Whether on stage or on route to the next gig, you can always find singer-songwriter Max Minardi ”anywhere” if you try.
“Anywhere” is the name of his latest album, marking his return to releasing new music in nearly a decade and a reminder of his distinctive songwriting.
Minardi came to Chico to continue his education and completed his studies at Chico State in 2013.
“'I’ve been playing music full time ever since, which looks like a bunch of different configurations,” Minardi said.
Sonically, his music is a fusion of Americana, folk, and pop, complemented by a modern fashion style that includes rugged jeans, fitted tees and a guitar-carrying aesthetic.
From restaurants, bars and casinos to weddings and corporate events. Minardi is the local king of covers, having played every type of venue and event. More often than not, he’s on the road heading to his next show.
“Occasionally, it's performing my own songs that I've written for listening audiences,” Miardi said jokingly.
How covers help build his career
Minardi is well known for his music covers, a key element of his performances.
He has covered a wide range of artists, from The Lumineers and Amos Lee to Amy Winehouse and Shania Twain. He is fearless when it comes to song choice.
“There are more people probably … who know me because of covers because I've spent years now playing around town at different bars,” Minardi said.
It's enjoyable for him to encounter audiences who know him from these performances, Minardi said, but it can be challenging not to disappoint them.
“You show up and I'm singing like sad boy songs by myself that I've written, and then somebody shows up and goes like, ‘Hey, can you play ‘Pony’ by Ginuwine?’”
Sometimes it creates a dilemma where he feels the need to assert his artistic identity.
“It's sort of switching of characters sometimes,” Minardi said.
The album
Minardi is drawn to story-driven songs, believing music transforms everyday experiences into something meaningful.
His latest effort, "Anywhere," is a 10-song LP that explores themes of heartbreak, lost love, found love and life on the road.
The album showcases his ability to craft songs that not only tell a story but also transport the audience into a relatable setting.
Minardi hopes listeners play the album from start to finish. He said in today's music world, the focus has shifted from full albums to standalone songs.
“I like the idea of an album being like a movie, where you start it, and then you go to the end,” Minardi said.
The long road to ‘Anywhere’
Mindardi can’t quite explain why it took him nearly a decade to follow up on his 2016 debut ‘Stronger Than the Earth,” admitting he’s not the fastest songwriter.
“Part of it was really trying to establish myself and focusing a lot on my cover career so I could make money enough to even bother,” Minardi said.
He noted the existence of exceptionally productive writers and songwriters, citing Pat Hull and Grayson Katka, the bassist for Black Pine Revival, as examples. dd
“I don't know if I've never had the dedication or what, but I tend just kind of to wait until something strikes me, I'll jot it down, and then I'll forget about it for a while,” Minardi said. “Then I'll come back to it, but it does result in quite a long time.”
Maybe part of it, he said, is that he kind of hates songwriting.
“It's like my least favorite part of the entire musical process,” Minardi said. “It's like pulling my own teeth sometimes.”
Minardi hopes listeners will approach the album with an open mind, allowing them to interpret the work individually as it resonates with them.
He hopes listeners approach the album with an open mind and discover their own meaning in it.
“I like the idea that it's not necessarily the person who created the thing’s place to dictate what others think … of it, or their experience of it,” Minardi said.
