Michael Vincent Waller, known professionally as MVW, hails from New York and has been composing and producing music in Los Angeles for the past two and a half years. He started out as a contemporary classical composer and pianist, and began working in production and artistic development (A&R) three years ago.
He has worked with numerous artists and producers, including Bbyafricka and multi-platinum producer Chase The Money. Before the late rapper Drakeo the Ruler passed away, he was able to link up with the Stink Team. He produced a compilation tape called his CONNECTIONS featuring various artists such as Tia Corine, Warhol.SS, Valee and Lil Gotit. We did a one-on-one interview at CTM Recording Studios in Studio City.
MVW was born in New York City and grew up there until his parents divorced when he was five years old and he moved with his mother to Fort Lauderdale. He says it was cold growing up in Florida, but he remembers going back to New York to see his father in the summer and on vacation.
MVW first encountered music when he was 13 years old. “My grandmother was the only real musician in the family. I discovered hip-hop music by listening to artists such as Run-DMC: “No one in my family encouraged me to do that. Music was something I discovered on my own.” MVW always wanted to be successful, but he didn’t know what he would become. It wasn’t until he enrolled at New York University that he developed a passion for composing.
MVW was introduced to several music artists while in business school at age 18. He started playing the piano. “I grew up listening to hip-hop, so at the time, in the back of my mind, I wanted to make beats. I remember telling myself, ‘I will. ”
MVW ended up studying composition for almost seven years, both privately and at New York University, under instructors like La Monte Young. He loved hip-hop, but was not active in the genre at this point. “As if he had forgotten that part of himself, [was] I am bound to be a contemporary composer and didn’t get the chance to reset many of my expectations and possibilities until the pandemic hit. ”
However, hip-hop music, particularly “short melodic cells and repetitive hook ideas”, influenced his classical sound, which changed the way he composed. He has created several classic his albums, including 2019’s Remix His Project. moment.
“That project started by taking my classic samples, remixing them, combining them with drums and various electronics to see how it worked. One of them was the Trap remix with Lex Luger.”
After nearly a decade of writing music, producer MVW was born.
“When I received this remix, he was able to use my compositions and samples very faithfully, hearing every melody that was composed. It went and the way the 808 and trap drums were arranged really blended in together.”
Since moving to LA in July 2021, MVW has been able to record and collaborate with numerous artists. “[Los Angeles is] This is a highly creative place where all creators come together, regardless of where they come from. You can be creative at home or anywhere in the world, but [everyone comes] To LA to be creative together. ’ He appreciates Los Angeles for being a creative melting pot. “I really got to meet so many people. .”
One of the first artists he collaborated with while living in LA was the late rapper Gangsta Boo. At the age of 14, she rose to fame as her one of the original her members of the influential and iconic rap her group, Three 6 Mafia. She went on to have her successful career and she achieved her legendary status until her sudden death on January 1, 2023.
“We made a good amount together, we went to Atlanta together. It gave me a crash course on how the experience of .
While working with Gangsta Boo, he reached out to Andrew Barber, manager of Chicago rapper Vallee. Shortly thereafter, MVW and Valee began working together. They have been collaborating for the past three years. MVW’s recent singles ‘Bali’ and ‘Yo Yo’ feature Valee’s vocals and have garnered significant attention from the indie and her underground music scene. After that, they plan to launch a project together during his June.
This year, MVW A&Red and produced “Tru Tru,” a melodic trap song featuring up-and-coming rappers Tiakorin and Lil Cherry. “Lil Cherry is a Korean rapper and it was a great project to bridge the two worlds of the Korean trap world and Tia, who is popular here in the United States. It was an honor to work on this song with a female artist who is so powerful, has a strong message, and carries that as her core message.”
MVW will be collaborating with artists they have worked with in the past, and hopes to do R&B music in the future. He encourages the younger generation to never give up and be consistent in what they want. “Be honest with yourself. Find your own path while you can. You may not know it, it may be something you stumble upon, or something you’ve been focusing on throughout your life.” If you find it and say, ‘This is my calling,’ just listen to it.”
