Maxx Owa! What’s up? Welcome to Nefarious Supply. To get this interview started, introduce yourself to the audience, who is Maxx Owa, what got you to start making music, and what’s your favorite aspect about being an artist?
First off I wanna say thank you to Nefarious Supply for allowing me to be interviewed it’s super appreciated. My name is Maxx Owa I’m from the IE short for Inland Empire, and what first started me in music was a clique I made up with friends in high school called the “Popular Misfits” that grew to be known throughout our City (Rialto). A few of my buddies at the time used to rap so we decided to make an anthem that we could play when we threw parties to get our crew buzzing even more. Now that I’m older and have grown more as an artist I fully understand and have more of an appreciation to the music and being an artist. My favorite aspect of being an artist is ultimately being free. And that’s with everything, free to the journey of being nothing to something. Free to create whatever music speaks to you and putting it out with no expectations. Being free to whatever comes and whatever doesn’t come but fully embracing all the beauty in that when it comes to being an artist and creating music.
Where are you based out of? how has this area influenced you and your music, and how is this area for underground/emerging acts is it a hub, or is it still in its early stages?
Well I’m from the IE which is about 45 mins East from LA. A lot of people would cop out and just say their from LA but you gotta honor where you’re from and I love the IE. Not to mention we got legends from here whom are family to me like Audio Push and Hit-Boy. And if you go look those names up you’ll see what I mean by legends respectfully. The IE doesn’t really necessarily have a certain sound or anything it’s really whatever you make it. The IE is super chill, around 2008 it would be booming for cliques who were making music and had more of a space for opportunity to get something going, but now it’s like make your music and get it cracking and then hey we all love you lol.
What artists have had an impact on you and your sound? And what projects or songs have been in heavy rotation for you recently?
I grew up skating so I had a lot of friends who would put me on different bands like Bloc Party, Born Ruffians and Phoenix. But I also used to only watch the Disney Channel so then I’d see the Jonas Brothers and vibe with them while also still being from the IE so I’m still listening to my brothers gang rap and hood shit on a day to day to. So the inspiration and impact is all around from many genres. Right now there’s no specific album in rotation I’m literally listening to anything that moves me but some go to’s for me would be Frank Ocean and Stevie Wonder.
In addition to your favorite aspect of being an artist, what would you say is the most challenging thing about being an artist? How do you overcome these challenges, and for new artists who may face some of the same challenges what advice would you give them?
Personally for me, I’ve learned that whatever problems I was having when it came to the music or just in life had to do with me and the inner work I wasn’t doing within myself. Overthinking and making up problems that didn’t even exist because I was thinking everything had to be a certain way to be accepted. So once I started checking in with myself dealing with the subconscious and growing within. The problems that were outside became non existent. It’s like I’m in a place of being free no pressure and creating working hard with people who care about each other’s dreams and well being. So the process now is all fun and we never stop growing so there’s always something new to learn and obtain. It’s fun.
So advice I’d give to a new artist or to a regular person on the street who is far from a artist I’d say to make sure to take a beat and check in with yourself do some self healing and growing within. Once you master yourself and understand this realm we are living in and the power you have within yourself you’ll get to a place of balance and the things that bothered you before will be nonexistent to you. You’ll be able to move in a space of truly honoring yourself and whatever it is you wanna do in a high vibration.
Last year was no doubt a crazy time, so how did you keep yourself grounded and what are some things you learned about yourself or even the industry during the year?
Last year was definitely eye opening to say the least. For me personally I felt it was one of the best years I’ve ever had because of so much I learned within myself and the environment around me. I fully understand that no matter what’s going on around you, you are always in control on how it will effect you. Will this mess up my energy my day my week or for many my year or will this be something I can learn from and use to help take me to another level. I think the music industry will be the music Industry always because of the people who run it, but I also know there are a lot of new people and older people in the game who are gate keepers who are turning tides and making huge opportunities for artist who are known by little. Just off of the strength of their love for music which is really cool, so that’s always dope to see.
So let's talk music. Last year you put out your project ‘Xxo’. Tell us about this project including what inspired it, your creative process to put it together, who helped you with production, and your favorite tracks on it?
XXO was something I started in 2018 just cutting records still growing finding what I liked, experimenting with different vibes and what spoke to me. Some of the records on there are from 2018 and some are from 2019 and 2020. The main producer on the project is OhGosh Leotus. He’s from the IE also amazing producer along side Haze, Mihji Grey, Dean Vision, A.G, Eli and Wolf to name a few lol. All amazing producers and good people who showed nothing but love and genuine help which was appreciated to say the least. My brother Kami Osha is always with me piecing it all together alongside OhGosh to make sure everything is straight. With mixing from Haze and Marie whom always comes in clutch for me. One of my favorite tracks on XXO has to be ‘Inside’. That record just hits me in the feels from a conversation I was having with my Hunny at the time so it’s a good one for me.
In addition to your latest project ‘Xxo’, you released your newest body of work ‘Crescendo - EP’. Tell us about this new project?
Crescendo was something me Kami and Mihji came up with 4 days before releasing it lol. I have another EP finished 6 songs that I’ve been planning to release and wanted to drop a record for the people before I do. Like something to hold over. And Mihji suggested why not a two piece and it could go perfect with Valentine’s Day and it’s a perfect excuse to release some music that might not had never seen the light of day. So then from two it went to four as I went digging more into the archive and I’m glad I did because more music is always better lol. It goes back to us moving on the “being free” energy and going with the flow doing what you want so that’s how we got Crescendo. Kami came up with the name he’s always thinking of cool things for artist and just being a creative which is one of the many reasons he’s a goat and great person to have on your team.
I gotta be very honest with you man, your music is next level in terms of quality, so just walk us through your creative process from beginning to end! How do you know you have something you wanna share with your audience?
Thank you I appreciate that! And honestly it starts from some loops or beats from Kami Mihji or OhGosh, I load it up in my home studio and begin to put ideas down. Once I get a good rough skeleton we pull up on OhGosh and start post production and getting everything right. I always let my girlfriend hear the records see what she thinks alongside the team and if it’s flowing making sense and I’m loving it then we put it out. I keep bringing Kami up but he really is the goat because he does all of my artworks so everything is taken care we don’t really have to reach outside of our circle to get the the quality we do because we all care for it at a high amount. Everybody wants the best for each other so that’s what we always try to give.
So it seems like Kami Osha, Scotty Apex, and yourself work together a lot and everything you guys do is top-notch, so how did you guys meet? What's it like working with them, and do you guys have plans on putting out a joint project in the future?
Kami is the glue to it all he knows everybody and takes pride on linking people together because he knows something beautiful will come from it. Scotty Apex just released a body of work called “Startlight” which is amazing and so cohesive and flows. I’m featured on “All Of It” a super nice vibe I love that record. Working with Scotty is pure and chill he writes music so damn fast and it’s so good idk where he gets it from lol. With me I personally like to take my time and not rush anything but either process is amazing and something good will always come from it.
What’s next in 2021 do you have any plans on releasing any visuals anytime soon?
2021 I’m gonna be releasing another project and I’m def gonna be releasing more visuals. Gonna keep it going and getting everything to newer levels while enjoying the process
Who should we interview next on Nefarious Supply? Shout them out!
Chase Aaron, Kent Money, N.No, Price & Oktane from Audio Push but individually because their both doing solo projects right now for the first time ever which is amazing so that would be super cool to see their individual perspectives.
Any last words?
Last words I’d like to thank you guys again for taking the time out to interview me means a lot and keep a eye and ear out for everything Maxx Owa because you won’t be disappointed. Thank you
Big shout out to Maxx Owa for interviewing with Nefarious Supply, if you want to stay up to date wit him and his music you can find his Soundcloud above, and follow him on Instagram, as well as Twitter. While you’re showing love be sure to check out his newest project Crescendo available now! If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our weekly news letter you can sign up below.