9lives

Maxwell Warren Jardine
Born	Maxwell Warren Jardine (2004-03-10) March 10, 2004 Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Other names	9lives
Occupation	Record producer
Years active	2021–present
Known for	Advancing sigilkore music genre, collaborations with Odetari, Trippie Redd, Kanii, Lil Nas X
Notable work	"I Love You Hoe" (RIAA Gold), EPs: #exclusive, 33.1FM, 3x3

Maxwell Warren Jardine (born 10 March 2004), professionally recognized as 9lives, is a New Zealand-based record producer who has been instrumental in advancing sigilkore, a genre blending elements of trap, hyperpop, cloud rap, and electronic music. His collaborations include work with artists like Odetari, Trippie Redd, Kanii, and Lil Nas X. The track "I Love You Hoe", a joint effort with Odetari, achieved RIAA Gold status, and 9lives was featured in Rolling Stone Australia's Future of Music list, which spotlights emerging talents from Australia and New Zealand.

Life and career

Originating from rural Hawke's Bay in New Zealand, Maxwell Jardine comes from a family with South African roots. Growing up surrounded by music, he developed drumming skills early on, which eventually led him to create beats and drum patterns during his high school years.

In 2021, he began uploading his beats and remixes on SoundCloud. His initial breakthrough came with the single "Khaos Emerald," which gained viral popularity on TikTok towards the end of 2022, accelerating his rise in the music scene. He consistently released singles while partnering with underground musicians to broaden his audience. Key releases include "Xtayalive" featuring Jnhygs in February 2023 and "Go (Xtayalive 2)" with Kanii released in April 2023.

The song "I Love You Hoe" reached number three on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in September 2023 as part of the collaborative EP 3x3 alongside Odetari. On January 16, 2024, 9lives formalized his career progression by signing with Pulse Records.

Musical style

The sound crafted by 9lives is often labeled as sigilkore or dark trap. He describes this style as "the back end of hyperpop," drawing inspiration from Raider Klan’s rawer, underground aesthetic. Laura McInnes from Sniffers highlights his combination of airy lofi trap beats, altered hyperpop vocals, and electronic club sound effects. Jon Barlas of Our Generation Music likens the auditory experience to an intense boss fight within Arkham Asylum. Among his primary musical influences are Luci4 and Raider Klan.

Extended plays

Catalog of extended plays including release date, record label, and format

Title	Details
#exclusive	Release date: November 13, 2022 Label: The System Available formats: Digital download, streaming
33.1FM	Release date: February 17, 2023 Label: The System Formats: LP, digital download, streaming
3x3 (collaboration with Odetari)	Release date: July 12, 2023 Label: Artist Partner Group Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Overview of singles including title, release year, peak chart positions, certifications, and associated album

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Certifications	Album
US Dance	NZ Hot
"Khaos Emerald"	2022	—	—		#exclusive
"Glacier"		—	—
"Ghostrider"	2023	—	—		rowspan="2" Template:Non-album singles
"Xtayalive" (featuring jnhygs)		—	—
"Go (Xtayalive 2)" (featuring Kanii)		—	—	RIAA: Gold	Exiit
"Reassure Me" (featuring Odetari)		—	—		3x3
"Jerk!" (featuring jnhygs)		45	—		Template:Non-album single
"I Love You Hoe" (featuring Odetari)		3	18	RIAA: Gold	3x3
"Baby I'm Home" (with Odetari & Kanii)		38	—		Door to Dusk
"Multimillionaire" (featuring Trippie Redd & Odetari)	2024	43	—		Template:Non-album single
"Light" (with Skaiwater & either Lil Nas X or Midwxst)		—	—		#Gigi
"Canada" (featuring jnhygs)		—	—		Template:Non-album single
"Nuk3" (with Luci4 & Lazer Dim 700)		—	—		rowspan="5" Template:TBA
"Abu Dhabi" (featuring Lancey Foux)		—	—
"I Did It" (with Kanii & Anycia)		—	—
"My Way" (with Kanii & Rico Nasty)		—	—
"Up Freestyle" (collaboration with Odetari)	Scheduled for 2025	—	—
Entries marked "—" indicate no available chart information.