Maxwell Sterling is a composer, producer, and double bassist. Originally from Manchester, he studied jazz composition and double bass at Leeds College of Music and film scoring at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Maxwell’s multi-disciplinary practice that spans collaborations with film directors, contemporary artists, and fashion designers is what makes him distinct.

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He has worked with a range of directors including Max Kestner (Life and Other Problems), Marc Munden (Never Let Me Go), Aneil Karia (Hamlet), Meredith Lackey (Cablestreet, presented as part of Sundance Shorts Program Films), and Oscar Hudson (Straight Circle). He has also composed music for leading contemporary artists including Friedrich Kunath, Linder, and Turner prize winner Tai Shani,  collaborated with fashion brands JW Anderson, Louise Gray, Nick Knight and Stella McCartney, and scored the upcoming video game Fading Echo by New Tales, that will be released in 2026.

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As a solo artist, Maxwell has developed a distinct sound working with double bass and modular synthesisers, combining his interest in improvisatory jazz frameworks, orchestral music and electronic sounds. Maxwell’s debut record Hollywood Medieval (Death of Rave, 2016) was a cult success, establishing his fascination with the glitches between acoustic and synthesised music. His second record Laced With Rumor: Loud-Speaker Of Truth (Ecstatic Recordings, 2020) was inspired by the work of the late artist Moki Cherry and featured samples of avant garde jazz trumpet player, Don Cherry. His most recent album, Turn of Phrase (AD93, 2021) is a body of work exploring the boundaries of time, taking inspiration from Gregorian chants and hyper-modern digital processing.