For Max Satow, professionally known as NOSHOWS, there’s no such thing as creativity without authenticity. The NYC-based musician blends alt-rock, hip-hop, and funk together to create a sound that turns heads wherever he goes. Devoted to giving listeners a candid look into his life, Max isn’t afraid to document his truth in his songs — even if that truth isn’t always glamorous.
The latest NOSHOWS single, “The Loop,” finds Max reflecting on a dark cycle of addiction and broken promises to himself. Listen here.
In a press statement, Max said, “I wasn’t trying to write something inspirational. I was trying to document exactly where I was. ‘The Loop’ came from that place where you honestly believe this time will be different — even when experience tells you it won’t. That lyric was the only sentence I could hear in my head.”
“The Loop” helps stitch together a story of an artist who is completely unapologetic when it comes to confronting his battles, and a deep inner-dialogue that many prefer to keep hidden in the shadows. There’s more to come, as Max gears up to release his debut album this fall.
In just a few days, Max will hit the stage once again supporting Black Pontiac. To celebrate the occasion, we had a chat about the making of “The Loop,” as well as the adrenaline rush of performing his songs live. Check it out below!
How did your latest single “The Loop” come about? Walk us all through the writing process!
“The Loop” came from feeling like I was living the same day over and over again. I think everybody has patterns they keep falling back into, whether it’s anxiety, relationships, addiction, or just the way you think about yourself. I started writing it after realizing I kept waiting for something external to change instead of changing the way I looked at things. Once that idea clicked, the song came together pretty quickly. I wanted it to feel upbeat and energetic while talking about something that’s actually pretty heavy. I love when music lets you dance while you’re working through something real.
“The Loop” touches on some of your deep personal struggles. How has releasing this song (and making music as a whole) helped you process and overcome these struggles?
Writing songs has always been how I make sense of my life. I’ll be overwhelmed by something and not fully understand it until I sit down and write about it. Once it’s out there, it doesn’t have the same power over me anymore. Releasing “The Loop” has been especially rewarding because so many people have reached out saying they relate to it in completely different ways. It reminds me that even though the songs start from something deeply personal, they stop being just mine once they’re out in the world.
What do you hope listeners take away from “The Loop”?
I hope people realize that you don’t have to have everything figured out. Life isn’t about eliminating every struggle. It’s about learning to live with uncertainty without letting it control you. If someone hears the song and feels a little less alone, or it helps them break out of whatever loop they’re stuck in, then it’s done its job.
You recently had the chance to perform in Times Square. What was the experience like? That must have been a total full-circle moment for you!
It was surreal. Growing up around New York, Times Square always felt larger than life. To be standing there playing my own songs while people stopped to listen was one of those moments where I had to take a step back and appreciate how far this project has come. There are still a lot of goals ahead, but moments like that remind me to enjoy the journey too.
In just a few days, you’ll be playing a hometown show in Brooklyn at The Sultan Room. What are some of the things exciting you the most about this show?
I’m excited because I really believe our live show is where everything clicks. The recordings are one thing, but the energy in the room is what Noshows is all about. We put a lot into making our shows feel chaotic, emotional, and fun all at once. It’s also a hometown show, so seeing familiar faces alongside people who are discovering us for the first time always makes it feel special. It also doesn’t hurt having Black Pontiac on the bill. I think this is going to be our best show yet.
What are some songs, albums, or artists that are dominating your playlists right now?
I’ve been listening to a lot of psychedelic indie like Tame Impala, but also heavier rock bands like Turnstile and Jack White. I love artists who balance huge hooks with raw energy, and I think you can definitely hear those influences on some of our newer songs like “The Loop” and “I Don’t Want It.”
If you’re on the East Coast, you can catch noshows opening for Black Pontiac this month! For more info, visit noshowsband.com.
August 14 – Buffalo, NY – Nietzsche’s
August 16 – Cambridge, PA – Middle East
August 17 – Brooklyn, NY – Sultan Room
August 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Ortlieb’s
August 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Roboto Project