Since quarantine began, people have been secluded in their own homes, with little to do - unless you’re a TikToker.
Maxwell LeVan has caught the attention of millions with a wide variety of video content. However, the TikToker is no stranger to mainstream media. Maxwell boasts over 70,000 followers and 30 million views on his TikTok account, and gained a following in 2019, posting popular videos on the video-sharing application. But he didn’t stop there.
Maxwell picked up card magic as an escape from the hectic nature of day-to-day life, and practiced for months before ever showcasing his skills. LeVan has performed card magic on members of Congress, School Board staff, and celebrities as well as homeless, less fortunate, and non-English speaking kids. "There's no barrier in magic. I don't have to say anything. Magic is something that brings us all together; everyone loses their ego and sense of status when they see something incredible, and that's what I live for."
He brings his close up magic into new settings and environments, often with no barrier to entry, and no admission charge. LeVan likes to perform one-on-one card magic, and has described it as “being able to walk into any room and knowing that i can amaze anyone in that room...it's amazing". Despite being in the midst of a global pandemic, LeVan has continued to master the art of video magic, and has rolled out a series of magic tutorials on YouTube. Maxwell has earned recognition from magicians across the board, such as Chris Kenner (David Copperfield’s executive producer) and Damien O’Brien, finalist on Britain’s Got Talent 2020.
In addition to card magic, LeVan is a record producer, singer, and songwriter. Maxwell grew up playing piano; However, he never took lessons or learned how to read music. "I would hear a song on the radio and when I got home I was able to play it", he said. LeVan has perfect pitch, a rare ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of a reference tone. This only occurs in about 1 percent of musicians. LeVan began independently studying music theory in April 2020.
Maxwell LeVan has made a name for himself in the music industry over the past 6 months, with his first single Toe Bamba peaking at position 472 on the Brazil Top 500 on iTunes. The song has also attained 5x-platinum certification in Hungary and platinum certification in Chile. Despite only being 17 years old, Maxwell has crafted a demographic of all ages and backgrounds through the variety of content he produces. “[this is]the tip of the iceberg in a sense. I haven’t even started yet.”
Millions of people tune in to TikTok daily to see what they will find on their For You page, and creators on the platform will do whatever it takes to capture the attention of an audience. Even if it means betraying their own blood. Since quarantine began, people have been secluded in their own homes, with little to do - unless you’re a TikToker.
In a video shared on the platform earlier this year, Maxwell LeVan asks his 11 year old brother Frank, “Do you want to get shot in the foot or the head?” While his brother is turned around, and a Nerf gun is aimed at him. Frank replied “foot”, to which Maxwell disregarded the request and shot his brother in the back of the head. And the video stops there. At the time of writing, upwards of 5 million people saw this viral backstabbing (or back-shooting in this case) occur. Tens of thousands of people chimed in to share their feelings about the 6 second video they just saw. “Vine energy”, wrote one user. “That’s what he gets for being named Frank”, commented another. Many people believed that acts like this would cause trust issues for the 11 year old later in life, but Maxwell has assured everyone that the video was scripted.
Maxwell and Frank made several more videos to the same effect, and while none have exploded quite like the original, the repetitive plot should indicate to any concerned fans, that the betrayal was solely for content, and their brotherly bond has only gotten stronger because of the videos. Frank has since appeared in dozens more of LeVan’s videos, and they continue to entertain and distract fans from the crazy, uncertain time that we are in right now.
