In March 2020, having spent a decade signed to a major label and achieving global success, Conor Maynard stepped out on his own as an independent artist.
This 29-year-old's prior accomplishments need little introduction: Maynard's debut album Contrast secured a number one in the UK charts, a record which produced five UK top ten singles. International recognition followed: world tours, awards, collaborations with Pharrell Williams, The Invisible Men and Rita Ora; the mentorship of multi-Grammy-winner Ne-Yo, too. Ever ambitious, Conor even starred in Broadway show Kinky Boots, showcasing another side to his multi-faceted talent.
A YouTube pioneer, he was one of the first home-grown talents to transition from online to IRL pop-stardom, proving the power of dedicated digital audiences while breaking new ground for countless other upcoming artists to follow suit. Watch any one of Conor's early videos, and you can instantly hear his natural talent and his passion for music.
Being successful at a young age meant Conor's formative years were shaped by his international popstar status. He developed into a man whilst also navigating and learning all about the inner workings and politics of the music industry. During this time, Conor has never been afraid to experiment and explore new grounds, helping him consistently reach new audiences during his career, all the while never compromising what speaks to him as an artist.
So, as reflected 10 years on from the debut album that changed his life, Conor realised the right decision was for him to go at it alone, not for the first time looking to reshape the role of artists within the industry. "We've reached a new age of how people put music out, giving musicians more say," Maynard says. "And I wanted to play a part in it. Finally I could shape my career and make music how I liked."
Just one week later, the UK went into lockdown.
Despite this major setback, Maynard has once again proved his prowess, taking his career to new and unchartered heights despite these entirely unexpected challenges. In 2021, his global listenership continued to grow at an extraordinary pace, in just one year racking up over 300 million streams across Spotify and Apple Music, without any major player backing. It takes his worldwide reach to a staggering scale: his YouTube channel has amassed 12.6 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views; Spotify streams of his music are fast-approaching 2 billion. He has also quickly become the 8th most followed TikTok music account in the UK despite only joining the platform in 2020.
Armed with the creative freedom that comes from being an independent artist, Conor is putting up even higher numbers than before whilst exploring a plethora of music styles, genres, as well as collaborators. 'Believers' - his track alongside powerhouse DJ Alan Walker - has become a huge hit, and he achieved Platinum record status in the Netherlands alongside Shaggy and Kris Kross Amsterdam with 'Early In The Morning'. As well as this, he pioneered and created the idea of "Sing Offs", where Conor mashes up multiple well-known songs into just one track - which have amassed over half a billion streams on YouTube.
The pandemic wasn't the only challenge Maynard has faced in the past two years. Following a breakup his personal life too has also been in the midst of a transition. "Relationships are rare and special for me," Maynard says. "This one ending has had a big impact on my work, but that pain comes with inspiration. There's a relief from putting things into words."
The result is news music in which listeners will hear Maynard as they never have before. Take 'What I Put You Through', an emotional and honest stripped-back single, Maynard's mature melody showcasing his ever-present pitch-perfect vocals. Maynard has long been open about his mental health struggles, determined to use his platform to create a culture of care amongst and beyond his vast army of fans. "I'm so thankful that music is a release for me. Producing these tracks on my own terms has allowed me to be true to who and where I am."
"We're in an era where you can release music and connect with people without gatekeepers," says Maynard. "But that approach still feels less respected, even though it's the most consumed form of entertainment, one that takes a huge amount of graft." That, Maynard believes, needs to change.
In some ways, Maynard has come full circle, once again in full of his craft from his home studio. Only this time he's not breaking through, but continuing his decade-long success with total creative control. Alongside his new record, 2022 will see Maynard back on stage, building on his sell-out 2019 world tour.
"Hitting all these milestones, counting to grow, is incredibly satisfying," says Maynard. "And it's a relief to be certain that despite taking this huge leap - and it being a massive risk - I made the right call."
show less
This 29-year-old's prior accomplishments need little introduction: Maynard's debut album Contrast secured a number one in the UK charts, a record which produced five UK top ten singles. International recognition followed: world tours, awards, collaborations with Pharrell Williams, The Invisible Men and Rita Ora; the mentorship of multi-Grammy-winner Ne-Yo, too. Ever ambitious, Conor even starred in Broadway show Kinky Boots, showcasing another side to his multi-faceted talent.
A YouTube pioneer, he was one of the first home-grown talents to transition from online to IRL pop-stardom, proving the power of dedicated digital audiences while breaking new ground for countless other upcoming artists to follow suit. Watch any one of Conor's early videos, and you can instantly hear his natural talent and his passion for music.
Being successful at a young age meant Conor's formative years were shaped by his international popstar status. He developed into a man whilst also navigating and learning all about the inner workings and politics of the music industry. During this time, Conor has never been afraid to experiment and explore new grounds, helping him consistently reach new audiences during his career, all the while never compromising what speaks to him as an artist.
So, as reflected 10 years on from the debut album that changed his life, Conor realised the right decision was for him to go at it alone, not for the first time looking to reshape the role of artists within the industry. "We've reached a new age of how people put music out, giving musicians more say," Maynard says. "And I wanted to play a part in it. Finally I could shape my career and make music how I liked."
Just one week later, the UK went into lockdown.
Despite this major setback, Maynard has once again proved his prowess, taking his career to new and unchartered heights despite these entirely unexpected challenges. In 2021, his global listenership continued to grow at an extraordinary pace, in just one year racking up over 300 million streams across Spotify and Apple Music, without any major player backing. It takes his worldwide reach to a staggering scale: his YouTube channel has amassed 12.6 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views; Spotify streams of his music are fast-approaching 2 billion. He has also quickly become the 8th most followed TikTok music account in the UK despite only joining the platform in 2020.
Armed with the creative freedom that comes from being an independent artist, Conor is putting up even higher numbers than before whilst exploring a plethora of music styles, genres, as well as collaborators. 'Believers' - his track alongside powerhouse DJ Alan Walker - has become a huge hit, and he achieved Platinum record status in the Netherlands alongside Shaggy and Kris Kross Amsterdam with 'Early In The Morning'. As well as this, he pioneered and created the idea of "Sing Offs", where Conor mashes up multiple well-known songs into just one track - which have amassed over half a billion streams on YouTube.
The pandemic wasn't the only challenge Maynard has faced in the past two years. Following a breakup his personal life too has also been in the midst of a transition. "Relationships are rare and special for me," Maynard says. "This one ending has had a big impact on my work, but that pain comes with inspiration. There's a relief from putting things into words."
The result is news music in which listeners will hear Maynard as they never have before. Take 'What I Put You Through', an emotional and honest stripped-back single, Maynard's mature melody showcasing his ever-present pitch-perfect vocals. Maynard has long been open about his mental health struggles, determined to use his platform to create a culture of care amongst and beyond his vast army of fans. "I'm so thankful that music is a release for me. Producing these tracks on my own terms has allowed me to be true to who and where I am."
"We're in an era where you can release music and connect with people without gatekeepers," says Maynard. "But that approach still feels less respected, even though it's the most consumed form of entertainment, one that takes a huge amount of graft." That, Maynard believes, needs to change.
In some ways, Maynard has come full circle, once again in full of his craft from his home studio. Only this time he's not breaking through, but continuing his decade-long success with total creative control. Alongside his new record, 2022 will see Maynard back on stage, building on his sell-out 2019 world tour.
"Hitting all these milestones, counting to grow, is incredibly satisfying," says Maynard. "And it's a relief to be certain that despite taking this huge leap - and it being a massive risk - I made the right call."
In March 2020, having spent a decade signed to a major label and achieving global success, Conor Maynard stepped out on his own as an independent artist.
This 29-year-old's prior accomplishments need little introduction: Maynard's debut album Contrast secured a number one in the UK charts, a record which produced five UK top ten singles. International recognition followed: world tours, awards, collaborations with Pharrell Williams, The Invisible Men and Rita Ora; the mentorship of multi-Grammy-winner Ne-Yo, too. Ever ambitious, Conor even starred in Broadway show Kinky Boots, showcasing another side to his multi-faceted talent.
A YouTube pioneer, he was one of the first home-grown talents to transition from online to IRL pop-stardom, proving the power of dedicated digital audiences while breaking new ground for countless other upcoming artists to follow suit. Watch any one of Conor's early videos, and you can instantly hear his natural talent and his passion for music.
Being successful at a young age meant Conor's formative years were shaped by his international popstar status. He developed into a man whilst also navigating and learning all about the inner workings and politics of the music industry. During this time, Conor has never been afraid to experiment and explore new grounds, helping him consistently reach new audiences during his career, all the while never compromising what speaks to him as an artist.
So, as reflected 10 years on from the debut album that changed his life, Conor realised the right decision was for him to go at it alone, not for the first time looking to reshape the role of artists within the industry. "We've reached a new age of how people put music out, giving musicians more say," Maynard says. "And I wanted to play a part in it. Finally I could shape my career and make music how I liked."
Just one week later, the UK went into lockdown.
Despite this major setback, Maynard has once again proved his prowess, taking his career to new and unchartered heights despite these entirely unexpected challenges. In 2021, his global listenership continued to grow at an extraordinary pace, in just one year racking up over 300 million streams across Spotify and Apple Music, without any major player backing. It takes his worldwide reach to a staggering scale: his YouTube channel has amassed 12.6 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views; Spotify streams of his music are fast-approaching 2 billion. He has also quickly become the 8th most followed TikTok music account in the UK despite only joining the platform in 2020.
Armed with the creative freedom that comes from being an independent artist, Conor is putting up even higher numbers than before whilst exploring a plethora of music styles, genres, as well as collaborators. 'Believers' - his track alongside powerhouse DJ Alan Walker - has become a huge hit, and he achieved Platinum record status in the Netherlands alongside Shaggy and Kris Kross Amsterdam with 'Early In The Morning'. As well as this, he pioneered and created the idea of "Sing Offs", where Conor mashes up multiple well-known songs into just one track - which have amassed over half a billion streams on YouTube.
The pandemic wasn't the only challenge Maynard has faced in the past two years. Following a breakup his personal life too has also been in the midst of a transition. "Relationships are rare and special for me," Maynard says. "This one ending has had a big impact on my work, but that pain comes with inspiration. There's a relief from putting things into words."
The result is news music in which listeners will hear Maynard as they never have before. Take 'What I Put You Through', an emotional and honest stripped-back single, Maynard's mature melody showcasing his ever-present pitch-perfect vocals. Maynard has long been open about his mental health struggles, determined to use his platform to create a culture of care amongst and beyond his vast army of fans. "I'm so thankful that music is a release for me. Producing these tracks on my own terms has allowed me to be true to who and where I am."
"We're in an era where you can release music and connect with people without gatekeepers," says Maynard. "But that approach still feels less respected, even though it's the most consumed form of entertainment, one that takes a huge amount of graft." That, Maynard believes, needs to change.
In some ways, Maynard has come full circle, once again in full of his craft from his home studio. Only this time he's not breaking through, but continuing his decade-long success with total creative control. Alongside his new record, 2022 will see Maynard back on stage, building on his sell-out 2019 world tour.
"Hitting all these milestones, counting to grow, is incredibly satisfying," says Maynard. "And it's a relief to be certain that despite taking this huge leap - and it being a massive risk - I made the right call."
read more
This 29-year-old's prior accomplishments need little introduction: Maynard's debut album Contrast secured a number one in the UK charts, a record which produced five UK top ten singles. International recognition followed: world tours, awards, collaborations with Pharrell Williams, The Invisible Men and Rita Ora; the mentorship of multi-Grammy-winner Ne-Yo, too. Ever ambitious, Conor even starred in Broadway show Kinky Boots, showcasing another side to his multi-faceted talent.
A YouTube pioneer, he was one of the first home-grown talents to transition from online to IRL pop-stardom, proving the power of dedicated digital audiences while breaking new ground for countless other upcoming artists to follow suit. Watch any one of Conor's early videos, and you can instantly hear his natural talent and his passion for music.
Being successful at a young age meant Conor's formative years were shaped by his international popstar status. He developed into a man whilst also navigating and learning all about the inner workings and politics of the music industry. During this time, Conor has never been afraid to experiment and explore new grounds, helping him consistently reach new audiences during his career, all the while never compromising what speaks to him as an artist.
So, as reflected 10 years on from the debut album that changed his life, Conor realised the right decision was for him to go at it alone, not for the first time looking to reshape the role of artists within the industry. "We've reached a new age of how people put music out, giving musicians more say," Maynard says. "And I wanted to play a part in it. Finally I could shape my career and make music how I liked."
Just one week later, the UK went into lockdown.
Despite this major setback, Maynard has once again proved his prowess, taking his career to new and unchartered heights despite these entirely unexpected challenges. In 2021, his global listenership continued to grow at an extraordinary pace, in just one year racking up over 300 million streams across Spotify and Apple Music, without any major player backing. It takes his worldwide reach to a staggering scale: his YouTube channel has amassed 12.6 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views; Spotify streams of his music are fast-approaching 2 billion. He has also quickly become the 8th most followed TikTok music account in the UK despite only joining the platform in 2020.
Armed with the creative freedom that comes from being an independent artist, Conor is putting up even higher numbers than before whilst exploring a plethora of music styles, genres, as well as collaborators. 'Believers' - his track alongside powerhouse DJ Alan Walker - has become a huge hit, and he achieved Platinum record status in the Netherlands alongside Shaggy and Kris Kross Amsterdam with 'Early In The Morning'. As well as this, he pioneered and created the idea of "Sing Offs", where Conor mashes up multiple well-known songs into just one track - which have amassed over half a billion streams on YouTube.
The pandemic wasn't the only challenge Maynard has faced in the past two years. Following a breakup his personal life too has also been in the midst of a transition. "Relationships are rare and special for me," Maynard says. "This one ending has had a big impact on my work, but that pain comes with inspiration. There's a relief from putting things into words."
The result is news music in which listeners will hear Maynard as they never have before. Take 'What I Put You Through', an emotional and honest stripped-back single, Maynard's mature melody showcasing his ever-present pitch-perfect vocals. Maynard has long been open about his mental health struggles, determined to use his platform to create a culture of care amongst and beyond his vast army of fans. "I'm so thankful that music is a release for me. Producing these tracks on my own terms has allowed me to be true to who and where I am."
"We're in an era where you can release music and connect with people without gatekeepers," says Maynard. "But that approach still feels less respected, even though it's the most consumed form of entertainment, one that takes a huge amount of graft." That, Maynard believes, needs to change.
In some ways, Maynard has come full circle, once again in full of his craft from his home studio. Only this time he's not breaking through, but continuing his decade-long success with total creative control. Alongside his new record, 2022 will see Maynard back on stage, building on his sell-out 2019 world tour.
"Hitting all these milestones, counting to grow, is incredibly satisfying," says Maynard. "And it's a relief to be certain that despite taking this huge leap - and it being a massive risk - I made the right call."
show less
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