you kind of reload your batteries.
So would you say that touring is not as glamorous as people make it seem?
I mean, I love it, and I would say it’s a curse and a blessing at the same time. Of course it has advantages – it’s a crazy feeling to play in front of a crowd and connect with people – and to kind of say that ‘I am the one who is supposed to make them have the best night they ever had.’ But at the same time, people forget that we are human as well, and I’m getting tired as well sometimes. All you can do is stay healthy, eat clean...and get your sleep when you can [laughs].
What was it like to tour in the US versus Europe? Do you feel like the crowds have different tastes, and if so, how do you cater to those tastes?
Yep. The Americans are, let’s say, crazier when it comes to partying, because, I can’t even explain. They scream around, they drink a lot – but everyone drinks [smiles]. But I would say they are not as educated as the European crowd when it comes to electronic music, since most of them are into EDM, and what I do is not EDM. But I’m glad to see that there is a scene evolving. It took [America] some time, but it’s definitely happening.
“‘Good Vibes’ means to be happy with what you have. Don’t always look up to what you could have. Live in the present moment.”
I know that you label a lot of your music and Instagram posts with #PositiveVibe and #GoodVibes. Can you explain what that phrase means to you?
It’s about a positive lifestyle, and to see the good things even in the bad. I’m sure you know that symbol with the black dot in the white area and the white dot in the black area [the taijitu symbol], and it’s that kind of thing. There’s always bad happening in the world, and you have to see the good side of it. "Good Vibes" means to be happy with what you have. Don’t always look up to what you could have. Live in the present moment. That’s kind of the mission.
How do you decide on what artists or songs to mix when you’re creating a DJ set?
With the sets, I play live, so I don’t really know exactly what I’ll play. So I’ll see how a crowd reacts to certain songs, and I’ll try to create a story and build up the whole set. So it begins, let’s say, with something more emotional, then builds up and builds up, and releases with a huge boom.
What’s your favorite song right now, and who are your favorite artists at the moment?
I have so many favorite songs. But I would say my favorite album right now is the Jamie xx album [In Colour]. And I really love the track “I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)” [starts singing].
Where do you plan to live? It must be hard since you’re traveling so much.
It doesn’t have to be Germany. It has to be somewhere that’s warm and sunny all the time. I see myself, in the age around 35 or 40, in a house in Italy with my own garden with my vegetable and my wife and my kids. That’s like the dream, the vision.
How long do you think you’ll do music for?
Hopefully forever. I probably won’t perform when I’m 60, or maybe I will, nobody knows. You know, David Guetta is almost 50 and he’s still rockin' the stages. But I will always write music, maybe it’ll be just for me, maybe for an artist's project, maybe for someone else. I really enjoy producing so much.
How do you discover new music? Do you use any specific websites or streaming platforms?
SoundCloud, YouTube channels (like Majestic Casual and TheSoundYouNeed, and even the smaller ones), blogs like HYPETRAK, Dancing Astronaut, Noisey, THUMP, everything that pops up on my feed.
I’m curious about your opinion on music streaming platforms like Spotify and Pandora. There’s obviously a lot of controversy about whether they actually pay artists enough.
We have to kind of accept the fact that selling music is not really a thing anymore. It’s more about the artist giving away their music for free because it’s a product that people won’t buy anymore. I don’t know why – it’s kind of sad because you pay four bucks for a coffee but you won’t pay for an album that stays with you forever. But [streaming sites] can give you a platform for promoting your brand so you can be able to go on tour, and so you can connect with people. I’d rather give away my music for free and tour, and have a platform, than make shitty money off streams because that’s really a fact.
So you kind of feel both ways about it?
Yeah, it’s happening organically. We can’t force people to buy albums anymore. Or buy music.
"Lost (Runaway)" was released by Spinnin’ Records, which is awesome. How did that opportunity come about?
It's funny because that song was from 2013, so the first song I’ve ever written really. I was sitting there with my guitar, just playing around, and that was "Lost (Runaway)". Spinnin’ contacted me, and we sent the track package to them – with all the links I had on private on my SoundCloud – and they kind of took it and then we hooked up with INGLSH. She’s from LA, so we recorded the vocals in LA. That’s the story behind it.
You said earlier that you're finishing off your EP. Is there anything you can tell me about it, maybe who you’re collaborating with?
I can’t tell you anything, I can’t [laughs]. I have so many secrets – I can’t say them right now. But it’ll be released this year. Somewhere around the middle of this year.
