Max Chapman first started making an impact on the underground music scene in 2011, he was 23 when he had his debut track aired on the prolific Pete Tong show on BBC Radio 1, and every release since has seen Chapman show off the range and variety in his sound – proving that his production is constantly evolving and extensively versatile. Chapman flips between creating tracks that are rooted in a deeper House sound, with blunt bass lines and carefully selected vocal samples to others which embrace the celebratory main room club vibes we often seek out at the end of tough week.
His first release Catch Me If You Can became the first album ever signed to Kerri Chandler’s Madtech in January this year, a dedication to his late father and a moment of musical history. Decoded Magazine hailed the album’s range, “from the off-kilter meander of bass experiment ‘Intro’ and unrepentant UKG influenced ‘I’m Going Deeper’, through to the brooding techno of title track ‘Catch Me If You Can’, Max expertly explores a range of styles from the spectrum of Electronic music”.
While Inhale noted, “Chapman’s more signature sound in the project with raw, low-slung house cuts like ‘Move Your Body’, the smooth ‘Resistance’ alongside Pleiades and the robust feel of ‘The Red Room’. All in all Chapman manages to deliver a coherent yet transient long player with the project, filled with dance floor focused tracks and more exploratory works throughout”.
His Vortex EP, however, represents another forward step and yet more depth to the story of his own label Resonance Records. Vortex is another typically exploratory offering where Chapman plays with production technique demonstrating his abilities in arrangement with the voluminous melody on a track entitled “The Way“, celebratory and uplifting in contrast to the moodier opening found on title track “Vortex“.
The two step bass line and deft vocal arrangement on “All I Want” is another stand-out on the EP; but all over, sneaking melodies and clean riffs bring Vortex into full swing, it takes the listener through its dark opening and out the other side into the kind of upfront in-your-face bass lines that make you want to quit your job and follow your true dreams of being a pro dancer. “Hypnotize” serves to redress these minor delusions – the robotic vocal sample draws you back into the fold before melting away to reveal naked bass that is sure to put a smile on your face.
Resonance Records is a label Chapman started just 8 months into his DJing career, it has quickly become an imprint peppered with up-and-coming talent from all corners of the globe, blending the new with some established artists that play some of the biggest parties around; DJ W!LD, Alex Arnout, Adam Shelton, No Artificial Colours, Dale Howard & so many more have helped push the Resonance sound since January 2012, and successful showcases have been thrown at Sankeys Manchester and Pacha London as well as Sankeys Ibiza and Egg London.
Chapman himself has left his mark on some of the biggest clubs and cities in the world, storming through Mexico, USA, South America, Australia, all over Europe and of course, constantly traveling up and down the UK. It includes headlining the biggest club known to man, Privilege, which allowed Chapman to recently exercise his ability to ignite a dancefloor lifting tracks from his debut album.
Catch Me If You Can has already been championed by his peers, gaining a 9/10 review in MixMag. 2016 will see Max clock up the air miles, playing shows all over the world. With a brand new album under his belt and an exciting new EP, he’s ramping up the gears and taking things to the next level. Keep tabs on Max Chapman on Facebook, Twitter and his website.
