If you've ever listened to a Say Anything song and thought, "I wish Max Bemis could write a song about my life," your chance is back.
Following a recent Instagram Live appearance, Max Bemis has officially reopened his legendary Song Shop, giving fans the opportunity to commission custom songs, personalized videos, one-on-one experiences, private performances, and more directly from one of alternative music's most unique songwriters.
For longtime fans, Song Shop is hardly a new concept. First launched in 2008, the project has become one of the most beloved and fascinating parts of Bemis' career. Over the years, thousands of fans have submitted stories about relationships, life-changing moments, heartbreaks, triumphs, and everything in between, which Bemis then transforms into completely original songs.
And unlike a lot of personalized music services, these songs aren't built from templates.
They're created in real time.
"I've been writing tens of thousands of songs for people who appreciate my music since 2009," Bemis explained in a press release. "When I do start to sing and write them again, it does a lot for me. It's a distillation of the connection between a musical artist and the person listening to a song, but removing the middleman."
For Bemis, Song Shop has always been about more than just writing songs. It's about creating a direct connection between artist and fan.
"You're not just hearing a song that reminds you of wanting to die or how much you love your girlfriend," he said. "You're hearing the specifics of your own life through my own voice and empathy."
What Fans Can Order
The newly reopened Song Shop includes several personalized offerings:
Custom original songs written and performed by Bemis based on a fan's story, memory, relationship, or special occasion.
One-on-one Zoom experiences featuring conversation, fan requests, and even a live Song Shop composition written and performed during the session. Each SongStream Zoom is recorded and delivered afterward.
Personalized video messages for birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, Father's Day, encouragement, congratulations, breakups, and more.
Private performances and special requests for fans looking for an even more personal experience.
Historically, Song Shop openings don't stay available forever. Previous rounds have often filled quickly before being paused while Bemis completed commissions, so interested fans may want to act sooner rather than later.
A Positive New Chapter
Throughout his career, Bemis has been remarkably open about his experiences living with bipolar disorder and navigating mental health treatment and recovery. That honesty has become a defining part of his connection with fans and has helped foster important conversations around mental health within the alternative music community.
According to the announcement, Bemis is currently in a productive creative period, actively writing, recording, and reconnecting with fans through projects like Song Shop.
For anyone unfamiliar with his legacy, Bemis remains best known as the founder, frontman, and primary songwriter of Say Anything, a band that helped define an era of emo and alternative music through brutally honest lyrics, self-awareness, humor, and vulnerability. Beyond music, he's also worked extensively in comics and other creative projects throughout his career.
The Say Anything Store Is Back Too
The relaunch doesn't stop with Song Shop.
Bemis has also reopened the official Say Anything webstore, giving fans a centralized place to learn more about Song Shop and pick up exclusive merchandise celebrating different eras of the band's career.
Fans can visit the newly relaunched store at sayanythingofficial.com, with a brand-new merchandise drop scheduled for June 26.
For Say Anything fans, it looks like this next chapter is just getting started.