Maxwell Musick has recently undergone a musical transformation. The multi-talented Clive Davis sophomore released a new song this January called “Brake” that he hopes is the beginning of a newfound focus on music and his development as an artist. Musick — who previously put out music under his full name — recently started releasing music under the moniker Wolfe. WSN caught up with Musick to talk music, modeling and breaking away from expectations.

Washington Square News: First of all, what are your hopes for your new song “Brake,” and where did the inspiration for the song come from?

Maxwell Musick: Well, the point of this new song is for it to be a sort of introduction to where my music is going. Projects in the past just didn’t connect [with listeners] as much. I don’t need this song to be a big thing. I don’t listen to the song and think it’s perfect — I just want it to be an introduction to Wolfe, and I think it serves that purpose perfectly. I wrote and recorded the song in my bedroom in the middle of the night after watching a viral video of a 14-year-old singing. I just felt so discouraged. Then I kind of asked myself what I was waiting for, and the lyrics for “Brake” just came out. It was such a moment of weakness and I think that moment translates powerfully into the song.

WSN: And what is Wolfe? Where did that name come from, and why did you switch to using it instead of your own name?

MM: It’s actually my great-grandfather’s name. I’m a very sentimental person and sentimentality is a big part of this new song and my music in general, so it seemed like a very natural name for me to be releasing music under. When I’m performing, I become this different person, and Wolfe is that other part of me that comes out through the music.

WSN: You also model. How do you balance modeling and making music? What does music do for you that modeling does not?

MM: I really enjoy modeling but I don’t find a purpose in it the way that I do with music. When I model I love getting to step out of my own world and be a part of someone else’s vision, but when I’m making music it’s my own vision and that’s why I am shifting my focus to music being the priority. I feel like as a white male model I’m not doing anything positive socially, but through my music. I can send the message that I choose to send.

WSN: And what message would you want to send through your music?

MM: I just want my music to be very authentic and honest. I want to reveal my weaknesses through my music to show other people that it’s okay to be themselves, and not be perfect and [to] have these moments of total weakness. I went into modeling for validation, and I don’t want to need that validation anymore. I’m tired of feeling insufficient. Making music that is true to what I am going through is the most honest way for me to work through those feelings and prove to myself that I am a strong vocalist.

WSN: So, what is next?

MM: I’ll be releasing a three-song EP this spring, so look out for that!

Find Wolfe on SoundCloud and Facebook.

Email Isabel Beebe at [email protected].