MVSSIE
Interview conducted on March 25, 2021
By Dan Locke
Sacramento, California singer/songwriter MVSSIE released her newest single titled “Monsters Under My Bed” to all digital outlets. The single was produced by Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft (Escape the Fate).
What is your upbringing?
I grew up in a somewhat conservative household. I was in church every Sunday and even began my career leading worship with my band at the time. I would say it was pretty normal. Both parents, little sister, our dogs, in our little house in Rocklin, CA.
How did you discover music?
I was always around music growing up. I would say my connection with music started at my kindergarten talent show when I sang Daddy’s Hands by Holly Dunn. Ever since then I fell in love with singing and connecting with what other people wrote.
How did you start to write music?
When I was 10, my great grandpa passed away and I wrote my first song for him called, Invisible. I always like to say that he gave me wings in my music.
Describe your music.
This is a hard one for me because I have changed as a person and with it, my music, over the years. I have landed on a very alternative pop rock sound and I think I am going to be staying here a while. One thing that has always been constant is the content I write about. I stick to what hits home for me, my own personal experiences, and most of the time it’s what is relatable to a lot of other people.
You used to be in a Christian base band. How was your time in the band?
To be transparent, it was incredible for a really long time. We were family and grew so much together as people and in our talents. Unfortunately, we were all young and wanted different things out of life and music, and I was eventually no longer part of the band.
What was your first performance like?
I don’t think I remember the very first performance! I have been doing this so long! I will say that every performance felt like magic, like that was where I was meant to be.
Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations?
Yes, I have both a writer and publisher account with ASCAP.
What makes a good songwriter?
I truly believe if a songwriter affected even one person emotionally and makes someone FEEL what they have written about, they did their job. Even if it was only one person, maybe that person really needed it. I remember one time at a youth retreat my band played at, we left out one of our popular songs and I just had that feeling we needed to play it. We changed our lineup and played the song and just one young girl came to me saying that she needed that song. A good songwriter gets people to connect and feel.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Invisible. It was the song for my great grandpa and yes, I still have my tiny little 10-year-old voice on a recorded track. We even made a little music video for it!
What is the process of writing your music?
The process is ALWAYS different. Sometimes it starts with an instrumental that I write to, sometimes it starts with one line that even months later, turns into a song. I t all depends! My latest single started with a concept inspired by my best friend, found a basic instrumental that we later changed, and a random line I had written in my notebook months ago! From there I wrote the song and we remade the instrumental.
Why did you rebrand yourself?
When I started my solo music, I was making pop music. It was what was popular and what I was into at the time. I was only 19 and from then to 25, I have changed A LOT. I wasn’t seeing much success from what I was doing and figured out it was because it wasn’t what I identified with. I was forcing something I wasn’t even enjoying. So, I decided to go back to my roots in a way and add a little more edge to my music. I think that if you don’t love what you are creating, other people aren’t going to either.
What is the backstory for ‘Mama Don’t Cry’?
A few months prior to the Route 91 shooting, I had received a call that one of my family friends, Alexis Jenkins, had passed away. She was an only child and seeing her parent’s grief was heartbreaking. When I learned about the shooting, my manager had told me his close friend, Chelsea Romo, had been shot in the eye. I could not imagine the uncertainty of her survival and the pain her mom and family must have been experiencing. That feeling extended to every family who lost, or were in fear of losing a loved one. Thinking about how my mom would feel if it were me was devastating. Sitting down to write this song, I decided I wanted to create a way of providing some comfort and peace to those who had lost a child, sibling, parent, friend or significant other. Mama Don’t Cry came so easily to me, knowing what I would want my own mother to hear from me if I were gone. I then decided to create a visual to not only honor those who were lost but to bring hope to their families and loved ones.
Tell me about your new single ‘Monsters Under My Bed’?
Monsters Under my bed is about anxiety. I have been personally struggling with anxiety and when my friend came to me about her situation at the time, telling me she wished she could just run away, it really hit home for me. I focused on the struggle of decision making, which is a huge part of anxiety. I wanted to write it in a simple way anyone could relate to, and what better way to do that. Everyone as a kid has been scared of monsters.
How was it to work with Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft?
Thrasher was awesome to work with. Production and recording went so smooth! He is a really cool guy as well.
How have you used music as therapy for your darkest times?
Every one of my own songs has been a way for me to deal with what is happening in my life and what I have gone through. In a different way, music in general has always helped me understand my situations from another perspective. Sometimes I even allow myself to just feel sad, cry and listen to sad music! It’s healthy. There is also a lot of music that gets me out of that mindset!
What is your favorite song on your album?
I think my favorite song of mine is probably Revive. It has resonated with me for years and is always relevant for me.
What are you feeling about streaming music?
In the perspective of an artist, sometimes it’s really hard to just put yourself out there, especially when you’re putting something out there that is so vulnerable. As someone who listens to music, I actually didn’t always like using Spotify but I absolutely love the amount of music you can discover. I think it is so cool that you have every song at your fingertips.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Because I am a 90’s kid, vinyls are really interesting to me, but I grew up on digital.
What song is in your mind right now? Moreover, what does that song mean to you?
I swear my mind goes blank when I am even asked to sing a song for someone! I can tell you that my favorite song right now is probably Bones by MODSUN. It is so powerful. For me it’s the struggle of letting go of something that has become part of you.
Do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus is going to affect the music business in the future?
I don’t believe it killed it; I think we have learned to adapt. We live in a world of technology so the possibilities are endless. I firmly believe we will open up live events again as well.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I have been rebranding myself since last year! I have been working on what is next for me.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I actually started drawing again to exercise my brain creatively! I also got certified to do needle free lip fillers.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
There will always be something new to take its place. Facebook is not the end all. I think they have kinda shot themselves in the foot with the restrictions they have put in place and new policies. Someone will develop a better app at some point.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at shows?
Like I mentioned previously, we are a world of technology. We adapt. I don’t think artists will lose fans as long as they are creating and continuing to use the recourses they have.
Is pay to play still a thing?
It is very much still a thing and I think it always will be.
What about holographic concerts in our living room?
It would be wild to do that but I feel like it will definitely take away from the experience. Even though we are only doing livestream shows right now, live shows with make a comeback, as they are already popping up.
If you can’t do music, what else would you like to be doing?
I have always thought about becoming an esthetician! That or studying psychology.
What is your happy place?
In the sunshine, preferably on a beach somewhere with a drink.
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
Selling anything you have grown attached to id hard! I really don’t know! Depends on the circumstances, I guess.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
I’m honestly really bad at it but I try to post more since a lot of people seem to do well on that platform.
