Straddling a life between Ibiza and the U.K, Maxinne is an artist that has built her empire from the ground up. Coming from Toolroom’s Academy programme, Maxinne released her debut single Something In Our Life on the label earlier this year and is now a weekly resident at Toolroom’s Eden for the duration of Ibiza season, a mammoth 17 week undertaking that will see her playing to thousands across the course of the summer.

It is unsurprising that the likes of Annie Mac and Mark Knight sing her praises. Recently going B2B with Mark Knight and Illyus Barrientos at Studio 338, Maxinne has a sound that can fill any dancefloor, and continues to bring the party at venues such as Sankeys, Café Mambo and throughout Europe.

2019 also saw the release of her eagerly awaited Dusk Til Dawn EP on Hot Since 82’s Knee Deep In Sound, and with Mixmag recently highlighting her as one to watch in their new artists feature, Maxinne’s stock looks set to rise even further. 

WWD: you’ve had a quite incredible year so far… tell us about some of the highlights?

Thank you guys – this year has definitely been one to remember. Some of my highlights are making my debut solo release ‘Something In Our Life’ on Toolroom, having a 17 week residency at Eden in Ibiza was a dream come true to play every week, releasing my first EP on Knee Deep In Sound, and playing the closing set for Toolroom at Studio 338. Alongside this the people who have supported me, listened to my music or come to see me play you’ve all made this year amazing.

WWD: What challenges did playing every week at Eden present? Did you have to dig deep to keep the music you were playing fresh?

I did have to dig deep each week to keep things fresh but I spend a lot of time during the week searching for new music anyway so I loved this part. I had to find music I could play in my sets at different times as some weeks I’d be playing the opening set, peak time set or closing so I made sure I was prepared and ready for them all.

WWD: What was your personal favorite set of the summer?

Week 9 when I took over from Mark Knight to a packed dance floor and also the closing party I played b2b with Mark. This really topped off the season for me and was the perfect way to end the summer.

WWD: You’ve forged a really strong relationship with Toolroom… what do they offer than some other labels might not?

Toolroom’s not only a label but a business that’s been running for over 15 years with a big team running it, they have structure and are a professional label to work with, they can really support and get behind artists with great opportunities. The Toolroom Academy and WeAreListening platforms have been fundamental in my progress and growth over the last few years.

WWD: You’ve mixed their Best Of 2019 compilation… were you involved in the selection process? What are some of your personal favorite tracks on there?

Both Toolroom and myself carefully selected these tracks and it was such a fun process. There’s two mixes I put together on the album, a Tech House/Techno mix and a House mix. From the House releases my favorite is ‘Mant – Lonely’ featuring vocalist Hayla, this works every time on the dance floor, its got a killer groove, I’ve been playing it in my more Housier sets and it goes off every single time. From the more Tech House/Techno releases I love Siege – Consciousness and Mark Knight’s remix of Booka Shade Thresspass is absolute fire! I play these tracks in a lot of my sets.

WWD: With so many mixes out there people can get for free, what do labels have to do in order to set their mix album apart?

I think its important for labels and their albums to having a signature sound that people can listen to and identify as the labels own style. Also for the album to be put together in a certain order with key starting and ending tracks.

WWD: Did you approach mixing this differently to how you might construct a live set?

During a live set your playing to a crowd so the journey of your set could go different ways, however with the album I constructed it to gradually build up throughout, ending each mix on the more high energy peak time records.

WWD: Are there specific differences in the transitions, or flow of the set?

I wanted each transition to create a certain energy and vibe so this was all down to the order which I mixed the tracks together.

WWD: We read an interview a few months back where you said you had a collab with a singer that you were really excited about… is there anything else you can tell us about that?

The track is almost finished now so you’ll be hearing more info on that soon!

WWD: Do you think there’s a lack of proper vocals in house music, specifically tech house, and do you think that can occasionally led to criticisms of disposability with some of the music that’s produced?

I think no matter what genre a track is if it has an original vocal on it then it will stand out a lot more than samples which have been used before several times. They will stand the test of time in years to come as well and have much more identity.

WWD: What else do you have coming up in the next few months that you can tell us about…?

This weekend I’m hosting a ‘Maxinne & Friends’ event with Prok & Fitch headlining at Thirty3hz Guildford. This was the first club where I warmed up for Mark Knight three years ago so its great to be back there this Saturday. I’m then heading straight off to Belgium on Sunday and next weekend playing in Canterbury for Toolroom and the same night in London at Ministry Of Sound both on my birthday, which will no doubt be fun! I’ve got loads of new music to finish off in the studio ready for 2020 so I’ll be focusing on that in between my gigs. I’ve also got a track coming out on Tube & Berger’s imprint Kittball in December.

WWD: Finally, what’s been your biggest record of the year?

There’s too many to choose from!! But here’s a few of my favs!

Mark Knight – The Mystery Of Old Ma Clifton

Siege – Consciousness

Danny Howard, Illyus & Barrientos ft Alex Mills – Need

VA – Best of Toolroom 2019 mixed by Maxinne is out 22 November