Our Latest Chit Chat With Multi Talented Artist Piff Von Mar

Piff Von Mar, also known by his stage name PVM, has been making waves in Chicago’s music scene since before we had a black president. His newest project finds PVM masterfully weaving all of the experience, connections, and knowledge that he has gained with his own stories of struggles, shortcomings, and personal triumphs. Bred Bastard is Piff’s most recent body of work since he dropped The Claim in 2015. Bred Bastard, with its 18-song tracklist, proves that, at least in the case of good music, sometimes more is actually more. PVM and his new project are much like the city that they were made in, gritty, energetic and in your face, but filled with creativity and insight into the way of the world. In a time where there seems to be a schism in Chicago’s music scene between drill rap and conscious rap, PVM effortlessly blends the two, showing that you can be destined for success and everything else that you want despite the violent and less than perfect way that you were brought up if you have the drive to work for it.

Q:When you decide it’s time to make a new record, is that more exciting or stressful?

Ans: Music is therapeutic to me so its always exciting to be working on a new record, the entire process from finding new instrumentations, ideas and concepts. Im a creative so when Im crafting new records Im in my glory.

Q:  How do you shut things out?

Ans: When creating music i really tend to allow everything in instead of acting as if they dont exist. The struggle the grind the success, all balance out and make me “Me”.  I just let the energy lead me , like if i wake up on some fuck the world shit, then the music i make that day will carry the same type of energy.

Q: How easily do songs tend to come to you?

Ans : I used to spend days writing verses , weeks catering to songs. Then like two years ago I locked in the studio with my producer homies Donn Robb and JParker. Working with them really changed my work ethic. The homie Donn Robb was working in a studio with a indie label and engineering for the artist, and in between his sessions with the artist on the label He would make productions for me to rock to and we would work on my music. So at that time i didn’t have days and weeks to write songs. During the time he was making the production I was writing and crafting hooks, melodies and flows and we would go from there.The first couple times around it was hectic but we followed that same formula throughout the entire process when creating the claim my first ep. So when me and JParker linked up on Bred Bastard it was effortless to come up with concepts and melodies. We finished the project in a 3 month period.

Q: What’s your motto or the advice you live by?

Ans: Sleepless nights, working to better my life I and the lives of the people thats close to me I always have to tell remind myself.  That nobody said this shit was gonna be easy.

Q: What is you favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car?

ANs: Im not really into going out to bars unless its under contract, but when Im riding my favorite song right now is that Represent by thr

Q: For our readers who have never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words?

Ans: This dope here sells itself.

Q: You write all of your own music; where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the process?

ANS:  I dont typically write at all. Maybe jot a few ideas here and there but writing down lyrics blocks the energy and flow of how i create the best.  I feel like when im trying to get out how i feel it has to be 100 percent from the heart. Thats  the only way to get the best  output. I get inspired by growth, to see things evolve over a time period is always inspiring. Its the same inspiration in the process of recording, every time i want to see growth, once all the vocals are laid then we spend so many hours critiquing the song which is my favorite part because you can see where the idea came from and once its fully underwent all the edits and masters and its ready its grown.

Q: At what age did you start rapping?

ANS: I start rapping as a shorty I was like eight the first time me and my big cuz was recording on tap decks. I dont rap any more  though I stopped that a few years ago after The Claim was finished up. Im a Creative now so all my musical masterpieces are my creations.

Q: If you could perform with anyone, in the future, who would it have to be?

Ans: Kanye hands down! The things he’s done for the culture and Creatives like myself will always be respected! Not to mention the concerts and stage themes hes crafted over the years.

Q:What is your favorite song to sing live?

Ans: Bred Bastard

Q:When and why did you start rapping?

ANS: I’ve been writing all my life, but I really started taking music seriously like 3 years ago.

Q:Do you have any events coming up or recording going on right now?

Ans: Yes im doing a quick strike pop up shop tour to promote my new project Bred Bastard and my new clothing collection Bred we will be making stops in  Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and LA from mid November until the end of the year. All the details are available on my website iampvm.com

Q:Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to rap as a career or just advice about music in general?

Ans : Do it yourself them labels ant gon give you no money.

Q: If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it?

Ans : Bred Bastard, Not Perfect, and The World

Q:How does the conversation go when someone pitches the performance to you?

Ans: we treat everything like a business so they have to go through management.

Q:  Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

Ans:Master P. He came from nothing just like me. Made a way out all from the grind. Started out the trunk and made Millions. How could you not admire that. Salute Master P

Q:  Which famous musicians have you learned from?

Ans:Kanye West. He’s a great inspiration for creatives like myself. The process is so enduring and to see someone who’s a imploded so much of my aspirations. I’ve learned so much from his integrity and how he doesn’t allow people to dictate his goals and aspirations. Yeezy for president 2020

Q:  What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?

Ans:Fondest musical memory was my first public performance. It was a competition in the south suburbs and everybody that was performing brought out at least 50 people each, the place was packed out. I had every one singing the hook in the entire spot. I thought I was on top of the world. I’ve been trying to relive that feeling every since.

Q:  Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

Ans:One of my biggest influences is R.kelly. Even though we in two different genres he has the biggest influence. I grew up in the era when he became a full blown star and the instrumentation  and song structures is what really first help me structure my first songs and chose the type of instrumentations.

Q:  Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD’s?

Ans: I’m from Chicago so I’m really big on artist like Kanye and Lupe. Jay-z my all time favorite. Blueprint number one album of all time. My favorite group growing up was Cash Money Hot Boyz

Q:  Do you perform in public? Describe those occasions? Concerts, radio, TV?

Ans:I’ve been putting in work for sometime now and it’s paying off I’ve had the opportunity to perform at A3c in Atlanta and SXSW in Austin last year. I’ve also performed at a few events and did some radio runs out in New York. Me and the homie Vito my road DJ have been state to state reading stages down.

Q:  Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?

Ans: when I first started performing locally I really didn’t get nervous but as the shows and platforms have expanded and I’m going out of state doing shows there’s a new type of excitement that sometimes cause me to overthink the outcome. The crowds have been very receptive to my art and stage performance.

Q:  What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

Ans:No matter the amount of people in the crowd. Always leave it all on the stage

Q:  Do you attend sessions? What makes a good session?

Ans:All the time, majority of my day is spent in sessions. A good session is all about a goal the focus and great energy. Can go wrong with that formula.

Q:  How often and for how long do you practice?

Ans:I obligate two days out the week to work on my stage performance, two days out of the week working on new song patterns, and the rest of the week recording, shooting videos and meetings.

Thanks for your time 🙂