We recently had the chance to connect with Maxie Mandel and have shared our conversation below.
Maxie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Loneliness. I think everyone feels a little bit more isolated now than they used to, but I never hear people talk about it. I think we should all be a little more open about feeling alone.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Maxie Mandel. I am an artist, songwriter and producer from Philadelphia, PA now based in Los Angeles. My mission as an artist is to empower, uplift, and inspire others, with the ultimate goal being to help people feel less alone. I write powerful, emotional ballads that transcend any one genre, but usually live in the pop/adult contemporary world. Think Adele, Jason Mraz, John Legend…etc.
My story stems from school, from years of being an adolescent navigating different social hierarchies, and never finding my place. I write from a vulnerable and honest place that tends to expose some of my deepest and darkest emotions. Even now as a young adult, I still battle feelings of loneliness and yearning, and I hope through my songs I can help validate others who might feel the same.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
When social media was still on the rise, I was in elementary/middle school. I showed up as totally and completely authentic to myself each and every day. I still do, but it’s more of a battle now with constant societal pressures and expectations. I was an outgoing, social kid, and my spirit was never broken no matter how hard it seemed the elements tried. I try to look back and draw inspiration from that girl now that the world and social media are trying to tell me who to be and how to live. I admire her strength and her spirit.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I have always known from a very young age that I wanted to be a musician. I started playing piano and singing when I was 5 years old. It had always been a healthy, creative outlet for me. Starting around the age of ten, I began experiencing a lot of adversity in school. I didn’t have any friends and I struggled to “fit in”. I was very lonely and felt that something was wrong with me. That is when I started to channel my pain into songwriting. Writing songs and performing them made me feel powerful, because not only did I have an outlet for my emotions but I also started to realize I was good at it. And no matter what I have been through, I have felt powerful ever since, because I have an endless wealth of belief in myself that was established in those formative years.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is always, one hundred percent, the same as the real me. That is my whole belief system as an artist. I will never change or hide anything about myself or my beliefs in order to fit in with the status quo or be popular. My public persona on social media is always authentically true to myself. That is how I am able to relate to people, and them to me. I want people to be able to listen to my music and find that the same person who wrote those songs presents the same version of herself online.
Even if my thoughts or views are controversial, I will still advocate for them. Part of my mission as an artist is to raise awareness for causes I care about, whether that be racial justice, women’s rights, women’s healthcare, anti-fascism…etc. If that makes me lose followers, or if it makes people not want to listen to my music, then my music is not for them. Because I’m sure they lack the basic human empathy and compassion to understand them.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
As an extrovert, an artist, a Leo… ultimately, I crave validation. So does everyone, right? But if I released a song a week for the rest of my life and not a single person ever listened to it, I think I would still go on performing and writing music. At the end of the day, I make music for me, because it heals my soul. And the fact that it helps other people is an added benefit. If I stopped receiving all praise, I would still give music the best I’ve got, because I’m in it for me first.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maxiemandel.com
- Instagram: @maxiemmusic
- Twitter: @MaxieMandel
- Facebook: @MaxieMandel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maxiemmusic
- Other: Tik tok: @maxiemmusic
Image Credits
Carleigh Hyser
