Life & Work with Maverick Hill of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maverick Hill.

Hi Maverick, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Briefly? That’s funny—but I’ll try. I was born in Los Angeles, then moved to Chicago a few years after my parents divorced, and my mother remarried. I’ve always loved stories in every form—poems, books, songs, films—and I inherited my mother’s love of music across genres. I grew up listening to The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, James Brown, and others.

Music was always a passion, though I never imagined pursuing it professionally. That changed in sixth grade, when a female friend introduced me to Michael Jackson at her house. That chance encounter turned into an obsession: I memorized lyrics, studied album credits, and needed to know everything. Around the same time, I began listening to my brother’s Prince records—without realizing how deeply that discovery would shape my life.

After graduating from high school, I moved back to Los Angeles to reconnect with my father and pursue music professionally. Two days before my twenty-first birthday, my brother Alan, who was serving in the Navy, was killed in a car accident in Seattle. I went to his funeral as one person and came back changed—grounded in the understanding that every breath we’re given is a gift, and that life demands both courage and intention.

Nightclubs became my sanctuary, and before long, I’d gained a reputation in Hollywood as a great dancer. I was offered modeling work and even a spot in a well-known R&B boy band, but I turned both down. Around that time, I kept running into Prince at various clubs. He liked my dancing, and over time we became friends.

A few years later, I was working as a promoter at the nightclub Vertigo, where actress Troy Beyer (Dynasty) and I co-hosted the record release party for Prince’s single “Sexy MF.” After he purchased the club, I stepped into the role of Promotions Manager at its new incarnation, Glam Slam (West). The club drew an incredible range of artists—George Michael, Janet Jackson, 2Pac, and Peter Gabriel, among them. I even remember doing shots backstage with an unknown band at the time called No Doubt.

One night at Glam Slam, one of my promoters, Amy Norris, introduced me to Carmen Electra. After the club eventually closed, I connected her with my friend Henry Penzi, who went on to become her manager. Looking back, I realize much of my career has unfolded behind the scenes—helping friends make the right connection, open the right door, or take the next step forward.

I gained a deep understanding of the entertainment industry through hands-on experience—working at various nightclubs, hosting hundreds of private events, collaborating with firms such as Bernstein, Fox, Goldberg, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Disney, and networking relentlessly. I’m one of those rare individuals who are equally passionate about both the creative and business sides of entertainment. Today, my focus is on creating and sharing stories through multiple lenses.

I resist labels, but at my core, I’m a storyteller. I tell stories through quotes, songs, photography, and film scripts. As a writer, I’ve completed two original film scripts (spec). As a producer, I served as Assistant Producer on Glam Slam Ulysses, a live musical that ran at Glam Slam, and as a Consulting Producer for The Jones Theatre Workshop in Hollywood. The workshop was founded by actors William James Jones (California Dreams), Thyme Lewis (Days of Our Lives), and Randy J. Goodwin (The Vampire Diaries).

As an independent music artist, I’ve released twelve singles and three EPs. In December 2025, I released my debut album, Electric Gemini, Vol. 1. I’m currently working on two new albums and laying the foundation for a production company dedicated to developing and producing films.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. One of my biggest personal challenges today is no longer having the support system I once relied on. I had a strong tribe, and most of them are no longer here. I lost my mentor and friend, Prince. I’ve also lost close friends—actor Jonathan Brandis, actor Kristoff St. John, and actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner. I’ve lost family members as well: my mother, my father, and three siblings.

Other friends have moved away from California, while many are now focused on building their own families and careers. Along the way, people I trusted—both personally and professionally—have betrayed me. That’s why I deeply value my friendships with Carmen Electra, Mark Tannaz, and Kate Elizabeth Hallam. When my mother passed away, the only person I knew—aside from my brother David—who would truly understand, make time for me, and show up without question was Carmen. She’s always there for me, just as I’m always there for her. That kind of loyalty is rare these days.

Another ongoing challenge is time. During the pandemic, I returned to college part-time, and finding balance between school and everything else remains difficult. The creative landscape itself has also become increasingly complicated. There’s a constant threat of idea theft—songs, scripts, concepts. Music and video platforms regularly change their royalty policies, and social media companies, often citing copyright discrepancies, purge thousands of songs from their servers every week. Meanwhile, Wall Street hedge funds and unregulated talent agencies continue to disrupt and exploit the industry—but that’s another story.
So yes, finding balance—between grief and gratitude, creativity and survival, passion and protection—remains one of my greatest challenges.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a storyteller, I want to create work that moves the person experiencing it. I’m not interested in recycling overused or outdated ideas. My creativity comes from the soul, filtered through a modernist approach and expressed across multiple mediums.
Through my original quotes, I explore a wide range of themes—some inspiring, some edgy, some reflective, thought-provoking, and unapologetic. A few examples:

“Racism is the DNA of the U.S.A.”
“The sexiest part of a woman’s body is her brain.”
“I’m not single; I’m in a relationship with my goals.”
“I always listen to what people don’t say—it’s far more interesting than the bullshit they want you to believe.”
“Be bold, brave, and fearless. Stop hiding in the shadows of your own life. You don’t need anyone’s permission to be yourself. Breathe, rise, and shine. The world is your stage. Illuminate us with your knowledge, beauty, and creative vision—because only you have it.”

In my music, I write by pouring whatever I’m thinking and feeling directly into the lyrics and sound. My latest album, Electric Gemini, Vol. 1, is cinematic in scope, driven by dystopian themes. Critics have described my music as “very experimental,” which I take as the ultimate compliment. Every composer, artist, author, and innovator who has influenced me—from Beethoven and Bernini to T.S. Eliot, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince—was once considered experimental. I create from instinct, expressing what I’m feeling in the moment. This album was designed to take the listener on a journey, whether they’re on the dance floor, in their car, at work, or alone on the sofa.
My film scripts—still surreal for me to say—follow the same creative process as my quotes and songs. I’m focused on originality, often using misdirection and modernist structure to challenge the audience’s expectations. I’m still learning the craft, but the torture of writing is real. Living with characters and stories in your head every day borders on madness. Ironically, the person who influenced me most to start writing screenplays—my friend and accomplished screenwriter Cliff Dorfman (Entourage, Warrior)—can’t actually read my scripts. That contradiction somehow feels fitting.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Music Production
Reaper (DAW)
My primary digital audio workstation—and one I highly recommend. While Pro Tools and Logic are powerful, I find them unnecessarily time-consuming for my workflow. Reaper lets me stay focused on creativity rather than menus and limitations.

Books

Donald S. Passman — All You Need to Know About the Music Business
Essential reading for any artist navigating the industry.
Joseph Shostell — Environmental Science: A Need for Living Sustainably
A grounding reminder of responsibility beyond art.
Sarma Melngailis — The Girl with the Duck Tattoo (Hey S.).

Apps

Reddit – For culture, conversation, and rabbit holes.
Waze – Because L.A. traffic is a living thing.
Canva Pro – Visual storytelling made practical.
Google Drive – Organization and collaboration.
Duo Mobile – Security is not optional.

Podcasts

TED Talks – Ideas worth sitting with.
The Crew Has It – Conversations with purpose and insight.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maverickhillmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammaverickhill
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maverickhillmusic
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maverickhillmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maverickhill
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/maverickhill
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5p0SNjLmqKNmyRra6T0kSy

Image Credits
©Maverick Hill