From Maxwell To Marvin (Audio Interview + Playlist)
Is Maxwell this generation’s Marvin Gaye? It’s not hard for fans to make the connection between Maxwell and Marvin Gaye. Lush instrumentation, sensual lyrics, effortless sex appeal and most importantly the love and dedication to making quality music that’s timeless. Comparisons and sultry ballads aside we know there will never be another Marvin Gaye just as there will never be another Maxwell but we think it’s about time we heard from Maxwell on an obvious influence of his. Plus we get to hear some of Maxwell’s favorite Marvin songs to boot. In an Imeem exclusive, Maxwell talks about his admiration for Marvin Gaye and his music.
When people compare Maxwell to the legendary Marvin Gaye, he says, “I’m obviously flattered because Marvin was one of the baddest ever, but I can only be me.” What Marvin and Maxwell have in common is an uncanny sense of melody and the ability to inject unchecked emotion into their songs. In this exclusive playlist, Maxwell shares the Marvin Gaye songs that stand out and speak to him.
You’ll have to have an Imeem account to hear Maxwell’s full dialogue so sign on to Imeem now but in case you don’t have an account, I posted the playlist below (with only 30 sec snips from Maxwell). Much appreciation to LMN for bringing this to our attention and featuring it on their Imeem page. Our ears thank you.
I’ve been saying it for a couple years now…. they need to have Maxwell do the Marvin Gaye story! I used to hear them talking about doing a movie using that actor who was in the movie, Rent(Jessie Martin) who definitely looks like Marvin but I think it would be cool to see Maxwell in that role too.. Either way, that story needs to be made..
—Anthony@Honey – You are definitely welcome (your ears). :-) I thoroughly enjoyed this playlist. For MANY years, I’ve always found the two artists similar. And like you said, Marvin Gaye is an obvious influence of Maxwell’s. I fell in absolute love with Marvin Gaye’s music a long, long time ago. And then came Maxwell aka Dr. Love.
Is Maxwell our generation’s Marvin Gaye. Yup. If no one sees it now, they will in the coming years as he finishes out the trilogy.
@Anthony – That would definitely be interesting to see Maxwell in the role as Marvin Gaye. I remember at one point in time, people were wanting Usher to play the part. Boo. I kept saying to myself…why not Maxwell? But I agree the story does need to be made.
—thelatestmaxwellnews.comAs much as I digg some of Maxwell’s music, he is simply Maxwell, he is a good artist in his own right but he just doesn’t move me the way Marvin does…I heard Marvins influence all thru out Max’s music tho from the gate, even in the lyrics…but ummmm I can’t Maxwell up next to Marvin…no, is Max even a musician in addition to a vocalist????
—OrangeStar@OrangeStar – yes, Maxwell is a musician. In the 5DaysofNight DVD that came along with BLACKsummers’night (CD/DVD deluxe) you get to see glimpses of that side of Maxwell. At the end, Maxwell is playing piano. I believe he plays guitar too. There’s a picture of him over a decade ago playing. Don’t know if he still plays or not.
—thelatestmaxwellnews.comin my view, Marvin and Maxwell were cut from the same Divine cloth. There are some obvious influences from Marvin in Maxwell’s music and it is a good thing. Having been born after Marvin had passed, I consider his music to still be profoundly amazing and timeless. Watching his videos of his live shows gives me a displaced sense of nostalgia. As a Maxwell fan from the very beginning, and recently seeing him live in London, Maxwell is a genius, a true musician who transcends above most of the music we have today – he is the next installment of true soul artistry, picking up the torch from where Marvin left it when he passed. I hope Maxwell continues to find inspiration from Marvin’s music and continues to bless us with his hits for a long time to come.
—Tari@OrangeStar
It still amazes me the number of people that don’t have a clue that Maxwell is a musician, that he writes his own music, produces, and does the instrumentation for his songs. If you look at his album credits you will see Musze as Producer, Instrumentation, Engineer and Writer. Musze is Maxwell, it is the pseudonym he uses.
There are only three songs in his catalog that he did not write or co-write, “This Woman Work”, “Unfortunate” and “Gotta Get Closer”.
The comparison to Marvin is fair but unfair in some ways. How could anyone live up to those lofty expectations? Is he the musician working today that can be compared to Marvin, yes. But let’s give Max is due without the comparison.
Maxwell is a true musician, a genius at vocals, instrumentation and song structure. He writes music that is timeless. Just listen to “Sumthin, Sumthin”, “Lifetime”, or “Ascension” it’s as though they were written yesterday not 13 years ago. “Blacksummers’night” is a truly great album; I think this trilogy will be his defining work and place Maxwell among the pantheon of greats such as Marvin and Sam.
—allheavens