Daily Discovery is a feature that highlights a new or recently discovered artist who we’re excited about. See the rest of our Daily Discoveries here.
What Chicago’s next wave of young rappers will do is anybody’s guess. Max Wonders is a perfect example, drawing equal inspiration from the suffocating realities of the city and the buoyant musicality of influences like Stevie Wonder (hence the name) and Outkast.
He already released a mixtape last year (check it out on his SoundCloud and download here), and today we’re premiering the hazy, blissed-out “88 Changes,” which will be featured on his upcoming You Will Never Find EP. Production from his close friend Sowle provides a thick bed of filtered vocals, a warm, nostalgic feel to soundtrack Wonders’ thoughts and hopes for the future. He’s been recording in L.A. before returning to his native Chicago, and the time away from home is already paying off.
Listen to “88 Changes” and learn a little more about Max Wonders below.
What can you tell us about yourself?
I’m 18 years old, from Chicago, IL. Currently in L.A. working on new music, to get the feelings right! Getting my ticket to Chicago as we speak, I miss home, but I’ll be right back. I’ve been making music for a long time, since I was about 10, but nothing but stupid stuff. It’s only been serious for about two years. I’m also secretly Billy Ray Cyrus and you can quote me on that.
What is “88 Changes” about and what does it mean to you?
“88 Changes” means everything to me. This is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever done. When I hear it, I think nothing but good things, and feel great. It feels like the future to me. I worked really hard with it, especially genre bending with one of my best friends, who produced the record, Sowle. He’s amazing with it. We’ve crafted some cool stuff.
What other artists do you look up to and inspire you?
I look up to a few, those being: Outkast (BY FAR), Elton John (“Bennie and the Jets,” favorite song of all time, ever), Todd Rundgren, Stevie Wonder (who I got the name from, with the addition of the S, of course), Sebadoh, Lou Reed, and old Lil Wayne.
What are your plans for music for the rest of the year?
My plans are to release my EP, You Will Never Find. I’m actually going to Chicago to shoot the promo video so I can release it. And work on my next full-length project. I already started on it, and I’m extremely excited, the sounds are cool, and I can hear the genres mixing, that’s all I’m gonna say.
