Phosphor Magazine, Digital - Max Ehrich

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Max Ehrich

MAX EHRICH

Photography IRENE CHEN. Fashion CALLI MARTIN.

I thought we should start off with

What do you think you would do if

the opportunity to have a dance

something fun. Have you heard of

you won the lottery?

career now, is that something you

the game Would You Rather?

[I’d] probably invest in property.

think you would ever want to get back into?

Yes. That’s a fair answer. And finally,

No, I don’t think so.

Perfect. I have a few questions

would you rather restart your

here that will be fun to talk about.

life from the beginning and

Why not?

My first question for you is,

have knowledge of every life

[It’s] not really one of my main

would you rather be an elemental

event except the end, or have

passions anymore.

wizard but risk causing a natural

knowledge of the last few years of

disaster every time you use your

your life but sacrifice your favorite

That’s fair. We all grow out of stuff.

power, or would you rather be a

moment in life so far?

You started releasing your music

shapeshifter but risk getting stuck

I’d go with the first one.

back in 2016. Is being a musician

as whatever you change into?

something that you always knew

[Being a] shapeshifter would be

You were pretty young when

you wanted to do in life?

cool.

you started getting interested in

I knew I wanted to act and create

creative outlets and careers. You

music because I loved both acting

What would you shape-shift into?

started out doing dance as a kid

and singing. I always wanted to do

An animal would be cool.

and then moved into acting and

both.

music. What do you feel like was What animal?

the defining moment that made

What was the thought process

A lion.

you want to branch out beyond

that led up to doing your first

dance to acting as well.

release?

That’d be fun.

I’ve been doing plays since I was a

I did a Netflix movie [called] Walk.

Yeah, it’d be pretty cool.

kid, so I’ve always enjoyed acting.

Ride. Rodeo. I made a song for

I did my first movie, High School

[that] movie, so that was my

The second question is, would

Musical 3, and guest starred

personal thought process.

you rather win a billion dollars

in Ugly Betty. I [always] knew I

in the lottery but lose 98% of it

wanted to continue acting.

in a failing investment, or make

We all draw inspiration from different things in life. What are

five billion dollars as a CEO of a

What was one of your favorite

some of the people and events

super successful company but

plays you did as a kid?

in your life that you feel like have

lose everything you made in five

Hamlet. I went to a performing arts

influenced your music and acting

years?

high school.

career?

The first one.

My relationships with my friends That’s always fun. When I was in

and my family. My biggest

So, you’d like to have a billion

school, we did a lot of different

[inspirations are] all [of] my life

dollars?

musicals. Oddly enough, we did

experiences.

Sure.

High School Musical during my

That makes sense because you

junior year.

That’s fair. Life is a powerful thing

Awesome.

to draw inspiration from.

would have a little bit left even if

Exactly.

you lost 98%.

You’re currently acting and doing

Exactly.

music professionally. If you had

4

The creative process is different PH O S PH O R • M AX E HR ICH

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for everyone. Everyone who does

You wrote one of the songs for

experiences you feel like you draw

music, acting, drawing, or painting

Walk. Ride. Rodeo. If you were

from one to improve at the other?

has a different way of approaching

going to write a song to be a part

They both keep me in touch with

each project. Obviously, it can

of the soundtrack for one of the

my [emotions in life].

change from project to project,

shows or movies you played in

but what does your process look

the past, which one would you

Having multiple creative careers

like when you’re writing your

choose?

can be quite a lot at times. What

music?

I don’t have an answer to that. I

are some of the most important

I go into a room with my producers,

actually don’t know.

tips that someone should keep in mind when balancing multiple

and I talk about what I want to write about. [I usually write about]

You have a new movie coming

creative careers?

what I’m experiencing at the

out called A Cowboy Christmas

Time management.

moment. We go through some

Romance.

beats or start from the piano or

Yep.

That is very helpful when you’re doing those types of things. What

guitar, and then [we] just write [the What drew you to audition for your

do you feel like was the best

character in that movie?

advice you ever got for any of your

What do you feel like are some

I was offered that film. I read the

careers?

key consistent moments in that

script and thought it was [a] lovely

To keep going no matter what.

process? What do you feel like is

script. [I] was excited to work with

something that happens every

the people that were involved [in

Whether they’re fans of your

time you go to make that new

it].

acting or your music, what’s

song].

song?

the most important thing that When you’re taking on a new

everybody needs to know about

character role, what does the

you?

It’s always good to be excited

process look like for you to

I want to use my platform for good.

about what you are creating.

mentally prepare and connect

Yeah, one hundred percent.

with your characters?

A sense of excitement.

I use research. [I do as much The music you create is always

research] as I can on the character

evolving, but what do you feel like

and read the scripts as much as I

are some of the most identifiable

can. [I] do [a] script analysis and

elements in your music? What do

go from there.

you feel like will make someone immediately go, “oh, this is a Max

Acting and being a musician are

Ehrich song,” when they hear your

similar in some ways, but they are

music?

also quite different in other ways.

The rawness of [a] lot of the songs

What are some of the biggest

I’m going to be putting up.

similarities and differences between the two?

You released a single not too long

They both require emotion and

ago called “Backroads.” It will be

focus.

cool to see what else comes out.

Yes. PHO S P HOR • MA X EH R IC H

Are there any skills, knowledge, or 11

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