If you’ve frequented Cobra on any given Thursday this semester (and we know you have), then you’ve definitely enjoyed the sound of this week’s campus celebrity. Raf Massarelli, better known by his stage name Mavro, is an ambitious DJ slash Western student slash most down-to-earth human being. You may have seen him hyping the crowds at Factory, or you might have enjoyed his remix to Nico & Vinz’s “Am I Wrong” up on his SoundCloud; needless to say, he’s a pretty determined individual. I mean, anyone who manages to juggle producing new tracks, working various gigs, and maintaining schoolwork, all the while still remaining extremely humble, is pretty incredible. Her Campus was able to sit down and discuss with him his start to DJing, his break into the London scene, and his future ideas of where he plans on going.
What was it that gravitated you towards DJing? Were you into electronic music before that?
Yeah, I used to play the piano growing up, actually, and my dad and my uncle own a recording studio, so I used to go there all the time. I was in, like, grade 4 and I would mess around, make little songs. I’m pretty sure I made a rap song in grade 4.
How did you get yourself into the London scene, playing here?
I got pretty lucky. One of my buddies is starting to become a pretty big DJ in Montreal, and when I got here I messaged him asking if he knew anyone in London who worked at a club or something because I wanted to start playing clubs, and he actually introduced me to my manager who got me my first gig in October of 2012. It was at Up on Carling. There were maybe 7 people at the bar that night, and they were all from my floor. (laughs)
What have you been up to recently?
This summer I actually took off. I was in the studio probably, like, every day trying to finish a bunch of things because I just took off all my songs that I had out. I’m just trying to redo everything. I only have one song out right now, and I’m just trying to get the rest all done so I can go to labels from there.
Do you prefer producing to mixing?
I don’t know; they’re really different. DJing is fun because the crowd is just going nuts, and you get to interact with them. It’s really satisfying when you see people like the music that you play. Producing is a lot harder. But when you finally have a song you finish, you’re just like, “Wow.”
Have you ever had to compromise yourself or your musical interests in order to please a crowd?
Oh, yeah, all the time. Especially in London, because a lot of people in London don’t really know much about the EDM scene, it’s all Top 40 and mainstream. I prefer playing house and electro, but at the bars it doesn’t work, it like clears the dance floor. So you have to throw in some hip hop. It’s all about reading the crowd, right? Some songs go better when a crowd is in a certain mood than others.
Let’s talk about your music a bit. How would you describe your sound?
I don’t think I really have enough songs out yet to have my own “sound” but I really like producing progressive house. Some inspirations for that would be, like, Alesso, Dzeko & Torres, Tïesto, and probably Hardwell, although I’m becoming a bit less of a fan since he keeps pushing out the same stuff lately. But yeah, I’d say progressive house and electro would be my “genres.”
What’s your favourite part about DJing and what’s your least favourite part?
My favourite part out of everything that’s ever happened was playing my own song in front of, like, a really big crowd and everyone singing along to it. That was really sick. My least favourite part is probably the industry. It’s really cut-throat, it’s really, like, “I’m only going to give you a spot in the show if you sell this many tickets.” It’s basically very money-oriented, like most things in the entertainment industry. So if you really want to get yourself out there, it’s all about who you meet. Just meet everyone, make friends with everyone. You need to give the company something to offer for them to pursue you.
Any trends you think are going to rise in the future?
Yeah, deep house. It’s starting to get really big. That’s what the general masses are doing now, especially people like Oliver Heldens. Even bigger names like Tïesto, they’re pushing that stuff. It’s kind of divided now, almost. You have the people who like big room, go to festivals just to get destroyed and just jump around and then you have the people that are kind of snobby that are like, “Underground, underground, underground!” But there’s good music in every genre of electronic music, so you really have to appreciate it all.
To keep updated on Mavro’s upcoming tracks (soon to be released), like his Facebook page and check out his SoundCloud!