Conversations with Grüv

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grüv.

Hi Grüv, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I don’t have much of a story… I think some of us doubt ourselves and our futures because we don’t have an interesting backstory; no videos of us doing what we loved since we were kids, no rousing underdog tale of triumph or not even born somewhere we think is is exotic. I’m just another soul who has the privilege and freedom to create art and make a living doing what I love.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life has been very kind to me. I have loving parents who actually gave me space to be my own person, which is tragically uncommon. I’ve lost loved ones, I’ve lost jobs, I even had to sleep in my car for a bit. I feel like I’ve lost my mind once or twice but even in my losses, I’ve won. Making music has always brought me back. Creating art has always been my outlet. Building something bigger than myself has always been my passion and is what has kept me going.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I should say my main discipline is making and performing music, but I hope to keep evolving beyond that. From the bare bones of audio production to the live performance, I do everything myself. Being an independent artist with often a limited budget, I thought I always had to do everything myself.

This motivated me to learn other skills to help promote my music, but really it was all to expand my view of myself, my art, and the world around me. DJing, graphic design, photography… anything creative and performative excites me! And I’ve been lucky to have experience and success in those areas and more.

I’m most proud of my ability to love; a new medium, a new place, and a new human, it’s usually easy for me to find a flow and deep appreciation for things. My willingness to try something new is what sets me apart from others and allows me to be a utility knife in the industry. I don’t aspire to be known for any one thing, but I hope that one thing I do can inspire someone else in a positive way.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Arts and media coincide with the technology of the time, so obviously creating in general will get easier and faster especially as AI advances. So, there might be changes in how we view intellectual property altogether because of AI, or there may be more platforms to share new media and a bigger market for artificial art overall. So basically, more AI.

Contact Info:

• Website: iamgruv.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamgruv/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamgruv/
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/godofgroove/
• SoundCloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/iamgruv/

Image Credits
Brotha E, Stephanie Bassos, and Clarence Devon