QUICKIE OF THE WEEK: A short interview with Maxi Nil (Jaded Star)
written by Marko Jakob
Pix666: Hello Maxi. The most important question right at the beginning. Are you healthy and are you well?
Maxi: Hello hello! I’m doing pretty well thank you!
Pix666: A few days ago your new album ‚Realign‘ was released. How difficult was the way to a complete album under ‘Corona conditions’?
Maxi: We were lucky cause the album was ready last February before all this madness. I can’t imagine how we would finish it under a lockdown…
Pix666: In which versions the album can be purchased?
Maxi: REALIGN is available in all digital platforms,in a Deluxe Digipack and a Limited Edition Splatter Vinyl. Here is the link https://snd.click/realign You can also purchase a signed digipack or vinyl from the band’s official webstore here https://jadedstarofficial.bigcartel.com/
Pix666: You have also released the new, cool black and white video for the song ‘A Pain All Mine’. The clip has reached more than 60.000 views on YouTube within a few days. Did you expect such a big response?
Maxi: I was hoping for something like this but we were all thrilled to hit that number in a few days. It’s a new milestone for us and we are very happy and grateful!
Pix666: Your album cover looks pretty extravagant. Who had the idea for it – did someone in the band design it?
Maxi: The artwork is by the hands of the very talented Jon Toussas at Graffic No Jutsu. We wanted to combine the earth the universe and the digital world along with a feeling of regeneration and Jon made it happen! Adding the Jade stone on the head of our creature was a great bonus!
Pix666: The album is released and it‘s not possible to play a tour. A pretty shitty situation for a band – or was there still the chance for a small release concert in your home country? What are the tour plans for 2021?
Maxi: REALIGN was released the day before the 2nd lockdown in Greece…crazy days…all live venues are closed for months here so it was impossible to play. We promise, when things get better, to give this new album the live release party it deserves!
Pix666: As an experienced musician, do you still check the number of streamings? Do you know in which countries you are listened most?
Maxi: We always do it’s interesting to see in which countries your music travels. Our biggest audiences are in UK, France,the US, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
Pix666: You already discovered your love for music when you were a child? What were the first steps?
Maxi: I was 5 when my parents noticed that I would play songs that I heard on the radio on my toy piano so I went to a music school for kids learnt a little flute and some percussion and a few years later I started the piano and took some guitar lessons. Joined my first band as a singer when I was 16 and started writing songs.
Pix666: You were singing in several other bands before – for example four or five years with Visions of Atlantis. What are the most memorable moments in your entire career as a musician?
Maxi: Yes,first it was On Thorns I lay then Elysion and a bit later Visions of Atlantis. I have so many good memories in all those years. Great times and deep relationships from playing on the street,then touring the world…China and Tunisia are a few trips to remember!hahahaha…then starting Jaded Star…our first show…the shaking before going on stage,the group hug before the show.The new beginning,these great people that joined.Shooting these two videos that we are so proud of…I’m grateful!
Pix666: What else did you do besides the music during the contact restrictions? Do you have any interesting hobbies? Or is music simply everything in your life?
Maxi: I’m a vocal coach and luckily I can teach via video calls.During both lockdowns I was and stil am working on a music TV Show as a coach and vocalist. So yes…music is everything!
Pix666: Do you have any other news about Jaded Star, that you would like to share with the fans?
Maxi: First of all we want to thank everyone reading this! Thank you for the love and support. Music is all we have in these crazy times! We’ll get through this! Be true!
Pix666: Thank you very much for the interesting answers – Stay healthy!!!
Maxi: Thank you for having me! You too!
https://www.facebook.com/jadedstarofficial
https://snd.click/realign
http://jadedstar.net/
https://jadedstarofficial.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nobledemonrecords
photos © Stella Mouzi
