Talking with MAXON
Victorian folk- rock artist MAXON have shared her brand-new album titled ’Talking To Strangers’! The new body of work features the previously delivered singles ‘Everybody’ and ‘Little Blue’, and showcases the MAXON’s ability to traverse between Americana, modern pop and 70’s sounding folk rock. We caught up with MAXON to find out more about the new album, who helped her bring the LP together and her upcoming performance at The Toff on the 7th of May.
Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Music Kingdom Australia
Thanks so much for having me!
For those that haven’t heard your music before, where do you fit into the genre spectrum?
I used to find this question so hard to answer, probably because I grew up with so many different strands of singer songwriter influence. It took me a long time to land on something that felt right. This latest album definitely sits somewhere in the pop space, but with a modern take on some Fleetwood Mac vibes. There’s a strong Americana and 70s folk rock influence running through it, so it kind of lives between those worlds.
“I feel really honoured to have released something that people are connecting with so deeply”
Maxon, you have recently released your debut album Talking With Strangers, how has the LP been received?
I think I’m still in shock. It hasn’t fully sunk in that it’s actually out there in the world for people to hear.
What’s been really beautiful is hearing from people I haven’t spoken to in over ten years, as well as fans who have been patiently waiting for this record. It’s overwhelming in the best way. I feel really honoured to have released something that people are connecting with so deeply.
I’ve received the kindest messages and it’s been incredibly validating. There’s this feeling of “okay, I didn’t imagine it… this is a good album” which has been really special. People have called it timeless, catchy, and really moving. One of my favourite descriptions was that it’s a “feely” album, which I take to mean people are being taken on an emotional journey. That’s exactly what we set out to do.
How did you celebrate the release?
On release day I went for a big walk and turned my phone off for a couple of hours. I wanted to make sure I felt grounded and present before getting stuck in the post-promo phase!! I spent the day with my partner, just being in nature and putting my feet in the water. It was really simple and perfect. The big celebration is the live show next week.
You’re officially launching Talking With Strangers with a live show early in May, how are preparations going?
Yeehaw, it’s next week! I’m so excited. We actually have rehearsal tonight and I can’t wait to hear everything come together.
It’s going to be a really special night. Preparation is going well, mostly because I have the most incredible musicians around me. I feel very lucky. It’s going to be an intimate show with big band energy, the kind of night where people might feel like jumping out of their seats and singing along.
“The time I spent in the studio with Jono Steer was really special”
Was making an album easier or more difficult than you anticipated?
Every project is completely different, and this is my first full record. I was really lucky to receive grant funding, which meant I could properly focus. When I released my first EP years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. Now I understand that making a record is an experience more than anything else. You can prepare as much as you like, but the songs kind of tell you what they need as you go. It wasn’t necessarily difficult, but I learned so much. The time I spent in the studio with Jono Steer was really special, and I’ll never forget it. I also know that the next record will be completely different again.
Did you play a part in the production side of the album?
The process was mostly Jono and I in the studio day after day for months, with different musicians coming in and out.
Jono handled the bulk of the production, including all the comping and mixing, which was a huge job. I tend to step back from comping my own vocals because I can get a bit too picky and lose the emotion in the performance. I like to hear what someone else chooses first.
This is very much a record shaped by Jono’s ideas and expertise. I got to be deeply involved creatively, bouncing ideas around and shaping how my voice and influences were represented, but he really brought it to life.
“ I wanted the record to feel grounding and safe, while still holding all the emotional weight we carry as humans. ”
Do you have a standout moment from the studio?
There are so many, but one that really stands out is recording the rhythm section for ‘Everybody’. We’d been playing the song live for about a year and it had become a bit of a crowd favourite, but something about the structure hadn’t quite landed yet. Jono suggested we just jam it out. The night before recording, one of our guitarists, Ryan Lim, came up with this simple, beautiful riff at around 2am. It took me a minute to get it but when we put it together in the studio with bass from Ezekiel Fenn and drums from Lachlan O'Kane, everything just clicked.
It felt like home. That was actually something I said at the very start of the process. I wanted the record to feel grounding and safe, while still holding all the emotional weight we carry as humans. That moment really captured it, and I still get emotional hearing that track, especially when the choir comes in too. gah, crying now!!
You worked with some incredible musicians, how did those collaborations come about?
Honestly, I feel incredibly lucky. But the songs really seemed to resonate with the people we asked to be involved. It was a mix of Jono’s connections and musicians I’d already been working with. There was this beautiful blend of new and familiar energy. Strangers coming together and becoming this extended musical family. It still kind of amazes me that it all came together the way it did.
“I always say right room, right people, right timing. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to serve what you’re trying to capture.”
How important is having the right team?
I always say right room, right people, right timing. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to serve what you’re trying to capture. For this record, I wanted something commercially viable but still timeless, so the team really mattered. Also just for me to feel safe and secure in what I’m doing. Singing in studios was a rough experience for me right up until I met Jono. But everyone brought their own flavour to this record and it was a very collaborative environment making all the songs feel quite big with lots of love.
I also want to shout out how much of the layering came from Jono and Ezekiel in those final weeks. Zeke played everything from piano to synth to bass depending on what we needed, and his musical fingerprint is all over the record.
Who’s on your collaboration wishlist next?
I’ve finally convinced my partner Nay to start singing duets with me, which I’ve been trying to do for years. So that’s happening. She’s been writing with me and singing backing vocals for a long time, but she has so much to say and her voice is magic. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on later this year. Wakers project is coming!!
Are there plans to tour?
Yes. Announcements soon!! :)
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
I’ve tried to imagine it, but nothing else really fits. This is just who I am. A songwriter and artist.
“Having someone in your corner who genuinely believes in what you’re doing makes all the difference.”
Who deserves a shout out?
Honestly, everyone. There are so many people holding this together in ways that aren’t always visible. But today I do want to mention Charlotte Abroms. She’s more of a mentor than part of my team, but she’s been such an important support. Whether it’s creative direction, business advice, or connecting dots behind the scenes, she’s helped me step into this project with confidence. Having someone in your corner who genuinely believes in what you’re doing makes all the difference. I’m incredibly grateful for that relationship.
Where would you like to see Maxon in one year and five years?
Breathing deeply, feeling it all, singing in communities, and helping people feel seen and held through music.
Fans can catch MAXON performing the new music live at The Toff on the 7th of May. Tickets on sale now via Moshtix
Interview by Michelle Symes
May 2026
