18/12/2025
Max Mash returns to Ilario Alicante’s Sound D’Elite with his ‘I’m A Mess’ EP, landing on 12th December, following his 2024 collaboration ‘All Night Long’ on the label with Dew (FR). A growing name among dedicated house heads with releases on the likes of Solid Grooves Raw, Short Circuit, and Dialed Records, the Lyon-born DJ/producer steps back into the spotlight with a trio of precision-engineered cuts that showcase his flair for tight grooves, stripped-back power, and soulful nuance.
Opening the EP, title track ‘I’m A Mess’ is a tightly wound roller built on a thudding low-end, clipped drums, and a stripped-back framework where bruising rhythmic pressure creates a relentless, heat-seeking club weapon. Next up, ‘AAA’ dives into punchy minimalism with surgical precision, as crisp percussion drives the groove forward while soulful vocal fragments glide across a rubbery bass. Closing the release, ‘Sentiments’ blends skippy drums and a glitchy low-end to deliver a warped, trippy stepper.
Q: Please introduce yourself
Hi, my name is Maxime, I'm from Lyon, France, and I'm 32 years old :)
Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?
I would love to meet someone like Tony Parker to talk about perseverance, resilience, career transitions, and more… his journey is just so amazing and inspiring!
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would love to have the power of infinite creativity. To always come up with amazing ideas and create incredible tracks every single time.
Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?
I think I would love to compose the soundtrack for the film Life is Beautiful! This movie is incredibly moving. It tells the story of a father trying to save and protect his son during the Holocaust.
Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?
I think the artist who has had the biggest influence on my career is Michael Bibi! We all know his story! He defeated a rare form of cancer; he never gave up, he fought, and managed to overcome that ordeal. And as a fun fact, when he returned to his summer residency at DC-10 in Ibiza, he played my track "Looking For" with Dennis Cruz and PAWSA, which I made with my best friend Tony Romera. The track was released on his label Solid Grooves Raw, which had always been one of my dream labels. It was incredible to stumble upon that video completely by chance, several months after the event had taken place!
Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?
I started DJing at my friends' birthday parties in high school, and then one day I entered a contest to play in a club, because at that time it seemed completely out of reach. I really loved that short 15-minute set and wanted to keep going, so I found a small residency at a bar. Then I met people who gave me the opportunity to do warm-up or closing sets in clubs.
Very quickly, I realized I needed to produce music if I wanted a chance to make this my career and have the possibility to share my art in other cities, and why not other countries. Since then, for almost 15 years, I've played all over France, as well as in the USA, Bali, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and more :)
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?
The advice I would give to a young artist is not to follow trends, but to follow their instincts. To create above all what they love, and what makes them unique. Don't try to make music "like" the artists who inspire you; instead, make your own music while drawing inspiration from the works that truly speak to you.
You will never be able to do better than an artist you try to copy, and likewise, no one will ever be able to do better than your own ideas.
Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?
It's hard to choose just one, because there have been so many great moments since the start of my career, but I think one moment really stands out! It was a festival where I won the opportunity to do the opening set on the first night. It was in Marseille (S/O mon Ju), and I was lucky enough to open for artists I really admired, like Nic Fanciulli and Joris Voorn! My best friends were there, and my parents had come to see me perform, it was really amazing!
Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?
I think my music is becoming more and more minimal! Naturally, with time and work, I've (thankfully) become a much better producer, haha. But yes, I'm really starting to love simple, minimal tracks where every element has to be carefully chosen to shine and make the track better.
Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?
I think it would be Rap / Hip-Hop, because I love that kind of track. The old-school productions and all that. Sometimes, my friends and I make some just for fun, and it's honestly really cool!
Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?
I'd say the first track would be "Cerrone – Supernature". It's a track my father used to play a lot in the car, and one that I still enjoy today!
The second would be "Mylo – In My Arms". I used to listen to it when I was around 11 or 12 years old on my Walkman on my way to school (yeah, I lived through the arrival of .mp3 files, ahahahah).
And finally, I'd say "Daft Punk – Aerodynamic," and I don't think I need to say anything more about that one :)
Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?
I'd say that Le Sucre would be the perfect place for me! It's a club in my city, Lyon. The venue is amazing. It's on a rooftop by the river, and the view is super cool! And the club's sound system is just perfect. I remember going to see Loco Dice there on a Sunday afternoon, on my birthday, it was insane!
Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?
After this amazing year, where I was able to release tracks on labels I had dreamed of since the beginning of my career, like Solid Grooves Raw, Short Circuit, or Sound D'Elite, I can already tell you that I have 5 tracks scheduled for release in 2026! Including some on major labels in the industry… :)
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?
A little fun fact about me: I have a small guilty pleasure.. I watch Star Academy! It's a TV show in France about young singers who join an academy, with the chance to win a record deal, a tour, and more. I love watching the daily episodes to follow their journey, the guest artist appearances, and everything else… It's fun, and sometimes it even inspires me!
Max Mash - I'm A Mess EP [Sound D’Elite]