Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Kogan.
Hi Max, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My family immigrated to Cleveland, Ohio at the height of the collapse of the Soviet Union, from Nikolaev, Ukraine in 1994 (my mother was pregnant with me on the plane, and I was born shortly after in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
My mother and father worked countless jobs in their youth (21 and 25) to support the roots we were so grateful to plant here. Throughout the years, my mother began a in-home daycare about 20 years ago. Through hard work, love, and dedication, our family has now expanded the business to three childcare facilities in Parma, Richmond Heights, and Willoughby. It’s been so inspirational to see the family provide jobs and the highest level of care for others children – it is not an easy job, however infinitely fulfilling. My father discovered techno in the early 90s in Cleveland and has been a pioneer in the scene, touring and spreading the ever-evolving world of electronic music to a city that hadn’t had much exposure. This led to me being around music my entire life.
Around 16 – I got involved with my first theater gig – Expect Respect – a locally touring educational play highlighting teen dating violence and bullying. This was my first foray into performing arts and acting and eventually led to my love for the creative field, and I haven’t looked back!
After graduating from Ohio State in 2016 – a best friend and accomplished actor and director Rick Shepherd from Cleveland, made the jump to tackle on New York City as young, budding actors. After signing with agencies and being part of student, short, and feature films, being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, I got to meet so many of my idols and inspirations by becoming a Captain at Robert DeNiro’s restaurant in TriBeCa.
About 5 years later, after spending some time at home with family during COVID, a move to San Diego was made. Here is where I truly discovered how much creation is a daily need for all – whether that looks like expressing yourself through exercise or self-care- to a daily journal or poetry, photography, etc. It is in innate need that we have convinced ourself is trumped by the necessity to live – however, this is a way to “wash our souls of daily life”, a Picasso quote on daily “art”.
While looking to expand my career in the music industry – I was lucky enough to become an Assistant Manager to a globally renowned DJ duo who performs over 100 concerts a year around the world. Through an honest and passionate cover letter – I was brought on to handle the daily intricacies of this massive operation, something I continue to this day. I truly believe that by opening yourself up authentically to the world around you attracts exactly what your soul is calling out for. By following that “flow” of our existence, we are brought through both gentle and rough waters along our life’s river.
This led to my first opportunity to open up as DJ at the famous Music Box in San Diego for this very group that my father raised me on listening to and playing at DJ gigs – talk about serendipity!
This brings me to my current state – returning back to Cleveland, freshly 30 years old to reconnect with the closest people to me in my life, my family. Everyone has planted themselves through trying times and grew their own families. It’s been so centering to see how far people can come when they allow their “higher self” to take the wheel and continue on rolling.
Currently, I’m working with digital creation, using a combination of AI and my own personal photography spanning from Mexico City to Los Angeles and New York. As far as my own music, I release all my artwork, music, and marketing independently. I never look for listeners or “fame and fortune” but rather that daily creation I have referenced. It is cathartic and allows us to express our deepest truths in a way that is digestible and can last long after we have moved on from this conscious existence.
I believe my message is clear to the world: community, compassion, empathy. On the large scale, ephemeralness can be scary. But the temporary nature of our short blip of being so lucky to exist on this Earth – to enjoy small moments like a ray of sun shining onto you during cloudy weather – to accomplishing whatever it is we so feel that draw to.
All my questions keep multiplying – but through inner reflection and self-love, we can meditate through these questions that may never even have an answer, and rather than keeping ourselves stuck on one or the other, we can pass through and accept that our mind can overcome even the darkest of moments.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being the firstborn of my family here in the United States – self-identity has always been something I’ve had to deal with. While others around me have had generations of family here, I always found myself trying to align with the norms and culture around me. As a silly child, I was always embarrassed while my parents had to adapt themselves to a foreign language and land – it can be overwhelming; it felt like people were looking at an accent rather than a person.
This only motivated me further to learn Russian language – I even minored in it to dive deeper into my ancestors. After but this “bilingual brain,” I so joyfully can admit I take this passion for explaining, enlightening, and welcoming others into history and my own culture, all around the world, and back again to all those who are curious around me.
Tracing back, I see I am a direct descendant of not only Eurasian and Turkic descent, but Christianity, Judaism and Islamic faiths. Although my immediate family has more of a spiritual take on living, I was so invigorated by this epiphany – everyone has a story much deeper than we think, and learning about it is so integral to self-development; by taking that time to learn a little more about someone, as we can get caught up in that daily life, I speak so much about.
In addition – working as a creative is not always something that can fully support your hierarchy of needs- I’ve worked in the food and beverage hospitality space for the last 15 years or so. From the fine dining of New York City, Locanda Verde – to the 36th best pizza restaurant and bar in the nation in San Diego, Tribute Pizza. However, this involved biking over the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridge twice a day after a 14-hour double or hitting brunch service to a closing shift over in California. At times – you can feel stuck. However, I’ve realized that whatever your gig is that pays your bills is used to support our everyday lifestyle that we choose, something I love about the flexibility of restaurant gigs. The more stability, routine, and foundation we build for ourselves, the more we have to strive for, the more reason to wake up energized to tackle our day. Never give up!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently in Cleveland, I’m serving and bartending at a beautiful spot on 185th – The Standard, run by a renowned chef.
As far as my own portfolio, I would describe myself as a digital creator and recording artist, and sound engineer.
My outlook on the world is split between figuring out who I came from and who is around me to the legacy I want to leave behind considering my first-generation identity. 2 feet stepping into different worlds.
People would know me for recording and releasing music for the last decade or so ( you can find me as the artist “h.i.a.r” or Max Bragi on SoundCloud and Spotify and all streaming services). as well as the art and photography I release on my creative pages. I also love collaborating with others to promote small businesses and other local artists. It’s so important to use your own platform to raise the others around you – there is a great African Proverb I live by that goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
I believe my proudest performance so far has been opening up for the DJs I work for – they saw a potential in me and gave me the floor to perform for 600 people. However, as far as my biggest pride: inspiring the ones around me to always getting back up. To create through the pain, love, joy, and loss. I believe that sharing as much as we can of ourselves will open the door for our peers, family, and friends, as well as strangers alike. With technology bringing us this “instant gratification,” it’s nice to sit back once in a while and truthfully share what it is so okay to feel inside.
I’ve created communities and circles in the name of love and togetherness in every city I’ve gotten so lucky to live in – this is my pride and joy. Taking the 2 seconds in the street to hear tidbits of someone else’s day, to overhear conversations in cafes about our daily lives. Connecting with others, providing empathy, and understanding the whole way is what I’ll continue on pursuing, regardless of whatever we feel will make us feel fulfilled.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I wanted to shout out my debut album, released April 7th, called The Moonlight of Fleeting Psoul, Spotted. You can find it on all streaming services!
Other than that – I leave a message for the people around me – we can be “starving artists” all our life: just don’t starve yourself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @maxbragi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bragiboy
- SoundCloud: Soundcloud.com/maxbragi
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sxnkhKU0AhQLFuCsfIt2Y?si=GvyEZeI_SdaIhCzqlNgyXw
