Meet Maxwell Tretter: Multi-instrumentalist, Composer, and Producer

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

Hi Maxwell, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Music has always been a huge part of my life and my identity. Ever since middle school I’ve experimented with recording and writing songs. It’s allowed me to meet incredible people and make lifelong friends. There’s always been a part of me that fantasized what it would be like to build a career around music and eventually I got sick of waiting for the “golden opportunity” and decided to take the plunge. On April 1st 2019 I declared to myself that I’m a musician and that this is what I want to do with my life. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a minimalist composer that fuses elements from classical and contemporary music. I’ve only pursued this career seriously for a year and so far I have produced music for 5 short films, 4 trailers, and 4 independent albums. The work has been fun but by no means easy. I’m still in the process of building my career so that is sustainable for my way of living. My preference has been to work with filmmakers that create outdoor/adventure documentaries as well as independent films. Both groups (just as any) are comprised of a tight network of people that at times seems unreachable, especially during a pandemic! This is in no way their fault considering the sheer volume of collaboration requests that established filmmakers receive on a daily basis. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned is that persistence is key and it is imperative to keep creating new works so that the music you create speaks for itself in what you’re capable of providing. There is someone out there that you think is better than you but there’s also someone out there that thinks your the best. Don’t stop until you find both!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For the first night, we’d stay in and host a dinner party so that they could meet all of my friends and so that I could cook (I love to cook) as well as play games and music. Then over the course of the next few days, weather permitting, I’d take them on a backpacking trip either somewhere up the Poudre Canyon or in Medicine Bow National Forest. If we go up to Wyoming we are guaranteed to stop at Antelope Truck Stop Pronghorn Indian and American Restaurant because it is the best Indian food I’ve ever had in the US of A. Mhmm. Since I live in Fort Collins, we’d probably do the whole brewery circuit (Horse and Dragon, New Belgium, Odell’s, Funkwerks, etc.), get Szechuan Noodle from Beijing Noodle (best restaurant in Fort Collins) and then watch live music and a movie at Lyric Cinema.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that I owe thanks to for supporting me: My parents, my brother and sister, my bandmates from Hermit Commune, Megafawn, and Cactus Cat, the Broadview house, my friends and mentors Dan Barrenachea, Gus Waneka, Aaron Varnell, and Mike Davis. If I were to label one though, it would my partner and friend Chelsea Beth. She’s stood by me through everything in all my ups and downs of getting a foothold in this business.

Website: https://maxwelltretter.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxwelltrettermusic/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-tretter-641031153/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maxwelltrettermusic/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyW5tbg3r2-_hcL6hSfhoew
Other: https://maxwelltretter.bandcamp.com/releases

Image Credits
Brian Maier Samiksha Manchanda Maxwell Tretter