Electric Mode interviewed Max Winfield to discuss his new release on Love To Be Recordings, exploring his passion for piano House, early achievements, and his role in the future of UK house music.
Max Winfield is the latest rising talent on Love To Be Recordings, the revered UK House label known for championing generations of artists and curating global dance music culture since 1994. At just 15 years old, Max brings a fresh energy to piano House, blending melodic grooves, funky basslines, and soulful vocals that connect with audiences across ages and borders. A self-taught musician, songwriter, and producer, he has already earned recognition for his collaborations with established artists and vocalists, including Inaya Day and Julie McKnight. His new release on Love To Be, ‘Lost In The Music’, exemplifies his signature style, combining emotive melodies with dancefloor-ready energy. At its core, Max sees music as a means of connection and expression, carrying forward the label’s legacy while helping shape the next generation of UK House music talent.
1. Hey Max! Welcome to Electric Mode, and thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. To kick things off, please could you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, I’m Max Winfield, my friends call me Maxwin. I’m a songwriter, producer, and DJ. I play keys and saxophone, making soulful House and Tech House tunes.
2. At such a young age, you’ve achieved some very notable milestones. What was your first entry point into electronic music? Can you tell us how you got started?
I first started to learn piano a few years ago during lockdown and had lessons online with a very cool teacher who introduced me to playing a mixed genre of song styles from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Queen, Bill Withers, to some really current Pop and Jazz artists.
I always loved listening to all types of music, but I found that House music has a certain groove that is so addictive. I was drawn to old school piano House, and I initially found that I could carry over my Jazz keys style into the tracks, which gave them a certain type of sound. I felt a connection to tracks like ‘Strings of Life’, and ‘Where Love Lives’, and love those powerhouse vocals of Joceyln Brown, Phebe Edwards, and Kathy Brown. At the age of around 13, I started creating my own music using Logic Pro and had a Saturday Job playing cover songs in a local beauty salon on their baby grand piano. With the money I earned from tips, I put it towards my studio gear.
3. Congratulations on your new release, ‘Lost In The Music’, which is coming out on the legendary Love To Be Recordings. We’d love to hear what inspired you to write the track, its musical direction, and what you hope listeners can feel and take away when they hear it.
I’d self-released a couple of tracks, and the last track, I had some feedback from some curators who, in so many words, said one of my tracks was very boring. They were probably right, and this actually inspired me to write a new song with a really original and elaborate piano intro that no one could say was boring. We were on holiday in Florida last year, and I got the idea for the breakdown section from an elevator in our hotel, which had a speaking voice. I sampled it and put it into the track. I have this idea for the video that when the doors of the elevator open on the 10th floor, there is a huge party with a DJ playing. Not that I’ll get to shoot a video for this one.
4. You signed to Love To Be Recordings at just 14, joining a label with a long-standing history in House music. How did it feel to become part of such a prestigious roster at such a young age?
When I received the email to say they loved the track and wanted to sign it, I couldn’t believe it. They said they’d listened to the track in a weekly A&R meeting, and elements of the track brought back some good memories for them of some older House tracks, so that was quite cool. I’d listened to the label’s releases and also the type of music played at some of their events, and thought the track could be a good fit, but it was a real surprise, as this is the first label that showed an interest in my music. I feel very lucky to have a track signed with them.
5. ‘Lost In The Music’ was first showcased at ADE alongside label heads Marc and Tony. What was it like performing your music on such a renowned stage and seeing the audience’s reaction?
I was really nervous beforehand, as this was my first real gig, and I was concentrating really hard as I didn’t want to mess up! It was a very special moment, and the guys told me to just enjoy myself, so once I’d mixed the first couple of tracks, I felt more relaxed. It was a real buzz mixing in some of my own tracks with some iconic House tunes. There wasn’t a big audience, but I think everyone who was there enjoyed the tunes I played. It just went so fast, and I wish I could have played for longer!
6. With early plays at iconic clubs such as Fabric, Ocean Beach, and Hï Ibiza, how does it feel to have your music embraced in venues with such a strong House music legacy?
I posted a clip on social media of a track I was working on, and DJ Jules Cameron and Bear Winder saw it and asked if I could send the extended version. A couple of days later, I saw a video of it being played and the crowd’s reaction, which was awesome! Very inspiring to see people dancing to the track, and I would love to be able to play at these venues myself in the future.
7. You earned a Toolroom Academy scholarship. How important has mentorship and support from industry professionals been in your growth?
I feel really honored to have received the artist development scholarship; it was a real surprise for me. The support from their team has been a massive help. Getting regular A&R feedback from industry professionals such as Mark Knight, Pete Griffiths, and Jason Birkwood has allowed me to take my productions to the next level and really understand how to turn my songwriting ideas into a better finished product. They’ve helped a lot with branding and my artistic direction, also. There is a whole bunch of artists in the academy, and everyone helps each other out. Nice to have people to bounce ideas off and give you constructive feedback, and I’m really loving being part of it.
8. If you could curate your dream festival or event, which artists would be on the lineup and why?
If I were to curate my dream festival, I’d invite a real mixture of artists and singers that would bring high-energy music and vocals. Ruze, as I love their vibe and sound, and Kerri Chandler for sure, as I love the way Kerri plays keys in his shows, which is what I aspire to do in mine. Trimtone, Bear Winder, and Jules Cameron for their funky soul House vibes and infectious energy. The Revival House project creates such a good vibe with audiences with their vocalists, such as Kathy Brown and Erire Obano and who know how to get everyone going. Some legendary singers, such as Crystal Waters and Ultra Nate who I met in Amsterdam, and I heard her sound check, which blew me away with her incredible vocal range. I have had the pleasure of writing tracks recently with Inaya Day and Jacqui Bennett, who are incredible artists bringing a lot of energy to the stage. There are some awesome new artists such as The Godess Music, Rooby, Amy Alexander, and Semi French, that I saw play sets in Amsterdam and love the way they mix in some old classic crowd pleasers with deep House tracks. Then I’d have to include Lizzie Curious, Loz Seka, Better than Lex, Crusy, R3wire, Russ Yallop, Luke Siekiera and Mark Knight for their stage presence and big personalities, smashing some deep House and tech House bangers. Oh yeah, and I would squeeze a little set in there myself, spin and spin a few of my tunes.
9. Outside of music, what are your hobbies and interests?
I have always had a love for cars and motor sport, and from the age of 7, I have raced karts. Currently, I compete in a National Junior Championship throughout the year. Racing teaches you a lot of cool things, such as decision-making and how to deal with certain situations and disappointments, as well as winning. Guess I love the thrill of the sport. It’s very much grass-roots racing, so everyone has the same engine and chassis, and it’s all about driver skill. For fitness, I go to the gym and love to play paddle and tennis with my brothers.
10. What are your goals for the next few years, and how do you see your sound evolving as you grow both personally and professionally?
I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I spend all my free time writing and producing and on the decks, that’s definitely my ‘happy place’, so I am keen to keep developing my writing and production skills. I think I’ve found my sound, and my songwriting always starts off with playing piano riffs that lead to the main hook of the song, so hopefully people can hear this as a signature sound in my tracks. I do love all genres of House, though, and want to produce deeper House and tech House tunes also. Being invited to play by Love to Be at ADE this year was a real highlight for me, it was such a buzz!. I’m keen to play more gigs and to get some more experience, and the dream is to play my tracks at some iconic venues eventually.
Max Winfield’s approach to House music is as much about passion as it is about sound. Through Love To Be Recordings, he has joined a legacy where creativity thrives. His new release, ‘Lost In The Music’, showcases Max’s ability to combine melody, energy, and groove into a single track, marking him as a standout talent in the next generation of UK House. Beyond the studio, Max sees music as a way to connect with audiences, whether on dancefloors, in collaborative sessions with established artists, or through performances at iconic venues. As his career continues to grow, his mission remains clear: to make music that uplifts, inspires, and pushes House music forward. With Max Winfield, it is not just about the next release; it is about the journey, the creativity, and the joy of House music in its purest form.
Max Winfield’s ‘Lost In The Music’ is out now via Love To Be Recordings and is available to purchase here.
Find Out More & Follow:
Max Winfield: Instagram | Spotify | Beatport | Traxsource
Love To Be Recordings: Website | Instagram | Beatport | Traxsource
