Urban Vault caught up with Michigan based emcee Mavi Marx & British producer/DJ Squigz to ask them some questions about their latest collab, MY RESIGNATION and more…

Grand Rapids, MI emcee Mavi Marx teams up with British producer/DJ Squigz for ‘My Resignation’, their new single out now on Squigz’ Fatal imprint, as well as the title track of their forthcoming EP set to feature G.S. Advance, Spit Gemz, Solar Black AKA Phoenix Da Ice Fire, Solomon Childs and Flowtecs.

A longtime resident of Thailand, Squigz has collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan affiliates Napoleon and Solomon Childs, and has several prior collaborations with Mavi.

Mavi calls the new single, “The declarative track of the EP illustrating the struggle and grind in attaining excellence in one’s life. Through resigning from monotony, routine, and complacency a person can fly free from barriers of fear and doubt that keep us all separated from our true potential”.

Squigz says, “During the time of production on My Resignation, me and Mavi both resigned from jobs and from elements of life holding us back. It became evident that letting go of dead weight was the way forward. I put the drama of change and the elevation into the music, Mavi vocalised the subject from his perspective and experience”.

Urban Vault caught up with Michigan based emcee Mavi Marx & British producer/DJ Squigz, this is what they said:

How did you guys first run into each other?

MAVI MARX: Short answer: the internet LOL. Yeah, Bronze and Kevlaar 7 had a private group for close collaborators and associates. I shared some of my art in there and Squigz hit me up and started sharing beats and building with me. Ever since then there was steady communication. This was probably like in 2013 or 2014. Time flies.

What sparked the decision to collaborate?

MAVI MARX: A few things really. Squigz had fire. Lot of producers send me beats on the regular. Not all submissions are good all of the time, not all submissions fit my style. Squigz production fit my rhyming style and my preferences. The first track we did was Polarity from the Equilibrium project, it’s been a wrap after that.

DJ SQUIGZ: I heard one joint from Mavi and knew straight away; I need this art on my art.

How has your musical relationship evolved over time?

MAVI MARX: After the Equilibrium project some years later Squigz hit me up with the idea to collab on an EP. I’ve had plenty of producers want to collab but the follow through and dedication wasn’t there. Squigz once again supplied the heat that gave me the canvas to tell the story.

What is your process for conceptualizing, recording, mixing, mastering together, being that you are in different locations?

MAVI MARX: It all starts with the instrumentals, often times we start with a rough idea. Most of the time I come up with the entire song around the skeleton then record it. I send the raw vocals to get mixed and we go from there. After beats and tracks get mixed we might change or add to the original beat sequence then strategically plan on features etc.

DJ SQUIGZ: Yeah, it’s an ongoing process, after the mix stage; mastering is done by Elevatah. I think mastering is another science.

Squigz, you live in Thailand. What’s that like?

DJ SQUIGZ: It’s completely different from the U.K. as you can imagine. I wanted to test myself, go somewhere nobody knows you and stand on my own two. I flipped my life’s style from record store owner and DJ to lecturing in Digital Media at a renowned university, looking out for aspiring artists. I did that for about 5 years until I resigned. The culture is deep, the people are nice for the most part and it made me look at life in a different way. I had to re-evaluate my outlook on everything really, grow up a bit, you know. You may think you know it all, but take yourself out of your comfort zone and see where you’re really at! I found I could focus here and set time for learning in my own way, that’s what really kept me here, things started to happen even though I wasn’t at home surrounded by connects. There’s more control when you are out of the fray.

What’s next for you two?

MAVI MARX: Much more music and expanding the Fatal brand. After we finish promoting this project we’re gonna hit you guys with more heat. Our chemistry is on point and getting stronger, if you love My Resignation you’ll love what’s to come.

DJ SQUIGZ: Clocking up 3 more projects with Mavi already. Bang – FATAL in your mental.

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music…

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