EP REVIEW: MAX LEONARD’S “JUDO!”

Charlotte, NC native Max Leonard, also a member of the buzzing trio Biking with Francis, released his self-written, recorded, and produced debut solo project "JUDO!". Following the success of his singles "PRETTY BOY" and "JUST A FRIEND" featuring Frank Sativa and Garret Sparrow, you can expect a fresh and rich blend of alternative hip hop, R&B, and bedroom pop. Max described this project as "getting everything off his chest." Max shared, "I had a lot of changes happening in my life all around me. I had just gotten out of a relationship, I was graduating college, everything just kind of flipped for me. There was a time I wasn’t even making music during that time of change. But eventually, I found my way back and let this project be all the expressed feelings I had kept inside." Alongside the prior releases of "COLD SHOULDER" and "LOVE SICK!", the project has 3 new tracks for listeners to dive into, including collaborations with ISOMEANSWAR and Louis Phoenix.

“JET FLUX”

The first track, “JET FLUX,” kicks off with a hypnotic start as the listener is engulfed by sounds of static amplifiers, atmospheric production, distorted whispers, and raw guitar chords before Max delivers a harmonious ballad about spending too much time alone in the city. One minute into the project, you can already get a sense of Max’s incredible experimentation as the song shifts into a slower and breezy beat, and Max raps the next verse in his signature high-pitched vocals. ISOMEANSWAR comes in with an insanely catchy and pulverizing last verse before the track fades away. I promise you that putting on your headphones, closing your eyes, and listening to this song will send you into another world.

“COLD SHOULDER”

“COLD SHOULDER” tells a story about the feeling of losing the warmth from someone you love, accompanied by Max’s ethereal harmonies and anthemic instrumentation. The outro on this song is one of my favorites off the project, featuring a dreamy transition to that nostalgic high-pitch vocal effect. To me, this song sounds like something you’d expect Daniel Caesar to be on, which is actually one of the influences that Max described to me. Max shared, “Frank Ocean is always an overarching inspiration for me, but in particular, I've been listening to a lot of his project Endless. Choker’s use of textures and soundscapes is something I tried to adopt for this project. Daniel Caesar’s new project “NEVER ENOUGH” was my favorite release of 2023 and was on repeat during the months I was working on JUDO!”

“LOVE SICK!”

“LOVE SICK!” is the heart and middle of the project, encapsulating the perfect song for someone strolling through the neighborhood tired of reminiscing over what once was. The accompanying visuals by Chrissteelframe perfectly encapsulate the polarizing aesthetic of JUDO!. Shot entirely on iPhone, the video follows Max walking and pondering around Hollywood and features super sick hand-drawn on-screen animations. Probably the catchiest song off the project, and you should look forward to seeing more music videos with Max in the future!

"YOU N I”

“YOU N I” is for the lovers! Starting off warm and slow, this song introduces the listener to the raw passion of Louis Phoenix. The chemistry Louis and Max express in this track is heavenly, and the bass is sweet like honey. This song, in particular, is hard to put into words honestly. It feels like a sunset. When asked about the song, Max said, “I've had the chords for this song for over a year, but was never satisfied with how the song would turn out. Louis and I have been friends for a few months now, but it's one of those where you feel like you’ve known them for years. We had started YOU N I in December when I was in LA. Then this past February I went to LA for 3 weeks and Louis and I linked up with a dope producer and instrumentalist Jonny Shore in Hollywood. That's where we finished the track. The final touch was guitar from Logan Sparrow, a crazy talented guitarist from Durham, NC. Louis and I have more in the vault, just wait.”

“BALLAD”

“BALLAD” serves as the closing track, and all I can really say is wow. A timeless instrumental with these strong piano chords and a spectacle of vocals. It’s a sonic wonder. The production on this song remains unlike anything else that’s been coming out lately. It’s the type of song that makes you ponder about your favorite memories and the people that bring color to your life. A must-listen.