New Wave Mafia

Check out the interview with New Wave Mafia exclusively on Skilly Magazine Online.­­­­

Skilly: How were you able to start your journey in the entertainment business? Where did this all start?
New Wave Mafia: It all started one night at a party when I was playing some of the beats I made. J-Boomin started freestyling to them. I really liked how well we vibed, so I invited him to do a couple of sessions. We threw around some ideas about private event coordination, did a couple of house parties, and realized we really had something to share with the world.

What are some of the creative ways you use to promote your music?
New Wave Mafia is all about bringing people up in the world, so one of our favorite ways to promote our music is going around finding ways to help out people in the community, telling them something positive, boosting their confidence, and giving away some hat pins and a card. That way they have a story to tell and a smile to share.

What is the greatest challenge you face in today’s entertainment business? How do you overcome them?
One of the greatest challenges we face in today’s entertainment business is getting our message of positivity heard over the negativity we see. The best way we overcome it is telling everyone to feel good about who you are, and try and spread good vibes. We think everyone deserves to feel like a boss in their lives.

How is the music scene like in your hometown? What do you like about it and what don’t you like?
Knoxville is a great place for big names and great vibes. We are lucky enough to welcome a lot of big name EDM and rap artists, and that’s really trill. There are also rock and country artists in the right place, but that’s not really our scene. We do wish there was more of an opportunity for up and comers to be able to showcase their skills because so far you have to search for a venue that welcomes new comers.

Where do you think the future of music is going to be? How do you feel artists can be more a part of it?
Music is always going to get bigger and better. Music festivals are making a comeback bringing more people together from all around the world. The invention of trap music was really cool because it combines rap and EDM to make a more universal crowd. We feel artists can be more a part of it by having more dedication to their art, and personally we’re thinking of throwing some music video parties.

What advice can you give to other upcoming artists and musicians trying to achieve success?
The best piece of advice we have for upcoming artists is never to give up on your dream and never doubt yourself. Dream, dedicate, and invest.

What inspires you to write your next song?
We draw inspiration from the lives around us in our community, our generation, and our drive to bring people together. As we’ve said, we want everyone to believe in themselves and if everyone feels like a champion it’s easier to make other people feel like champions. It all starts with feeling like you can accomplish anything.

What are the steps you take to make a song?
We usually start by producing a sample of a beat, then freestyle to get our flow on point, work on a chorus or hook, and finish by laying it all together on a track. Mixing and mastering and perfecting verses and how they bounce takes the most time. Since we are doing everything independently, we like to take our time on every project, because at the end of the day this is a reflection of our art and our lives.

What do you think makes a great song?
We think a great song is made when it bridges gaps between people and genres, and speaks a universal story to its fans. A great song is made when many decades can relate to a real message. A great song makes you feel like you can start your day like a boss and accomplish anything throughout it. We believe that music is emotion and soul, and can say everything you need to hear at that time. - skilly magazine