A RISING STAR: An Interview with MAX ERICH

Words by: Kimberly Haddad

PRESENTED BY S CAFE 

Photographer DRAKE HACKNEY @drakehackney

Creative Direction VIKTORIJA PASHUTA @viktorija_pashuta

Producer/CFO JACKSON CHONG @jacksonchong_

Stylists KIM SHEREE M., JESSE J. @iamkimsheree @jessejcollections

Showroom THE TREND HAUS @thetrendhaus

Grooming KSENIYA BERNKHARDT @kseniya_bern

Growing up in Marlboro, a suburban township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, actor and singer- songwriter Max Ehrich, was always drawn to the arts. Whether spending time at the community theater, staging whimsical shows with his cousins, or traveling to a performance arts camp in the heat of summer, Ehrich was determined to embark on a career in film and television. Making his debut appearance in the short comedy One Easy Job (2004), Ehrich became an unstoppable force, landing a supporting role as a dancer in High School Musical 3: Senior Year and officially getting his start in television with a part in Season Three of the beloved series Ugly Betty. Now, with an impressive roster of performances and the release of popular singles, including “Somebody Else” and “Afraid”, Ehrich continues to thrive in the entertainment space with a lead role in the film Southern Gospel. Embracing a unique character with all- encompassing depth and emotion, Ehrich describes the role as a “career defining moment” and an experience that has inspired his craft in new ways.

Tell me about your upbringing and what you were like as a child.
I was always a very social kid. I was very outgoing and wanted to be friends with everyone. My family and friends meant so much to me and I always valued my time with them. At any family occasion, I was always putting on these shows with my cousins. I was one of those kids who just wanted those around me to be happy and I wanted to have a connection with everyone.

How do you think your experiences during childhood have influenced your present creative endeavors?
Being able to explore my creative mind at a very young age had a massive impact on my future. I feel like I have been training my entire life to do what I do now. I allowed myself to be a sensitive child and my parents really respected that. They always encouraged me to follow my creative dreams as a kid. I also played the piano when I was four years old and did my first community theater show in New Jersey at five or six years old. I knew what I wanted to do early on.

How did you initially break into the entertainment industry?
It felt like I didn’t officially break into the industry until High School Musical 3 and Ugly Betty. For High School Musical 3, I auditioned for a role on a whim, and while I didn’t get that original role, I was so determined that I flew out to Utah with my grandpa and did another open call. I had to do a series of call-backs and they ended up putting me in the film. There was nothing stopping me at all. I just remember being so determined and Kenny Ortega, the director of the film, telling me he wouldn’t do the movie without me. It was such a dream to be part of that. Even though my character wasn’t a central focus, after High School Musical 3, I knew film was what I wanted to do. Then, being part of Ugly Betty and The Pregnancy Pact was around the time I really felt I had broken into the industry.

Talk to me about the story of Southern Gospel and what this role means to you.
Southern Gospel is based on a true story about redemption and starting over. It starts out with this judgmental and rebellious kid who becomes a rock star and gets into drugs and alcohol. He ends up losing a friend and decides to move back home and become a preacher, but he preaches more about people being able to start over. The central message is that God loves you, no matter what, and that it’s okay to mess up because we are all sinners. It’s not about people being cursed because they make mistakes, but more about the fact that it’s okay, that you can come back from anything. Being part of this film has meant a lot to me. It was my first time playing a big role in a movie that was going into theaters and it was so great that it combined both acting and music. It was super fun. I really loved the music that was made for the film. It was definitely the most challenging and dynamic role I have ever had, so it was a very special project for me.

What were some of the challenges you faced with the role? The character goes through so much and there’s a lot of emotional layers to him. I had to tap into a lot of different emotions. I give everything to my work and allowed myself to go to places in my own life and past, to dig into my own challenges so that I could relate more to the character and feel similar emotions in particular scenes. If I hadn’t felt a specific emotion, I tried to imagine it and worked with my coach to make sure everything translated in an organic way. It’s about finding those moments of truth within myself.

What inspired you to get into the music industry? My grandma played piano with me at a very young age and that was very influential for me. Music is such a great outlet for me to really express my life experiences. With acting, I get to play roles, which I love doing, but it’s also really nice to make music because it’s so personal. It’s like creating journal entries. It’s also helped me to process a lot of things in my life. It’s always been so cathartic for me.

How would you describe the music that you typically create? It really depends on what is going on in my life. I don’t really go to the studio unless I really feel like there is something I have to let out. I won’t just make a song to make a song. Everything I do is in line with the emotions I am feeling at the time. It depends on my season of life.

What brings you the most joy and what gives your life meaning? My family. Talking to my parents and spending time with family brings me joy. My friends also mean a lot to me. Overall, I really love what I do and being on set filming makes me so happy. Performing and recording makes me happy.

How is life currently calling you? What things are you feeling drawn to do at the moment? The role in Southern Gospel has really inspired me to want to do more films and sink my teeth into new characters. I’d also love to be part of another series. I am definitely drawn to more acting and sharing more music simultaneously. I’m actually currently working on new music and have plans to put out another single soon.

What fictional movie character do you resonate with most?
Peter Pan. I feel like I have this spirit of wanting to keep my inner child alive forever. I don’t like the idea of growing up. I mean, yes, there are moments of growth and maturity, but I like to keep my childlike imagination and optimism alive.

What did your 15 year-old self imagine you’d be doing right now?
He’d imagine I’d be doing exactly what I am doing now. My 15-year-old self was so determined to do film and television full-time.

How do you know when you’re being completely authentic?
I know I am being completely authentic when I feel at peace. When it comes to social media, there were times when I felt like I needed to share so much, but I realized I didn’t. I am very specific about what I choose to share and what I keep to myself. But I do try to inspire people through my platforms. I just try to limit my time on social media and don’t spend hours a day online. I’d rather be living my life than scrolling. It can have a deep effect on me and skew my focus if I am not mindful of it.

What is one of the biggest challenges you are working to overcome?
Being okay with the rain. It’s been so rainy. No, but I think the biggest challenge for me right now is finding a balance between work life and friend life.

What sparks your creativity and makes the wheels in your head start turning?
Hearing new songs that are deeply impactful to me, whether it’s going to the movie theaters or hearing a new project. I’d say new art and being exposed to new people and creativity also serve as inspiration for me.

What do you geek out about?
Roller coasters and theme parks. They really excite me.

Who or what has been your greatest inspiration in life?
My greatest inspiration is my parents. Honestly, they are such a voice of reason in my life and have always been optimistic and supportive. They have the most open hearts.

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