Introducing: Max Vangeli

Introducing: Max Vangeli

9 September, 2010 | 4.27AM

• Written by: Alex Hughes
• Filed under: Music News: an21, introducing, max vangeli

San Francisco’s Max Vangeli has quickly gone from being one to watch to being one in charge.

After Pete Tong tipped his 2008 single ‘Crazed’, and Chris Lake’s Rising Music label quickly snapped it up, things have moved fast for the Eastern European transplant. The following year, he remixed Late Night Alumni’s ‘Finally Found’ and Steve Angello’s ‘Monday’; this year, he’s had even greater success, remixing Ellie Goulding’s ‘Starry Eyed’ and releasing the significant hits ‘Gama’ (for Size Records) and ‘Swedish Beauty’ (for Sebastian Ingrosso’s Refune Records label). He’s recently remixed Eddie Thoneick & Erick Morillo’s ‘Nothing Better’, while his remix of Switchfoot’s ‘Always’ (a collaboration with his production partner AN21) proves that Max’s sensibilities translate just as well to the airwaves as they do to the club.

With a Gorillaz remix, new productions, and trans-continental touring on Max’s horizon, we figured we should catch up with him now, before his schedule gets any busier. Read on for the full interview and a selection of his Weekend Weapons.

First, could you tell us a bit of your background? I know you were born somewhere in Eastern Europe… When did you move to San Francisco?

Well, I was born in Moldova. For those of you who don’t know where that is, it’s in between Romania and Ukraine, people speak either Romanian and Russian over there. I moved to San Francisco about 12 years ago with my family. Now I live in the US full time, but spend a lot of time playing in Europe as well.

How did you discover electronic dance music, and how did you get your start DJing and producing?

I was always into music and house music was just another was something I really fell in love with when I started going to clubs in Europe and then in San Francisco. It really grabbed a hold of me and now I am absolutely obsessed with it!

How would you describe your sound, and when was the first time you really felt like you had come up with your own style?

Definitely big room for festivals and large rooms. But I will never say I have made it with my sound because I am always trying new things and developing my style.

Pete Tong is a big supporter of yours. How did you hook up with him?

Pete has been there for me from day one and actually helped me sign my first record to Chris Lake’s Rising Music. Not sure if my career would progress this fast without his help. He has always been supporting us on his BBC Radio 1 show, which is really great!

What’s your impression of the SF scene these days? Is it a supportive scene for the music you make? What are the key venues and parties for you?

The best clubs in San Francisco such as Ruby Skye, Vessel, 1015, The Endup, and many others play electronic music. I’d say it has one of the strongest electronic scenes in the US. SF has always been great and really helped with my career, but I don’t get to play there that much anymore as I travel a lot. It will always be my home because its one the best places in the world.

When did you start playing overseas, and how was that?

Just started actually, as I mainly traveled in the US before 2010. Now the demand for my music has really gone up in Europe and other places this year, and now I spend a lot of time outside of the US. It’s pretty amazing get to travel and party all over the place.

When you sit down to make a track, what’s the first thing you typically do? How long does a track typically take you to make?

It’s always the melodies for me, as that’s the most important element for a solid record. I am obsessed with emotional melodies in club music, so I usually keep tweaking things until it sounds phat. Every record is different—some take me a couple days, others take months or even years.

Where do you record, and what kind of setup are you using? Do you currently have a favorite piece of gear/software?

I work everywhere now as I travel, but I prefer my home studio in San Francisco. Its mainly software now, but do have a lot of analog stuff which is collecting dust. But Steve Angello has started doing some analog processing so I am thinking me and AN21 will do a bit more of that as well.

Are you a morning person or night owl?

Oh I’m a total night owl, I hate mornings. The only time I see the sunrise is when I’m passing out to go to sleep at 7am.

What do you find most inspiring about the club scene right now—and what do you find most frustrating?

I love the fact that it’s growing in the US and I absolutely love playing in the States. It’s cool to see it growing outside of the typical places...Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Miami, and NYC. The only thing I hate are bad promoters who think they know what they are doing. The boys (my management) and I got our start as promoters in San Francisco so I can tell when a promoter knows what they’re doing. Don’t get me wrong, 95% of promoters are simply amazing people, but there are a few bad apples.

Which record (by another producer/musician) do you wish you had made?

ONE ONE ONE by the Swedish House Mafia, what a record!  Works all over the world and I love it. But I am also obsessed with Queen as I come from a rock background, so any of their stuff as well.

If a tsunami were headed for your house, which *one* record would you rescue before the waves hit?

All my Queen records. I love Freddie to death, to me he is an absolute God.

How do you explain your music to your family members? Are they supportive of your musical career?

Ha! I love my family but I don’t think they have any idea of the type of music I make, but they definitely support what I’m doing. Maybe I’ll take them out to a festival one of these days!

When you’re not listening to electronic music, what do you listen to?

To be honest I love all music, so a lot of different stuff. I love Drake, he is an amazing talent and I would love to do something with him one day.

Tell us about your upcoming gigs and releases…

August is pretty action packed as far as gigs go! Me and AN21 are doing Steve Angello’s free Size Matters party at Ibiza Rocks Hotel on the 25th of August. Then some kick ass Festivals L.E.D (London), Mystery Land (Amsterdam) in Tiesto’s Arena, Creamfields with Swedish House Mafia, and the closing night of SHM’s Residency at Pacha Ibiza. My gigs are always fresh on Facebook and MySpace, so people can check em out there.

In terms of releases AN21 and I are doing something completely different and doing an album on Size Records. I think being different is the key to success so that’s what we want to do, and show people that we can do crazy things with our music.

Max Vangeli’s Weekend Weapons

Max Vangeli feat Max C., ‘Look Into Your Heart’
[U-Boot]

This is a very special track for me because it took me nearly two years to finally finish. It has been doing some damage for me in the clubs and Max C did an amazing job on the vocals.

Steve Angello, ‘KNAS’
[Size Records]

I’ve been playing this out for a while now and always kicks ass in the clubs. Such a simple and effective record, which is why it works so well. Steve is always a master at those types of records, and I fully support it.



The Prodigy, ‘Smack My Bitch Up (Max Vangeli and AN21 Remix)’ (unreleased)

What can I say, this record has been supported by so many DJs because of how effective it is. This record has helped my career so much, and I play it out every chance I get.



Prok and Fitch vs Todd Terry, ‘Something’s Going On’ [Stealth]

Amazing record and I’ve been bashing it out in Ibiza and all over the world. Love this one.

Switchfoot, ‘Always (Max Vangeli and AN21 Remix)’
[Big Beat/Atlantic]

When I first heard the vocals on this one I wanted to remix it right away. Lighters in the air and an amazing feeling every time I play it.

Sgt Slick, ‘Everybody (Digital Lab Remix)’
[Vicious]

Digital Lab is a good friend of mine and I love this remix because it kills every time! Definitely a banger and everyone I know is supporting it.

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