Max Aere, locally known as “Mr Travelbug”…is the Vancouver Hip Hop scene’s diamond in the rough. He’s only been living in the city for four years and already he’s on his way to becoming the top Hip Hop event organizer in the lower mainland. I met Max a few months ago and his hustle and motivation to help artists brings hope to people like me. I had a chance to sit down with Max yesterday and chat about his journey to Vancouver, what his experience has been like here and what inspires him to do what he does.
Max – born in raised in Ireland’s inner city of Dublin, had an affinity for Hip Hop since his teenage years. At fifteen a friend gave him a mixtape of some rap classics…Eminem, Nas, Wutang…and his love for Hip Hop was history. He began working at underground Hip Hop shows in the Dublin scene, being mentored by event organizers and learning the ropes he would soon master himself. After a few years of hard work he wanted to do more on a bigger scale, and travel was on the horizon.
“I wanted adventure and change so I said to myself why don’t I just save some money and live my dreams,” he said.
His nickname, Mr Travelbug, came about from his travels through Europe and the Unites States, eventually leading him to Canada on a two-year work visa.
Max, a talented videographer and photographer, started going to local hip hop shows alone with just a few bucks in his pocket and his camera in hand to get an ear for the local scene.
“I’d go up to artists I liked after their set and said “Hi my name is Max, I don’t know if you have anyone taking pictures or videos for you tonight – if you’d like to share your email I’ll send what I’ve taken to you.”
Turns out most artists Max connected with didn’t have anyone on hand at the show taking good quality videos and pictures. Max managed to connect and network with over one hundred Vancouver artists in this way.
Before the Pandemic Max organized a two day, twelve act live event at Vancouver’s Avant Garden venue…a huge feat for someone new to the city’s music scene and a true testament to his hustle and networking skills.
Fast forward two years later, after a global pandemic shut down the local live music scene and just a month after mandates and restrictions were lifted in the city….he’s back and bigger than ever planning a three day, eighteen live act event at the end May.
“I’m a very collaborative person.. I want to see artists grow” he expressed to me.
Max is actively giving local artists like myself a chance to perform, gain exposure and feel apart of the hip hop community again. With his relentless work ethic, his charismatic personality, and savvy business skills, there’s no telling the heights he will reach while also propelling and igniting the artists he works with.
Check out this incredible rap Cypher he put together with some of the freshest up-and-coming hip hop acts the city has to offer…
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKAoxs7DBFo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link