Meet Gourty Maxx | Grammy Nominated Producer, Artist, Musical Director, Arranger, Touring & Recording Drummer

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

Hi Gourty, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY but I lived in Richmond, VA from middle school to high school years. It was definitely a culture change. NY is more up to date as far as the culture. Food, Music, Fashion, Technology, everything. However, RVA caught onto things when it was convenient. lol. I appreciate RVA because it definitely was a perfect place at a perfect time for me to discover myself as a creative while being discovered if that makes sense. I had some of the greatest big brother role models to learn with and grow within our gifts and talents, especially in music. I was more of the musician (drummer) just playing at every church related event in and out of the city, which allowed me to make a name for myself. At 19, I decided to move to ATL where I could use my gifts to fly even higher. Everything took off at this point. Next thing I knew, I was a touring/recording drummer for artists like Bell Biv Devoe (my 1st Atlanta gig), Keke Wyatt, Chante Moore, 112, Stevie J, Elhae, and Tayla Parx. I was also fortunate to work with Musiq Soulchild on his album “Feel The Real” under my former stage name “GMJR.” This album was announced “Grammy Nominated” for “Best R&B Album” category in 2018 at the 60th Grammy Awards. Because of ATL and the awesome opportunities God blessed me with, I was discovered via social media from Ukrainian pop star, Tina Karol. She eventually hired me from 2018-2019 to serve as drummer, co-arranger, and co-programmer for her tour. It was my biggest and most profound tour experience thus far. Currently, I am the musical director, arranger, programmer, and drummer for ELHAE, Tayla Parx, and NBDY. I am also the CEO, Producer, and A&R at TouchedDown Sound, my independent label. I have incredible affiliated artists on the roster including: Jazmine, B R I, Mayhrenate & Key Latrell.

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.
As a progressive music producer, my sound is growing every season. I am truly excited every time a song or project comes out that I was able to produce and it is released. I get the best comments and messages when people say I heard your “producer tag” or I hear your signature sounds. I work hard every day to create an evident sound that describes me, my energy and my brand without words.

I am currently dropping music every month on all digital streaming platforms. It all started when had the vision to drop my 1st project under former name “GMJR” called “Tw3nty Six & The Superfriends.” The compilation album idea gave me a chance to highlight my production as a music producer, while teaming up with some of the greatest songwriting and singing artists’ friends of mine to come together for an incredible body of work. At the peak of 2020 pandemic, I started to use the act of “quarantine”to my advantage and release singles with artists who were not only incredible, but who also had access to their own recording equipment and could record! It was one of the greatest ideas I could think of in that time of mental drought and uncertain circumstances. I released 7 singles as a producer-artist in 2020, which in total hit 100,000 streams in a matter of 9 months. I’ve produced 19 songs as just producer for other artists. This year in 2021, I’m 21 songs in as producer, including a dope collaborative Ep with incredible artist, “Mayhrenate” called Plush. It was featured on the “New in R&B” playlist on apple music, as well as article write-ups from sources such as Rated R&B, LA Times, and Popdust. You can find all of my work as “Gourty Maxx” on your preferred streaming platform.

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.
If I’m in Atlanta, I’m a fan of The Roof at ponce city market, we gotta go to Edgewood ave for the culture, Andretti is a wave, can’t forget about the ATL jam sessions because that’s the musician in me, and restaurants like Tom, Dick, & Hank ( my favorite restaurant ever bro) Cafe Circa, Copper Cove, Old Lady Gang, just to name a few. It’s a lot to get into. If I’m in LA, I’m always going to the beach. Santa Monica and Malibu is where the energy resides. I go every business trip. The LA jam sessions create big vibes too and I’m a fan. LA is also a big melting pot for food so I mean, the options are endless. I appreciate LA as the land for creatives because there’s so many places and ways to create. The peerspace in LA is outta this world. smh… I also love looking at houses there. I would love to own a LA home. The prices don’t scare me, even though it’s helllla expensive, just gotta get to work.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I want to give the biggest shoutout to my family for supporting me over the years with all of the visions. Whether it was God-given, or me simply having great ideas and good intentions, at the wrong time or terrible execution. lol. I want to shout out my brothers in RVA for the long nights and early mornings in the summer time of my high school years, practicing music from sunset till like 5am, Waffle House at 5:30am, dropping off us non-drivers at the time at 7 or 8am, waking up at 11am to go play ball, then repeat literally 4-5 days a week. I swear I had the greatest RVA summers ever. I also must shout out the TouchedDown Family, my ATL brothers, my band forever. We toured around the world with all of those artists listed earlier, and we played on sooooo many historic stages. We learned so much, and we are the greatest creatives in the world because of each other. Alex the Conductor, STOX aka DA’RO, Jah Whittingham, Karel Rogers, Deshaun Allen, Stephen Freeman, love y’all. Shoutout to my other Atlanta family who gave me a shot as producer or drummer to add value to whatever opportunity being presented: Zach Brunson, Adrian “AP” Porter, Stevie J, Jon “J Double Keys” Jackson, Slimwav, Keke Wyatt, Ré Lxuise, Music Soulchild, Deanna Dixon, Cori P. Alexander (CPA Studios), ITSKEYZBABY (James “Keyz” Foye III), ELHAE, Bryan Michael Cox, Brandin Jay, and D Maestro. To my LA people, Tayla Parx, Tristan Plaqueychan, Sam Yun, Justin Deas, Stevo Evans, Nick Clark, Mikey Phillips, y’all the greatest. Last but not least, the love of my life, the uberly talented and thee incredible, Jazmine Robinson, better known as “Jazmine” formerly known as “QT Jazz.” (lol I had to do it) You bring out the best version of me every single day. I’ll leave that right there. I love you. Love you all!

Website: https://linktr.ee/gourtymaxx

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gourtymax

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GourtyMaxx

Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gourty-maxx/1510153916 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0DK6yJQDL0UPeaEFwljfgR?si=aPzMzsktQF-fWIMMo95y1Q Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/19243990

Image Credits
Gourty Maxx Visions Jazmine Robinson TouchedDown Sound