Soulful and fueled by heartache, Max Drazen closes the year with the release of his latest single “Not Because I Loved You”. Released under Field Trip Recordings and Capitol Records, the single follows his debut earlier this year with tracks “Let Me Down Slow,” “Caffeine,” and “Blurry Pictures”. Drazen’s authenticity and raw emotion shines through in every melody throughout the new single, placing him high on our radar of artists to watch in 2023. We had the chance to chat with Drazen on the creation of the latest single and his plans for the upcoming year. Read the full interview below!

What was the process like making “Not Because I Loved You”?

Drazen: I wrote this song with three of my closest friends and collaborators in LA. We wrote it a few months after my most recent relationship ended, which all three of my co-writers had heard a lot about (maybe too much haha). That day they basically were my therapists, letting me vent about all the things I was feeling and reflecting on from the relationship. The song became a stream of consciousness revolving around how it felt to have all of the issues in the relationship blamed on me, yet somehow feeling heartbroken by it all. The concept of feeling heartbreak without ever being in love felt like a really powerful summary of feeling complete hopelessness in a relationship you thought would end better. 

What do you want the fans to get out of listening to this single?

Drazen: Sometimes, being the stronger person in the relationship can be just as hard as being the one who is slightly broken. And that sometimes, being the stronger person in the relationship means that you are blamed for a lot of the issues within it. It’s okay, maybe even though you weren’t in love, to feel just as heartbroken because you tried your hardest and nothing worked. 

Who are some of your musical influences?

Drazen: I’m super inspired by Justin Timberlake. Not necessarily directly by his sound or choices, but the idea that he was able to bring his R&B and hip hop influences and make them poppy. One of my goals is to make R&B music disguised as pop, to introduce something new to people, maybe something that they normally wouldn’t associate with their listening habits. 

Who would be the most exciting artist that you would love to collaborate with?

Drazen: Timbaland!! I think his instincts are so inspiring. His music just makes people wanna move. 

Any upcoming plans for 2023 that you can share with us?

Drazen: A project and live shows are coming up very soon. I'm super excited for people to hear my music in a group rather than a single, and also for them to hear it live. I'm also planning to show more of my songwriting on social media. I want my fans and any potential listeners to feel like they’re also a part of that process!

“Not Because I Loved You” is available on all streaming platforms now.