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Prodigy- Breathe

Exclusive Interview with Prodigy's MC Maxim!

The Prodigy first broke out on the scene over ten years ago with such hits as "Smack My Bitch Up" and "Firestarter." In anticipation of their latest album of new material, they've released a DVD and CD both entitled Their Law: Singles 1990-2005, which collects all their music videos and hit singles in one great package. I got a chance to talk with The Prodigy's MC Maxim.

JUICY BANDS: What are you up to?

Maxim:  I actually just came out of the studio.

JUICY BANDS: What are you working on?

Maxim:  Nothing in particular. Just moved some stuff, beats. Everyday s***.

JUICY BANDS:  For Prodigy, or for yourself?

Maxim:  I'm at home at the moment, so I'm just doing my solo stuff. This year we are working on our next Prodigy album.

JUICY BANDS:  Is Their Law like a cleansing, so you can do new, fresh stuff?

Maxim: Yeah. But in a way, it happened at the right time, because it was a contractual thing for the record label. It was like the fifth album had to be like a compilation of all the singles albums. Obviously, when it happened, we were thinking, "Oh, it's not going to be cool." But we injected our own ideas in there. We put some fresh tracks on there and some live tracks. We took it upon ourselves and did something totally different. We wanted to try to make it like a new album for the fans. But it was like a cleansing because it was like putting a line under the last 15 years and saying "OK. That was the last 15 years. That's that. Let's put that to bed. Now we can inject new ideas, fresh ideas and this is the next 15 years."

JUICY BANDS: How was it hearing all this stuff again?

Maxim: It was good, because at shows, we like to play some of the older stuff. Listening to some of the older stuff we would say, "Wow. Didn't know we performed that. That was so fast." Even looking at old photos with some of the clothes I used to wear. It's like, "Man, did I really wear that? Someone should've beat me around the head."

JUICY BANDS:  Liam has said that you guys are all friendly again.

Maxim:  I'm never friendly.

JUICY BANDS:  As friendly as you guys can be, then?

Maxim: If you say it like that, yeah. We're all on a good level now. It's like we went through a transition period in our lives where it wasn't like that. You have to go through certain things to realize who you are and where you are in life. We went through that all together and we really appreciate each other now.

JUICY BANDS:  How did you deal with Liam saying some of the stuff that he said?

Maxim:  Like what?

JUICY BANDS: When he said, "I am Prodigy. Me." It seemed like he was saying that he was the band in the way that Billy Corgan said he was Smashing Pumpkins.

Maxim: I can't remember when he said that. I can't really speak for him. I can only speak for myself, but I know who I am.

JUICY BANDS:  Are you working on solo stuff to be released at some point?

Maxim: I've got a studio of my own, so I always write music. It's not really like I'm looking something to release imminently. I'm going to release some more solo music but it will be around the Prodigy downtime or when I can fit it in.

JUICY BANDS:  How has how the band works together changed since the last time you guys put out an album?

Maxim: We're working altogether now, as a band, Liam wrote some music, but we're working closer-knit, writing the lyrics and writing songs. The next album is going to be a lot more melodic.

JUICY BANDS:  How so?

Maxim: When I say a lot more melodic, I'm just thinking more chord changes and things like that. It's a good vibe. It's a good time for us. Like I said, we've all been through the low part and we've all come out the other end. We can't wait to get going and do shows in America because it's a long time overdue.

JUICY BANDS: Has the music become personal for you even though Liam writes most of it?

Maxim: Yeah. The thing is with Prodigy, even though Liam writes the music, me and Keith write part of the lyrics, this band is a live band and it has always been from day one. One doesn't exist without the other. Liam can write music, but there isn't a Prodigy without a live show. We're like a tripod. There are three legs on this tripod. Kick one leg away, the tripod can't stand up.

JUICY BANDS: What do you think of the state of techno music today?

Maxim: We're not techno. The only reason why people lump us into techno is because it's music written on computers and so forth. But then again, what is technology? A guitar is technology, isn't it? So that could be performed as techno, as well. We came out of the dance scene and we evolved into something else. We use elements that make you dance. The ideal crowd we like to play in front of is a crowd like Coachella Festival. The first festival we ever played was in 1993. The other bands were The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Helmet, Biohazard. That's our crowd. There's been a misconception of the Prodigy when we came to America. We came over with the rave scene when it was just kicking off there. Everybody just thought, "Ah. Electronica. Prodigy" but they didn't really understand the concept. They just thought we were dancing around with glow sticks but we weren't even part of that tacky side of dance music. We were about energy and hard music and we've evolved from that. One of our ideal bands that we've played with back in those days was Rage Against the Machine, because we give that that same energy. I'd love to see people in America come out and come witness a Prodigy show, because it would shatter their preconceptions of dance music.

JUICY BANDS:  Will the new Prodigy music still be danceable?

Maxim:  Of course.  The underlying foundation is all about the beats and the energy.

JUICY BANDS: Where are you guys most excited to go on the brand new tour?

Maxim: I can't wait to come to New York and Chicago. As I said, it's been a long time since we've even been to America. The time has come where I think we're peaking.

JUICY BANDS:  What's the best concert you've ever been to?

Maxim: Rage Against the Machine. One of the most memorable times when we saw them at the Fuji Rock Festival. Then we went on stage with them and did a freestyle with Rage.