We got to chat with MVTR, a Florida-based artist who has been connected to music since childhood. He first taught himself piano before picking up guitar and eventually diving into production, sound design, and electronic music. He describes his sound as “beautiful chaos.” In our conversation, he opened up about the story behind his music project and upcoming album, while emphasizing its central message: “you matter,” rooted in personal experiences and his goal of creating connection through vulnerability and sound.
In Conversation with MVTR
Kat, Electric Hawk: Tell us about yourself, where you’re from, and how long you’ve been making music?
MVTR: I’m from and currently based in Florida. I’ve been making music since I was a kid. We had a grand piano in my childhood home, and I was always drawn to it. I mostly taught myself piano, then picked up guitar and learned that as well. I also played a variety of other instruments growing up, which shaped my early musical foundation.
Although piano sparked my initial interest, the guitar became my favorite because I could just pick it up, take it anywhere, and play it with friends. I started bringing it to bonfires and hangouts, just playing guitar and singing together, my first real experience of sharing music and feeling that sense of community. From there, it naturally evolved into recording, producing, sound design, and eventually dubstep.
Kat: Who were some of your early musical influences growing up?
MVTR: I was really into classic rock, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, and Wolfmother. I’d pick songs I loved and learn how to play them.
I even played “Eruption” by Van Halen at a middle school talent show. It took me forever to figure out, but I was obsessed with understanding how it worked. That curiosity, figuring out how sounds are made, has always driven me.
Later, when I discovered artists like Liquid Stranger, Skrillex, and Rusko, I had a similar fascination. EDM sounded so different and digital compared to traditional instruments, and I became obsessed with learning how it was created.
Kat: Where does your artist name “MVTR” come from?
MVTR: The core message behind the project is: “You matter.” It’s about reminding people that they’re important and that they have the power to impact the world.
Mental health is a huge focus for me. A difficult reality is that for people aged 15–24, the top 3 leading causes of death are accidental injury (overdose), suicide, and homicide. I’ve lost friends to these struggles, and I’ve dealt with my own challenges too.
This project was partly inspired by losing a childhood friend to suicide. It made me realize how important it is to tell people they matter while they’re still here. I wanted to use music as a way to communicate that message proactively.
There’s also a stigma, especially among men, around expressing emotions. By being vulnerable on stage and sharing my story, I hope it gives others permission to do the same.
If someone hears my music at the right moment and it helps them even a little, that means everything. That’s what keeps me going.
Kat: How would you describe your sound to someone hearing it for the first time?
MVTR: It’s kind of “beautiful chaos.”
The message behind the project is deep, but I still want people to have fun, throw down, and enjoy themselves at shows. Music can be an escape, when you walk into a show, you can leave everything else at the door and just be present.
There are intentional, emotional, and melodic moments in my music, but there are also heavy, high-energy parts. It reflects the full range of emotions, because mental health isn’t a linear experience.
My upcoming album especially has a lot of “peaks and valleys.” It’s meant to feel like stepping into a new world. Like the transition from struggling without self-awareness to actively working on loving yourself and growing. That shift can completely change how you experience life.
Kat: What inspired the concept behind your upcoming album?
MVTR: The album is called Welcome to MVTR. It reflects the idea of life before and after you start caring about yourself and working on your mental health. That shift can feel like stepping into a completely new world.
The visuals tie into that too, like a vibrant, illuminated environment where everything feels alive, almost like an “Avatar” style world. That represents how life started to feel for me once I began working on myself, more alive instead of weighed down by depression.
Kat: What does this new album represent for you compared to your previous releases?
MVTR: Flips and remixes are great because they’re familiar, fans already know the original track, and you’re showing your take on it. But an album is much more personal. It’s a full introduction to who I am as an artist.
I chose to do a longer album instead of a shorter EP because I wanted to show all sides of the project. I didn’t feel like four tracks would fully capture that. There are heavier 140 BPM tracks, some hip-hop-inspired 85 BPM songs, which connect to my roots. and more melodic, intimate moments with vocals.
Kat: Do you feel like you’re following a lane or creating your own?
MVTR: I think I’m creating my own lane. I started this project after going through some of the darkest moments in my life, and that became the foundation of everything. Instead of blending those experiences into my career later on, I built the project around them from the start. I saw people around me struggling and not talking about it, and I knew that needed to change.
So the goal became: live it, and then use my platform to talk about it.
Kat: What was the biggest challenge while building this project?
MVTR: The biggest challenge has been how vulnerable the message is. Talking about mental health openly, especially in front of large crowds, can be intimidating.
But that discomfort is exactly why it’s important. A lot of people avoid these conversations because they’re uncomfortable. So if I want to make an impact, I have to push through that and lead by example.
Kat: What’s the most memorable moment you’ve had with a fan or crowd?
MVTR: After my sets, I try to go out into the crowd and connect with people. That’s really where the deeper connection to my fans begins for me.
And the first show I played, I remember getting off stage and a man I’d never met before came up to me and told me he had been on the verge of taking his life the week prior, and that hearing me say he mattered during the set was something he really needed in that moment. We ended up talking for a long time after that. And for me, that’s not something I’m looking for a gold star for, it’s just a reminder that we can help each other even in really small ways, that have a huge impact.
Kat: What does success look like for you?
MVTR: When I first started, my goal was simple: impact one person. This is bigger than how I feel on any given day. Even if I don’t feel like working, I remind myself that there could be someone out there who needs to hear this message, and that responsibility keeps me moving forward.
So now, success is just scaling that impact, reaching as many people as possible who need to hear that they matter.
Kat: What’s your dream collab, venue, and festival to play in the future?
MVTR: Dream collaboration: Liquid Stranger. Dream venue: Red Rocks. Dream festival: Lost Lands.
Kat: If you could only give someone one daily reminder, what would it be and why?
MVTR: You’re not alone.
Most people are dealing with something, even if it’s not visible. We often feel isolated in our struggles, but the reality is that many of us are going through similar things.
If we can open up and connect with each other more honestly, we’ll realize we’re a lot less alone than we think.
Kat: Is there anything else listeners should know about your upcoming album?
MVTR: There’s a track called Pressure that really leans into my hip-hop influences, which is a big part of my background. Fans can expect more of that style in the future, including collaborations with rappers.
I also have a single called I Know You’re a Liar. It’s a more melodic track that explores the idea that even after you start working on yourself, there’s still that inner voice telling you you’re not enough.
The message of the song is recognizing that those thoughts are lies, and choosing to keep moving forward, knowing you do matter.
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