Max Hell + Shanti Raya
An evening for those who don't like monotony at UP!
Shanti Raya is a multi-instrumental singer, songwriter, and producer. He draws inspiration from everything and everyone, resulting in a rather eclectic discography. That eclecticism is an essential part of him and is reflected in everything he does. In addition to being a musician, he is a physicist and professional chef, and every so often he learns a new art, hobby, or sport. Nevertheless, his music has a distinct style of its own, full of introspective lyrics, humor, and smooth grooves. Far from monotonous, he can make you sing, dance, and leave you with goosebumps. The absence of a fixed framework gives him the perfect canvas to be pure and sincere, and to sing things exactly as he feels them. Emotions come in all colors, and Shanti sings about them all.
Dirty, rattling guitars from the Amsterdam music scene. Max Hell started playing live in 2021, seemingly out of nowhere. Hell's music had been around for some time as bedroom experiments with his laptop microphone. He formed a band with his old friend Nathan Schipper, later joined by Mirjam Alexander and Joy Burgers. They have since opened for acts such as Personal Trainer and Sophie Straat, and the band has gained a reputation for mixing poppy rock songs with sudden, raw outbursts.
Everything rattles, squeaks, and creaks: but if you listen carefully, Max Hell's songs are actually quite nice to listen to. Those songs are what Hell is all about: simple, compact pop songs performed with a pleasantly gritty edge. Crowned “indie underdog” by 3voor12, the disruptive honesty of this Amsterdam musician is indeed reminiscent of the dirty work of Velvet Underground and the pitiful cries of the late Daniel Johnston. The EP Who the Hell Is Max Hell?!(March 2024) replaces Hell's earlier lo-fi sound with more upbeat songs, but the band's unique character remains.