Riley Max shares her coming-of-age story in What It Takes, a 14-track album reflecting on four years of memories, change, relationships, and life.
Colorado-born singer-songwriter and multimedia artist Riley Max releases her 14-track album, What It Takes, a deeply personal coming-of-age collection shaped by over four years of experiences, emotions, and creative growth.
At 21, Riley Max draws from pivotal moments in her life to explore themes of change, mental health, fading friendships, love, and human connection. Through raw and honest songwriting, she captures the uncertainty of growing up while reflecting on the experiences that have shaped her identity.
Riley Max Shares What It Takes
Unlike albums built around a single setting, What It Takes reflects Riley’s life across different places and stages. She wrote and recorded the songs in dorm rooms, college studios, and her family home. As a result, each environment helped shape the music, capturing a range of emotions and experiences that feel immediate and authentic.
Riley Max also embraces spontaneity throughout the album. She wrote many songs at the moment and recorded some soon after their creation. This approach allowed her to preserve the emotions behind each experience while they still felt fresh. As she explains:
I wanted to get better at writing about myself and actually putting myself on the page, not just putting these characters on the page.
For her, What It Takes serves as a collection of real memories. Each song takes her back to a specific moment in her life, giving the project a strong sense of emotional nostalgia. Moreover, she hopes listeners will discover their own meaning in these personal stories.
Beyond Music
Riley Max’s creative interests extend beyond songwriting. She is a rising senior at Harvard University, where she studies Art, Film and Visual Studies. She also serves as music director of The Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones and participates in musical theater productions.
Her love of storytelling began with ’90s romantic comedies and the ’80s music she grew up listening to. These influences continue to shape her creative approach across different mediums.
Following her acclaimed debut album, ROY G BIV, which she recorded at 18, Riley Max now enters a new chapter with What It Takes. Through 14 tracks shaped by five years of growth, she offers an intimate portrait of self-discovery, change, and becoming who you are.
Stream What It Takes now and follow Riley Max for more updates on her music and future releases.
