Max Allais releases new single, ‘Whenever You Hold Me’

Today, French New Zealand pop singer-songwriter and guitarist Max Allais announces the release of his new single Whenever You Hold Me, out Friday August 1 via Better Now Records/Real Thing Records/Universal Music Group.

Listen to Whenever You Hold Me Here

Created with the London-based Welsh singer-songwriter and producer Tommy Sanders (Corey Sanders, Lewis Thompson, Navvy, Punctual, Phia, Elle Campbell, Jackie Apostel, and Bill Maybury) at  Tommy’s Home studio in East London, Whenever You Hold Me sees Max reflecting on the impact of an unexpectedly blindsiding romantic connection. Singing yearningly over a breezy guitar figure underscored by a percussive strum, he delivers a knockout hook and confessional verses that feel thoroughly lived in. Equal parts intimate and expansive, it’s a fitting testament to a new generation talent who has found a way to harness the emotional storytelling and timeless craft of acoustic pop within the digital era.

“Before Whenever You Hold Me, I thought I was at a point in life where love just wasn’t a priority. Then, unexpectedly, I met someone who opened me back up to the possibility. You’ll hear it in the chorus,” says Max Allais.

Coming off the back of his breakout single When The Party Ends (5m+ plays on Spotify) and co-headlining Springboard: Seconds To Midnight New Zealand tour, Whenever You Hold Me represents the culmination of the hard work Max has put in to authentically build himself a global audience on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and streaming services over the last five years. It also points the way towards his debut album, provisionally due for release during the first half of 2026.

“In the past, I used to think about what might make a song do well on TikTok or Instagram while we were in the studio. Now, I’ve found that I’m putting more of my life into the songs,” says Max.