Meet Max Mackey | Musician – Good Human

We had the good fortune of connecting with Max Mackey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Max, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Well this is a fairly broad question, but as it relates to Music and my business, I’d say it was leaving the comfort of a steady paycheck. Our American lives are built on day to day, month to month operations, due dates and bills to survive comfortably. At least at a level that I believe in. When I left my career with an idea that there was something out there that felt more like I was intended to do, I had to leave the security of constant income behind. I adjusted my lifestyle and brandished a different view of living. When you are a working musician, you have to believe in yourself, and believe in a work ethic that does not allow much disengagement. I am constantly staying on top of booking in advance, always working in a professional and ethical manner, and continuing to watch what goes out and what is coming in. I will say this though, I would never choose to go back and I am so grateful to be able to have a life where I get to be creative and imaginative. It’s a really great life I have 🙂

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Where did the music begin?

​I inherited a guitar from my grandfather when I was 19 years old. My older brother, Oscar, taught me a few chords and the rest is history, my history with music. Music has wrapped me up, brought me to the staggering tops of mountains, and to the soul soothing comfort of the ocean. Through the hardest times in my life, it’s carried me like a wise mage, reminding me that character and creativity are mine alone. Music has escalated me to glorious heights and been the foundation of unbreakable bonds with friends that I’ll have until the end of the journey. I owe a lot to music and am grateful for it in my life.

This is the Bio I use and I think it sums up my music life pretty well. I have a voracious appetite for life and music lands in the same avenue. Once I started playing guitar, writing music, and feeling creative juices moving, there was just no going back. I have been playing steadily for 30 years now. I have been in bands through my marriage, and divorce, through my child raising years and now into a new avenue of my life now that my children and grown and gone.

Music has always come somewhat easy to me and writing and creating has as well? I’m not certain where that comes from inside us, but I suppose its the same as a painter when they start with a blank canvas. Music is also something that, in my opinion, grows with dedication. In order to improve, you must stay focused, continue to play, and push through ceilings that arise in your playing and business.

I have finally, 30 years later just release my very first full LP album. It’s called “Eyes on the Road”, and I am very proud of it. To write and let out what is in your head and then perform it, is very scary and humbling. You are putting yourself out there for criticism, and rejection and what else may come your way. It is difficult to navigate a profession in the arts, as any potter, or painter would tell you.

I’m so grateful for the life I’ve lived with music, and the relationships it has shown me along the way. So many of my friends are musicians, or music lovers, all of us sharing and supporting one another.

Living in an artistic lifestyle, I’m able to navigate the peaks and valleys in life with a bit more ease, and a lot of frustrations we all deal with through life don’t hit me the way they land with others. I think this comes from a constant flow of emotionally letting out what is inside…. to be able to “let go” through words and music.

I hope my music reaches people and effects them in a great way, and if monetary value comes my way then great! If not, I get to keep living the life I’ve already working to achieve and that takes the pressure off and allows it to be nurturing and fun.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fort Collins is fabulous. I have lived here for almost 25 years now. We would, of course go some of my favorite breweries, like Maxline Brewing, and catch some amazing live music. We would have to go have a Marg and some chips at the famous, Rio Grande Restaurant. Perhaps more live music at the Magic Rat or Washingtons, and a fabulous drive around Horsetooth reservoir and perhaps a swim in the amazing water!

On another day, we would have coffee in old town at Mugs, and walk around old town and window shop and see the sites, and head up to Mishawaka for a show on the Poudre River, or just have dinner and a drink in the amazing mountains that surround us here in Fort Collins,

There is just so much to do here. When people move here I always say the same thing, “Welcome to the motherland”. 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This shoutout would be to my family. My beautiful daughters, Emma and Sofia, my parents, Bill, Susie and my brother Oscar Mackey. Not everyone gets a family like I have, full of love and support and strength. I love them with all my heart! I would not be who, and where I am without their continued desire to see me become the best version of who I am.

Website: https://www.maxmackey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxmackeymusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxMackeymusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSj1NduvJNObWoLGuwal8gw?view_as=subscriber

Other: https://linktr.ee/maxmackey