Max McNown (@maxmcnown) is a fast-rising Nashville-based Billboard-charting singer-songwriter from Oregon. Not too long ago, he released a captivating new EP, “Willfully Blind,” via Fugitive Recordings and The Orchard.
Max McNown – “Snowman” (Performance Video)
The EP’s focus track “Snowman” features a passionate performance that will tug at your heartstrings. “The lyrics of ‘Snowman’ ring true for anyone who has felt the glow of a true connection, only to watch it slip from their fingers, and ultimately fade away,” shares Max McNown, adding “The desperation and hopelessness of the experience sets in throughout the song, resulting in the refusal to accept reality. ‘Ice can’t start a fire, but I’ll keep trying…'”
Max McNown – “A Lot More Free” (Music Video)
The EP landed as Max McNown made his AmericanaFest debut playing at Nashville’s 5 Spot, and as we see another major resurgence of his breakout hit single “A Lot More Free.” Since the single’s release, it has amassed over 55M+ streams, earned McNown a spot on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, and peaked at #1 on the TikTok Breakthrough USA chart. The song has again seen astronomical growth in the past few weeks following the 1st anniversary of the song, which hit #1 on the Country iTunes Chart and Viral 50 Spotify playlists globally including the US, Australia, Sweden, Norway, and South Africa.
Max McNown – “Willfully Blind” EP
Produced by Paul Mabury, “Willfully Blind” is composed of five original tracks and two additional acoustic versions. “Over the last year I’ve been doing my very best to learn and grow as a songwriter,” says McNown. “I see the ‘Willfully Blind’ EP as a deeper exploration into storytelling, pulling inspiration from my own life and creating something with a life of its own. The songs are unique and aren’t boxed into one genre, so I’ll leave it to the fans to decide.”
Max McNown
It’s hard to believe that all of this happened within a year of Max McNown learning to play guitar and officially releasing music, but that is very much the case for this new singer-songwriter star on the rise. At 23, he has already been on a storied musical journey. Taking control of his future, overcoming personal challenges, and drawing inspiration from his brother who was bravely fighting cancer, McNown packed his bags and drove from remote Oregon to Southern California. From there, videos of him busking on a pier made an impact online and eventually grew into a legion of supporters on TikTok (currently has 1M followers). After attracting interest from major TV talent shows, McNown auditioned for one and then decided it wasn’t for him and gracefully turned them down as he knew he needed to walk his own path.
Earlier this year, McNown earned ample support for his first full-length album, “Wandering,” recently listed as a top debut album of the year by Whiskey Riff.
Max McNown – “Wandering” album
Homing in on intricate storytelling, “Wandering” shares anecdotes of intense heartache–examining everything from breakups to new love to the pain of watching family members overcome life’s biggest challenges. With production by AJ Pruis, “Wandering” showcases an ornate musical palette rich in live instrumentation of fiddle, mandolin, dreamy pedal-steel tones, and spellbinding guitar work. Yet McNown took care to foreground his lyrics on every track, viewing his songs as poems set to music.
McNown went on his first tours supporting folk band Briscoe, and Australian artist Blake Rose, and opened for major country stars such as Wynonna Judd, plus recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut. The momentum of the breakthrough year will continue as he tours through the fall and winter with Corey Kent and Michael Marcagi, following his recent, triumphant run with The 502s and Wyatt Flores. At the top of 2025, McNown will perform headline shows in Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Seattle. Visit maxmcnown.com and Ticketmaster.com for tickets and more information.
We recommend adding songs from Max McNown’s “Willfully Blind” EP to your favorite contemporary country playlist. We would love to hear your thoughts! Please comment below and let us know how this EP makes you feel. Remember, your feedback helps us bring you more of the music you love. As always, thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment. We’re your go-to source for new music and positive entertainment news. Remember, (P)ositive (E)nergy (A)lways (C)reates (E)levation—P.E.A.C.E.
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