Conversations with Malcolm Perry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Malcolm Perry.

Hi Malcolm, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story has always been rooted in creativity. I took music production classes in high school, college, and grad school because I loved making music, but I never saw myself as a real creator at the time. The passion was there long before I knew what to do with it.

Everything shifted in New York while I was in grad school. I was bored between classes and downloaded Logic to give myself a creative outlet. What started as curiosity turned into hours of beat making and the realization that creativity was not just a hobby for me. It was who I had always been.

My first passion was screenwriting for film and television. I have always been fascinated by the way stories move people, and I eventually carried that same storytelling instinct into the digital world. Over the years I have worked in a wide range of creative environments, from agencies to major media companies to tech. I have held roles at places like Vice Media, where I worked inside the world of Vice News storytelling, then Spotify, and now Moises. My work has centered on digital marketing, creating brand voices, developing content strategy, and helping companies communicate in a way that feels human and intentional.

Today I am a blend of everything I have explored. I am a producer, a food creator, a copywriter, and someone who helps brands communicate in ways that people can feel. It may sound like a lot of lanes, but to me it all comes from the same place. Creativity has always been the constant.

I am still growing. I do not think a creative career ever reaches a final version. You just keep following the ideas that continue to pull you forward.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I have dealt with layoffs in my professional life, which forced me to rebuild more than once. I have had financial setbacks while living in some of the most expensive cities in the country, from New York City to San Francisco to Los Angeles. Trying to stay creative while keeping up with the cost of living in those places was its own challenge.

There were also the struggles that come with being a self taught creator. When I first started making beats, I had to learn everything from mixing to arranging to understanding sound in a real way. There were long nights of frustration and moments where I questioned whether I was even good enough to share my work. It took time before I felt confident playing my beats for artists or selling them. That learning curve was real. It forced me to develop discipline, patience, and trust in myself.

Looking back, all of those challenges shaped me. The setbacks pushed me to grow. The uncertainty made me resourceful. And the creative struggles taught me how to keep going even when I doubted myself. My path has never been easy, but every obstacle has played a part in the person and the creator I am today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In my creative life, I work across a few lanes, but music production is where a big part of my identity lives. I am known for making soulful and melodic beats with a heavy trap bounce. I grew up studying Atlanta artists and producers, but I also spent years in New York City, where I fell in love with lyricism and flow. My favorite genre has always been R&B, so every beat I make carries a melodic element that feels warm and emotional. I love merging genres and creating sounds that sit between worlds.

My biggest production influence is Kanye. The way he samples and flips classic songs into something new has always inspired me. That sense of taking something familiar and bending it into something fresh is the feeling I chase every time I sit down to create.

I have been blessed to work on projects that mean a lot to me. I contributed to Don Toliver’s track Do It Right, I have produced full projects for rising artists like Keenon Rush and Suni MF, and I even have a Latin record with Mora. It has been a fun ride so far, and I still feel like I am only getting started.

What sets me apart is my ear. I have been studying music and culture since I was a kid. For me the real skill of a producer is not just technical ability, it is being able to hear where a song can go and understanding what people will gravitate toward. Knowing the difference between a cool idea and a song that can genuinely connect. That instinct has always been my strongest tool and the thing I am most proud of.

How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is being able to wake up and create. I have a tattoo on my arm that says enjoy the journey, and that phrase really captures how I live. I am happiest when I have something to work toward, when I am pursuing a passion or building a new idea. The process itself is what motivates me. Being able to use creativity in everything I do keeps me grounded and excited about my life.

I am also a people person. Community matters to me. My friends and my family are a huge source of joy. Sharing experiences with them, celebrating wins together, or just being around people I love is something I never take for granted.

And food is a big part of my happiness. I am a chef at heart, a foodie who loves trying new restaurants and experimenting with new recipes. Cooking is another creative outlet for me, and it brings me the same sense of joy and curiosity that music does.

At the end of the day I am happiest when I am creating, connecting, and enjoying the journey in front of me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: malcjames_
• Twitter: malcjames_
• Youtube: malcjames