FIDLAR’s multi-instrumentalist and drummer Max Kuehn brings a fresh sound to his sophomore solo LP with “Slide,” a contemplative indie rock track that pushes toward acceptance with a restless edge.

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Stream: “Slide” – Max Kuehn

In Los Angeles, traces of film photography capture moments of skate-punk culture while conveying the relaxed nature of hangouts among friends.

Against this backdrop, Max Kuehn pushes his deck of sounds forward to showcase his talent. As the multi-instrumentalist and drummer of punk rock band FIDLAR – a group synonymous with raw immediacy, reckless momentum, and cathartic release – Kuehn embraces musical momentum, carrying that same drive into his solo work and finding freedom in the creative ride.

Kuehn’s history can be traced back to 2009, when his drum cadence began delivering energetic, chaotic grit – high-impact hi-hats, reverberating kick drums, and a relentless beat that defines a FIDLAR live experience. FIDLAR gained momentum in 2012 with performances in September at the FYF Festival in Los Angeles and the Observatory, as well as a notable appearance at Lollapalooza in August of that year. Their debut album, FIDLAR, features standout tracks including “Cheap Beer,” “No Waves,” and “Cocaine.”

Kuehn formally stepped into his solo work a few years ago, pouring his creative instincts through a vessel entirely his own. His debut album, Modern World, released in September 2020, introduced a more expansive side of his artistry, finding a voice beyond FIDLAR’s punk roots. That record marked the first step in carving out an identity separate from the band’s frenetic energy, grounded instead in reflection and melodic exploration.

His recently released sophomore album, All for Nothing, sees Kuehn stepping further out from behind the drum kit and into the emotional center of his songwriting. The new album carries a steady sense of momentum, and its single “Slide” captures the complexities of everyday doubt, revealing a more personal, interior side of an artist long known for aggressive, high-energy propulsion.

I’m just trying to get my head right
Cause I didn’t really ever sleep last night
Cause I’ve been chasing ’round a good time
Did I really just waste my life

Shotgun Sally taught me everything I know
Blank stare got scared now I want to go
Oh Sally am I f*ing up for sure
Black Hearse we’re cursed
I don’t wanna know 

Pushing towards the city, hearing the asphalt crunch beneath the skate trucks, the track begins with a four-bar drumstick countdown rhythm. The guitar adopts a distorted measure and is layered in the background, while a pulsating bass line drives the track. “Slide” explores contemplative decision-making and draws on a yearning for self-acceptance, rooted in a raw, forward-moving strain of indie rock, capturing the tension between movement and reflection, and embracing what exists in the present moment.

There’s something wrong inside my bloodline
Cause I can’t ever seem to get it right
And now we’re living in a downslide
And it’s not really ever worth the fight

Shotgun Sally taught me everything I know
Blank stare got scared now I want to go
Oh Sally am I f*ing up for sure
Black Hearse I’m cursed
I don’t wanna know

I don’t wanna know
Shotgun Sally taught me
everything I know
Shotgun Sally taught me
everything I know

Max Kuehn explores themes of coping with pain while chasing fleeting moments, reflecting on self-acceptance.

Rather than resolving that tension, “Slide” sits inside it – tracing the instinct to outrun discomfort while slowly realizing how deeply it shapes each decision. The song authentically highlights a place of belonging and the conflicts of trying to “get it right.” Kuehn kicks up his deck to share his creative flair and artistry, crafting a world that feels both earnest and restless.

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Stream: “Slide” – Max Kuehn

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