Riley Max turns personal struggles into “Year One,” pairing heartfelt folk-pop with stop-motion animation to capture growth, resilience, and self-discovery.
Colorado-born singer-songwriter and multimedia artist Riley Max returns with her new single and music video, “Year One.” The poignant folk-pop track explores her personal experiences with mental and physical health struggles.
Max pairs the song with a visually striking music video. It blends real-life footage with stop-motion animation, creating an intimate yet imaginative portrait of her journey.
At only 21, Max has already built an impressive creative career. She released her debut album, ROY G BIV, at 18. The project earned acclaim from publications including Atwood Magazine and Guitar Girl Magazine. Now, she prepares to enter her next era with her sophomore album, which arrives this fall.
A Story Told Through Music and Animation
Max wrote “Year One” during her first year at Harvard University. At the time, she faced vocal chord issues alongside several mental and physical health challenges. She also navigated the independence that came with managing her life on her own for the first time. Max shares:
I wasn’t sure when—or if—I was ever going to start feeling like myself again, musically or otherwise. Every time I listen to it, I remember how far I’ve come.
The song captures that uncertainty while ultimately reflecting growth and resilience. Its folk-pop sound also highlights Max’s distinctive voice and evolving artistry, making it a natural fit for listeners drawn to artists such as Joni Mitchell and Maggie Rogers.
Max also brought her passion for visual storytelling into the project. She created the animation as part of a class at Harvard last year. After completing it, she knew she wanted to expand the piece into a full music video.
The experience deepened her interest in stop-motion animation. In fact, Max plans to pursue a stop-motion thesis during her senior year.
Beyond music, Max studies Art, Film and Visual Studies at Harvard. She also serves as music director of the Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones and participates in musical theater. Her work across music, animation, comics, and film reflects her love for storytelling in many forms.
The animated segment from “Year One” is currently featured at Harvard’s Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts as part of No Slop, No Second Screen: Animation–the hard-won image.
Stream Riley Max’s “Year One” now and experience her heartfelt story through a powerful blend of folk-pop, personal storytelling, and captivating animation.
Press Release
