Today we’d like to introduce you to MAXV aka Max Ville.
Thanks for sharing your story with us MAXV aka Max. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Born + Raised in Los Angeles. Melrose and Fairfax was my playground through my childhood years. My family lives in BERLIN and I’ve spent a lot of time in my teenage years over there. The music culture over there is something else. My cousins always were turning me onto artists that seemed to have not hit the US market yet, or I was too young to know.
For a DJ range is key, what I mean by that is having a vast knowledge in multiple genres is very beneficial to understand the dynamics of a dancefloor and you can take your listeners on a vast journey outside of just a single genre. I began djing in 2005 and had my first residency in 2006 in Hollywood. The dj booth was in the middle of the dance floor, no ropes, no barricades. If you weren’t making people dance, you were by yourself standing there djing. I was thrown into the flames quickly and had to tune my craft/ideas quickly. The challenge was real, I was also underage with a fake ID, and that was intimidating for me to be working at these clubs. I learned quick and got to be at some of the best Venues in Los Angeles at a young age. There was also a very healthy non diluted underground dance music scene in Los Angeles then that I was a big admirer of. Sarcastic Disco was thee greatest party I had ever been to and I tried to never miss one. Bolthouse had thee best nights at clubs In LA. I tried to go as much as possible, DJ AM was in his prime then and he was very special to LA and other djs. I worked at a record store on FAIRFAX from 2008-2010. Which was a big learning experience to be immersed in the records and equipment. I was also spending a lot of time at AMOEBA records digging for jams. I’ve had residencies all over Hollywood, The Standard Hotel, Soho House, The Mondrian, Roxbury, Hyde, Holly’s, Paul & Andres, Smoke + Mirrors, Hemingways, etc… My most recent residency is for Bolthouse productions & THE BUNGALOW locations throughout California. I have been the resident DJ at The Bungalow Santa Monica since the week it opened in 2012.
I began shaping VVshapes surfboards in 2014 in a collaboration with the clothing brand STAMPD. We had done multiple collabs including some with Bathing Ape /BAPE & then the artist FUTURA. It stayed fairly underground because I was fairly busy djing. Although I was still making a handful of boards for myself and those people who I personally knew. Spending that much time making something by hand in the early stages is very personal. It’s an intimate creation that I didn’t want just any stranger to have. A lot of self-research and development went into my boards. I really felt I needed to hone my crafts before the public had access. I wanted to make sure these creations could uplift someone’s experiences in the water and allow them to have more fun as they kept riding it. And that takes time. After enough boards made and my confidence in the tools + formulas grew. It a business and it’s going great. MOLLUSK SURF SHOP Venice just started to carry my boards, and I’m truly humbled by that. I’ve always been keen on that shop. My website is up, my Instagram is always my way to showcase the process and boards I’ve completed. I began painting the boards myself last year and thats been my new jam I’m doing on all the boards.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s Los Angeles, everyone is now a DJ. And in the surfboard realm there are a lot of options for people. So you just have to let the music speak for itself in both businesses so to speak.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
At the moment, my DJ work is halted. Clubs are closed. I’ve begun pouring more focus into my music productions and gear that I own. I’m still spending too much money on records. And I’m definitely hunting for jams daily. I may start a monthly DJ Livestream soon. I’m also recording a lot of mixtapes I plan to put up on my SoundCloud throughout summer/fall. Soundcloud.com/MAXV-MAXV
VVshapes Surfboard designs were blended and evolved from some of the most enjoyable boards of the good old days. These shapes portray the lines of fun and enjoyment. Quality is a Top Priority. Whether you’ve been surfing since you were a kid or just beginning these boards are dedicated towards ambitious fun. Enjoyed by all the like-minded.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
It’s Los Angeles, I can’t predict her. But I can say trends are going back in time. And I love that. The days pre-internet were very special.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.VVshapes.com
- Instagram: @VVshapes_ & @maxvmaxv
Image Credit:
Mike Selsky – he took the shot of me in the white black polkadot jacket and sunglasses
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