PHOTO CREDITS: Jack Eames FOLLOW MAX POPE SPOTIFY || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || X || TIKTOK || YOUTUBE || WEBSITE “In a time of Gen-Z stars and micro-trends, Pope is a rarity: a crowd-pleaser, whatever the crowd. His genre-bending, pop-minded soul is the sort to cross age boundaries and climb charts” – The Independent Friday 8th August South London artist and songwriter Max Pope today shares his new single ‘right or wrong’, a shimmering alternative soul track that questions morality, belief, and survival. Created following a close friend’s battle with suicidal thoughts, the track reflects on a powerful moment of clarity; the need to believe in living, even when it feels impossible. Max speaks on the track, “Can the actions of the mentally “ill” be condemned as right or wrong? Morality can be a grey area. We choose who/what/where to place our faith in order to give us something to live for, a sense of purpose. On a primal level, it is the power of our “beliefs” that keep us going. Even the most evil people on this earth adhere to their own version of “right” and “wrong”” LISTEN TO ‘RIGHT OR WRONG’ HERE WATCH THE VISUALISER HERE ‘right or wrong’ is taken from Max Pope’s upcoming second album PRAISE ANIMAL due for release on 3rd October via Kartel Music Group. The album is a visceral reflection on the raw, messier sides of human nature that we like to overlook; our instincts, our fragility, and the search for meaning in an increasingly unnatural world. Recorded at North London’s The Church Studios, and produced and engineered by Riley Macintyre (Arlo Parks, The Kills, Glass Animals) the record is indicative of a venture into a darker territory; more woozy, jagged and saturated with colour. “It honours the darker, wilder sides of human nature, focussing on the animalistic characteristics that we often shame or repress. Accepting that the animal lives somewhere inside us all – primal and raw, as in the natural world. Read differently, “Praise Animal” also reflects our societal hunger for praise. My own subconscious need for validation and how we are all constantly feeding our egos”, adds Max. So far, Max has released excerpts from the record in singles love someone self destruct, love Is dead and borderline, which have seen support from BBC 6 Music, Dork, Dummy, 101 Part Time Jobs & more. Rooted in the rich musical landscape of South London, Max Pope honed his craft at the Brit School, performing alongside artists like Loyle Carner. Since then, he has collaborated with a wealth of accomplished musicians such as Mahalia, Tom Misch, Yussef Dayes, and ABRA, among others. 2022 saw the release of his acclaimed debut Counting Sheep, which saw a wealth of praise from The Independent, The Line Of Best Fit, Why Now & more. Pope shapes a distinct sonic identity, defined by his signature guitar tone and unmistakable vocals. Now with upcoming album PRAISE ANIMAL, Pope takes his imprint and songwriting to a new dimension, presenting a powerful and relatable stream of consciousness on what it means to be human. The record questions morality, belonging, and belief, but underneath it all lies a yearning for connection. PRAISE ANIMAL invites us to block out the noise and face what’s most real, no matter how wild, uncomfortable, or beautiful it may be. PRAISE ANIMAL album artwork | 
