Young Adult: Tell me a little bit about yourself when you were a teen. Where did you grow up? What were you like in school?

Max Schneider: I was always a very energetic teen. I went to a performing arts high school and grew up in New York City, so there was always a lot to do and lots of people to meet. I was very social in school but I’ve always had my nerdy side too. 

YA: How did you get your start in entertainment?

MS: I saw my first Broadway show when I was three or four years old. It was “Beauty and the Beast” and when I got home from the performance I reenacted the entire show for parents. From there they knew I had the bug and I started doing regional and children’s theater up until I did my first Broadway show when I was 16.

YA: You’re a singer, actor, dancer, model, and musician. That’s a lot to juggle! How do you balance them all? Do you have a favorite?

MS: My philosophy is: if you want to do something and you set your mind to it, then you can do it. I’ve always loved performing and have been very lucky to have been able to do it in a lot of different ways, whether that’s in TV shows or on stages playing my own music. I can’t say I have a favorite, but I do love performing live more than anything in the world. 

YA: What has been your biggest success to date?

MS: I would say that getting to work with Madonna for the Dolce and Gabbana ad campaign was probably the most surreal and incredible job I’ve ever done. I still can’t believe that it happened. 

YA: Tell me a little more about your vision as an artist and your image.

MS: I just want to make people happy. Whether that’s because a song of mine is about something joyful or because it’s about something really heartbreaking, I hope that it brings people to a place of truth and makes them feel something meaningful—even if that’s just dancing and smiling. 

YA: Who are some of your favorite artists or bands?

MS: I love Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Gavin Degraw, Fall Out Boy, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Mumford and Sons, Imagine Dragons, and Adele, just to name a few. 

YA: Who would you most like to work with?

MS: I’d really love to work with Justin Timberlake. He is definitely an idol to me and I respect his career so much. He works hard, is kind, and his talent is through the roof. Class-act guys like that are hard to find and it would be a dream come true to collaborate with him.  

YA: What do you have coming up?

MS: Well, my single, “Nothing Without Love,” just came out recently, and the album (which is titled Nothing Without Love, as well) is coming out later this summer, so I’m super excited for that! I’ve got a couple of very exciting videos with very awesome special guests coming out with my good friend, Kurt Schneider, on his YouTube channel. I’m also really excited for the new show on NBC I’ll be working on called “Crisis” which will be airing midseason on Sunday nights! 

YA: What can you tell others pursuing the same career?

MS: Be yourself no matter what. Your jobs are your jobs and other people’s jobs are their jobs, so be happy for the person who booked that part or got that gig because it’s their moment to shine. Yours will come. Recently, I’ve found a certain inspiration in going out and seeing more live performances. I want to support other bands and actors by seeing them perform. I find inspiration and learn so much more about myself from just soaking in someone else’s hard work. 

YA: What’s your favorite book or what book are you currently reading?

MS: One of my favorite books will always be Holes, not only because it is one of the first books I’ve read, but just because I love the story! Currently, I’m reading a book called The Happiness Project which I love because it’s just about appreciating what you have and finding happiness in yourself and not outside things. 

YA: What are three things you want your fans to know about you that they might not?

MS: I love them all so much; if they don’t know that, they should. If you’re choosing between sleeping four hours and six hours, choose the four hours. You’ll feel a whole lot better and get a lot more done—you can just crash later. Lastly, if I one day own an adorable finger monkey, I am going to take the best care of him or her so don’t you worry, baby!