by jacqueline mcelhone
photo by grant spanier
Tulsa trio Wilderado recently sat down with us to talk about how they were formed, their single “Head Right,” and more below!
Tell us about how you got together. How was Wilderado formed? (And what’s kept you together?)
Max: “Wilderado formed from a collection of songs and several people that enjoyed being around each other. To be honest, I’m not really sure how it happened. There were the first songs and a group of friends. I know we were selective about who made up the band at the beginning, and still are, but I don’t really remember a process. I do know that the three of us put a lot of energy into hearing each other out and keeping each other’s best intentions in mind. That’s played a big part in us staying together. We also just like it. We like the songs and each other and are dedicated to doing what we can to keep it that way.”
What helps you get your “head right?”
Max: “Man, I have no idea. Trying to figure that out. I guess that’s what the songs about.”
Where does your lyrical inspiration come from? Has your writing process changed without being able to be on the road?
Max: “I’m most inspired by the melody I’m hearing at the time. I find I can write best when I’m trying to focus on the mood the melody puts me in rather than something that needs to be said. I have a hard time writing on the road. It’s always so hectic and there are limited moments where I can find an empty room to sing and search for melodies and words.”
Has the pandemic shifted your perspective at all, on music or life in general?
Max: “The pandemic made me realize how wild touring is. It had been so long since I had stayed in one place for an extended amount of time. I keep trying to remember touring, but all I can really do is be shocked at the fact that we were in a different motel every night. Sharing beds. Eating every meal out. Moving a small apartment in and out of our trailer over and over. It’s pretty crazy! You just do it, though. I know when it comes back around I will get back into the cowboy aspect of it all, but for now I look at touring like an animal in a zoo. This whole thing has also put some wild perspective on how fast everything can change, how defenseless we are and how much I long for connection. Really, more than anything, it’s made me realize how much I love my family. My sisters and brother, my mom and dad, my wife and kids. I guess I’m more afraid than ever to leave them again. We can control so little, but there is some peace in that.”
What do you want people to feel when they listen to Wilderado? How would you describe the vibe?
Max: “I want people to feel like they’re allowed to feel however they want, but, selfishly, I want them to feel like I feel and to not feel alone. Mt. Joy has that great line, ‘We’re all alone together, now.’ I love that. It doesn’t have to be that profound of a thing, though. It’s always nice to know that we’ve provided a mood or vibe. I think we have an easy vibe. Maybe that comes from how simple a lot of the music is or how much we like to feel easy and relaxed. I think we like being able to just do our thing. It’s cool to imagine people listening to the band and wanting to just vibe out or be themselves.”
Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
Max: “At the moment I’ve been listening to a lot of Don Williams and Adam Melchor.”
How do you balance fatherhood with pursuing your passion for music, which inevitably requires tours and long months away from home?
Max: “Gosh, lots of times I don’t. I try not to separate them. I want my kids to know what I’m working on, know where I am and what I’m thinking. The other day I picked my five year old up from school and she goes, ‘How are your songs?’ I thought that was so cool. Our passions are a part of us, aren’t they? Everything I do impacts what kind of dad, friend, husband, brother, etc I am. I need my passions and excitement, the hard work of it all, to feel good and confident. I asked someone this same question once and he said he loves the fact that his kids see him being serious enough about his passions to let them take him all over the place. I thought that was cool. I guess the balance would be making sure they know I am as passionate about them and what they’re passionate about as I am my own interests.”
When it comes to music videos and your visuals, they all have a storytelling aspect to them. Who comes up with that, is it a collaborative process or you take an idea and roll with it?
Max: “It’s all been very collaborative. Music videos are hard. Niles Jeran did the Head Right video. He’s actually flying to meet us in Tulsa right now. We haven’t figured videos out yet. It’s one of those things we need to just keep trying. We all love film and are impacted pretty heavily by it, so it’s not something we take lightly. But you could probably argue that’s kept us from trying as much as we should.”
How do you balance the “necessary evils” of being a musician in today’s world — like self-marketing? What do you feel the role of social media is in the music industry?
Max: “Man I hate it. I’m so bad with social media. It makes me so self-conscious. I don’t know how to engage with it without also getting wrapped up in comparison and/or wanting people to like me. I honestly think it’s such a shame we’re all so required to be actively engaged with social media. However, I do think it’s cool that people have found a way to be comfortable and productive and make careers out of it. But for me it causes me too much anxiety. Definitely a struggle of mine at the moment. I wish I could just take calls all day and interact with our fans that way. It ebbs and flows. It’s a blessing and a curse.
What can your fans look forward to this year? What makes you excited about your debut LP that’s in the works?
Max: “I think there is as much to look forward to this year as there’s ever been. Wilderado is in such a positive place. I know some things will be hard, but I really can’t wait to just see people again and tell them thank you for getting us through this year, for listening to the music and sending us messages. We’re just excited to release our debut LP. We’ve spent five years chasing a record. We’ve worked hard and fought for this record. Feels good to have finished something and now we are close to the point where we get to enjoy it with all the people that helped us do that.”