Biography
Max Leone crafts candid and emotionally exposed pop tracks centered on yearning and solitude, drawing from soul, acoustic rock, hip-hop, and EDM production techniques as a singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He first surfaced in 2020 after inking a deal with the Darkroom imprint—also home to Billie Eilish and Oliver Malcolm—and issuing multiple singles, among them “Malleable.”
Born in Portland, Oregon, Leone began guitar lessons at age seven. His parents’ record collection, featuring Otis Redding and Nina Simone, along with the work of rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi, shaped his ear; he soon taught himself production via online tutorials while performing with a high-school jazz ensemble. A short stint at the Berklee College of Music followed before he relocated to Los Angeles to focus on music full-time. Nearly a year after arriving, he joined the Darkroom roster, and his debut single, “First Grade”—produced by frequent partner Luke Niccoli—appeared in early 2020. The similarly introspective “Cautious,” which explored isolation, arrived the following month. Later releases “The Beach,” co-produced by Alexander 23, and “Malleable” drew wider notice, and he closed the year with the track “5.”
Born in Portland, Oregon, Leone began guitar lessons at age seven. His parents’ record collection, featuring Otis Redding and Nina Simone, along with the work of rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi, shaped his ear; he soon taught himself production via online tutorials while performing with a high-school jazz ensemble. A short stint at the Berklee College of Music followed before he relocated to Los Angeles to focus on music full-time. Nearly a year after arriving, he joined the Darkroom roster, and his debut single, “First Grade”—produced by frequent partner Luke Niccoli—appeared in early 2020. The similarly introspective “Cautious,” which explored isolation, arrived the following month. Later releases “The Beach,” co-produced by Alexander 23, and “Malleable” drew wider notice, and he closed the year with the track “5.”
Singles
