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Maximilian photographed by Freddie J Watts
Over six transformative minutes, 'Long Time Gone' drifts and deepens, glimmering and reshaping itself in ways that seem to respond to the listener's own mood and moment.
Released last month on 20 May via cult local label Crafting Room Records, Maximilian's latest single signals a shift. Written in the later days of his debut album's recording process but set aside until the time was right, 'Long Time Gone' opens with sparse acoustic guitar and affecting Elliott Smith-esque vocals. Soft synths quietly enter the frame, adding delicate texture and emotional weight as the track draws you into its melancholia.
A new rhythmic pulse builds, moving the song's centre of gravity, as the arrangement opens into a swirl of folky light and shade. At its midpoint, 'Long Time Gone' swells into a storm of layered sound: driving guitars, ambient synths and echoing vocals, culminating in the line, "weary's not the word I'd use anymore." It's a declaration that breaks through the emotional haze, followed by a soothing descent into shimmering piano lines and wistful harmonica.
The meandering structure creates a sense of deliberate wandering and wondering. The song isn't built around hooks or verse-chorus convention, but around atmosphere and movement. With every instrument played by Maximilian himself and produced during a solitary stretch at Echo Zoo with engineer Bobby Smyth, 'Long Time Gone' carries the intimacy of a private reckoning turned outward.
A year on from the release of his debut album Surrender, the single marks an exploratory step for the Brighton artist - one shaped by less pressure, more freedom and a renewed sense of creative clarity. As Maximilian told us, "It reminded me how much it means to share music, not just create it."
Artwork by Sammy Jones and Maximilian
A year on from the release of your debut album Surrender, how did it feel to be putting out new music again?
This time round it wasn't my first rodeo, so I had less pressure on myself, which was very welcomed. I'm really proud of the recording so I just couldn't wait for it to be out. It reminded me how much it means to share music, not just create it.
'Long Time Gone' is truly lovely - an experimental reinvention with rich, layered instrumentation. Can you talk us through how the track developed? What sparked this shift in sound?
I wrote the bulk of this song near the end of the making of Surrender. The song itself, before any sort of production, was clearly not meant to be on the album of songs which had already grown adolescent by the time they were finished.
I held onto it basically fully formed for about two years. One day when making an effort to learn the harmonica I played it on a demo version and it just opened up a whole sound that I had considered before, so I just followed that trail and I'm so happy where it took me.
I really enjoyed playing all the parts myself too, which gave it a different feel to the album. Also having the freedom to work alone in Echo Zoo for 12 hours with Bobby Smyth was a dream. Using their drum kit, piano and synths directly influenced the sound. Some of the parts were pre-written, some of it was very spontaneous.
You recently played a run of shows around the single. How did they go? Was there a standout moment?
It was a really great time. It’s a huge testament to the resilience of me and my lovely friends/band mates; Guy, Conor and Tom. Everything that could have gone wrong every step of the way, went wrong. The universe was saying no but we still made it happen and for that i feel stronger and more confident in the idea of a music career than ever.
One of many highlights was in The Piper, St Leonards. From a particularly vocal crowd, somebody shouted 'Judas!' at me, to which I appropriately responded 'I don't believe you'.
How has it been joining the Crafting Room roster?
Nothing but a pleasure to be in such safe hands! Archie's whole hearted passion has fueled so much of the Brighton scene, who knows where we’d be without him.
Brighton has been producing some amazing music in recent years. How has the city and scene shaped your journey?
Being surrounded by such a lovely community of amazing artists of all kinds is what really keeps me going. I have never left Brighton because how could I leave these people? I have both legitimate rockstar friends and undiscovered genius friends. Day to day life here is too sweet.
Any artists, songs or writers currently inspiring you? What do I need to tune in to?
Juan Wauters! Happy and earnest music is so cool.
And finally, what’s next for 2025?
I'm getting a haircut this week!
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