Jan. 8, 2025 – Max Cooper III has released the second single “Charades” from his upcoming debut EP “The Overthinker”.

“Charades” captures the poignant struggle of trying to save an on-again, off-again relationship while it weaves through musical influences covering 40 years of pop history. This track pays subtle homage to artists like Toto, Andy Grammer, and Maroon 5, blending nostalgia with a modern twist to create a sound that’s both familiar and refreshingly new.

“‘Charades’ is about being in a relationship with someone who goes back and forth between treating it like it’s a game and treating it like it’s real. It’s about deciding whether it’s worth staying,” Max shares. “The irony is I’m singing about how I shouldn’t care anymore but writing the song shows how much I do care, can’t deny it.”

He continues, “The arrangement on this track is my favorite on the EP.  Musically at times it feels more upbeat than the lyrics, kind of a metaphor for how you can pretend something is okay on the outside when on the inside it’s really not. ‘Charades’ is also the most complicated arrangement on the EP.  The acoustic guitar intros to the first and second verses describe that back-and-forth between emotional tranquility and all hell breaking loose in the confusion of mixed signals. Things just build musically with the escalating emotional turmoil caused by the contradictions in the relationship.”