'CURVATURES' the first step on a new road for MaXIon

For local electronic music producer Gary Curran, his new collection of tracks ‘CURVATURES’ is deeply personal, profound, exciting and nerve-wrecking all at the same time.

Now under the name ‘maXIon’, Gary is stepping back into the music industry on his own, following his global success with ‘The Japanese Popstars’. It has been quite a journey over the past few years, with the COVID-19 pandemic leading him back into a headspace of creativity that had threatened to burn out over years of rejection and frustration in a ruthless industry.

Lockdown provided everyone with unexpected challenges but for Gary, it also provided unforeseen opportunity, and he made the most if it, rediscovering the fire inside him to create, produce and perhaps, most importantly, believe in himself fully once again.

His hard work was recognised with a lighting quick agreement with scene leading electronic label ‘Shall Not Fade’, and the release of his first solo LP back in July 2023.

"This project came about during the pandemic," he said. "I hadn't written in a while, but during lockdown I remembered how much I enjoyed being creative. I think a lot of people got back to doing things they liked doing and working through jobs they had been putting off, like fixing up their homes. “I found myself back at music. I started writing again, and having fun and eventually completed one or two tracks that stood out.

“I sent these across to my management, Matt Stewart, and the next thing, he came back with an album deal from ‘Shall Not Fade’, he said the final collection of tracks was signed within 20 minutes and it was one of the fastest signings he has ever experienced, and he has been in the music industry for well over 20 years.

“I was extremely pleased with that, and even more so the fact that this has been released both digitally and on physical vinyl. I am delighted to have a fresh new project, a reinvention and to have new music out.  As much as it’s electronic music, it has a different type of feel to it.” Creating music which ‘made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up’, for the first time in years, Gary put his full focus on what is completely his work, untouched and uninfluenced by others.

Whilst he talks about other people’s lives when explaining the name of his album, it is hard not to notice how it really reflects on his own journey, which has taken him across the world and been filled with acceptance and rejection along the way.  “I was back and forwards for a good few months before settling on a name for the project,” he said. I found myself drawing influence from space, the universe, rediscovery and nostalgia. This led me to the 80’s movie Flight of The Navigator and the name of the ship, Trimaxion or ‘Max’. Everything seemed to make sense and fall into place, allowing for the XI or the number 11 to slot in, as it has been following me about for years, hence ‘maXIon’.

“The name ‘Curvatures’ comes from the fact that people go in different directions, but sometimes cycles come back around, so that too was interesting. I thought it sounded well, it rolled off the tongue and it made sense with the music and what was being produced.

“Curvatures is a collection of instrumentals to start with, and reflective of  whatever I was feeling at the time of writing, but I am still exploring this new individual sound when writing new material. “There will be an extension of this collection of tracks, as I have been working with songwriters and vocalists. I enjoy a collaborative approach because it is always an interesting process to hear what other artists can bring to your music. Vocals and lyrics give you another perspective and for the listener provides an immediate human connection. Some of the ideas so far are phenomenal, and I just can’t wait to get them completed and released.”

Bouncing back

Describing ‘CURVATURES’ as ‘deeper, more mature and reflective than what I would usually do’, Gary wants his work to take the listener to a more peaceful headspace. Yet, this album could also be described as an example of determination and resilience from an individual who came close to giving up. “There’s a lot of knock backs,” he acknowledges. “For Curvatures, it was a confidence booster because, the amount of rejection you get from labels can have a negative mental impact. It is about rediscovering self belief in your talent and tapping into music production again.

“It had to be a full reinvention, to get in that headspace and move away from the past and to do something new. To be picked up by one of the best underground label’s in the UK is a massive boost, it feels good to be back in amongst it and have people enjoy what they are hearing.

Be it ‘Scalar', the first track to be made for his newly formed maXIon alias, the opening track ‘Inception’, the cinematic ‘Elara’ or the album closer ‘The Time We Had’, each track is reflective of its creator and his journey to a brand-new chapter in his life.

“I’m an emotional writer, so music is an outlet for how I feel,” he continued. “I think if you’re vulnerable, and you put it to music, it allows for a personal cathartic release. ‘maXIon Curvatures’ has maturity and depth; and can work well in a multitude of live environments. I’ve deliberately produced and had the music mastered in a way that requires the listener to lean into the music.

‘CURVATURES’ is now a reality, and performing live is the next step for Gary, who recently performed on the Stephen McAuley show on BBC Radio Ulster. So much has happened in just a few years for an artist who could never have predicted this particular curve in his own story. Under maXIon, Gary has also earned production credits for the Saccades album "Land of The Hearth" and the USA-based Devon James album "Love Reach." He has also remixed the artist Jon Cooper, ‘Turtle’, and the post-punk group The KVB.

 “This is my full focus now and I’m really excited about it,” he said. “I know it will be difficult as the music industry moves so fast and because I’m starting from scratch but I am fully committed to the challenge. Thankfully, everything has been well received so far and it is about keeping focus and building from here.  “It is fair to say that If the pandemic didn’t happen, I don’t think maXIon would exist”

‘CURVATURES’ by MaXIon, is available now.

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