Max McNown is a country singer-songwriter who grew up in Oregon. He packed his Subaru, drove to Southern California with his dad’s old guitar, and started busking on piers and beaches while working at Starbucks. Hundreds of posts and about 300 shows later, he has 2.5 million followers on Instagram and has released his album Leave On A Light.
In this conversation with Life FM’s Eloise and Baty, Max tells the busking story in full: the coworker who pushed him to sing for strangers, the rival busker on the next bench, and the Marines who wanted to sway along. He also explains why Isaiah 6:8 has stayed in his Instagram bio as his career has grown, how his name is a reminder to stay humble, and why the verse used to be Matthew 8:8. It’s an honest look at what keeps a fast-rising artist grounded.
🎟 Max brings his Slow Down Down Under tour to Auckland and Christchurch in February 2027. Grab tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/max-mcnown-tickets/artist/3103513
🎵 Listen to Leave On A Light: https://open.spotify.com/album/1FOgMp0gqpG3UGcFxxgyhG
📱 Follow Max on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxmcnown/
Chapters
00:00 Max McNown Is Coming Back To NZ
01:14 From Oregon To Busking In California
02:43 $90, A Taco And A Girl’s Number
03:10 The Hardest Days Of Busking
04:19 Would Max Ever Busk Again?
05:36 The Story Behind Leave On A Light
06:36 Why Isaiah 6:8 Stays In His Bio
07:29 His Name, The Centurion And A Verse Swap
09:20 Slow Down Down Under Tour, February 2027
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