Max Bennett Kelly Navigates Imposter Syndrome on "Fresh Green at the Gallery"
Back with an indie pop driven single, Max Bennett Kelly embodies a pop punk influence and incorporates it into his latest single, "Fresh Green at the Gallery." A track about self-realization, he breaks down the spiraling thoughts that have wandered the gridlocked halls of his head. Feeling like an imposter among other imposters, Kelly breaks down the fake feelings he's encountered within the industry.
"Fresh Green at the Gallery" tells the story of Kelly first realizing that he wasn't all that he thought he was. It's a common feeling new artists encounter when getting their first taste of success and recognition. Seeing a spike in streams, monthly listeners, Instagram followers, it's like a rush of dopamine that's hard to hold on to forever. One night, Kelly found himself surrounded by successful artists at an art gallery and began comparing himself to everyone around him. Immediately feeling out of place, he realized his seriousness toward his musical career wasn't even close to where it should be.
Visually and sound-wise, Kelly wanted to pull inspiration from anywhere possible. Specifically inspired by Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, the video paints a visual of every feeling the artist has dealt with leading up to creating this track. While the visualizer doesn't encompass the night at the gallery, it evokes emotions of guilt and imposter syndrome.
Kelly explains, "'Fresh Green' is different from 'The Outsiders' and 'Happy, Healthy, Well-Adjusted' in so many ways. I don’t want to get boxed in so I try to push the boundaries with each release. 'Fresh Green' comes from an emo pop perspective, but it’s almost unrecognizable sonically from what you might expect an emo pop song to sound like. Nobody’s making shit like this right now. Maybe ever.“
Blending elements from multiple genres and really exploring a lane of his own, this is the first track we've really seen Kelly explore his true artistry. Kelly continues to showcase his ingenuity by playing a heavy role in his vision musically, visually, and creatively. Being his first track of the new year, we're excited to see where this new direction leads him.
Watch the "Fresh Green at the Gallery" video below: