We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Markivus Nious a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Markivus, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I was five years old, conflicted between watching Motown 25 or Superman. Once I found out Michael Jackson was going to perform, Superman was out (this was 1983 when Michael Jackson was at the height of his fame, and his record-breaking album Thriller was taking the world by storm). I kept flipping back and forth from Superman and Motown 25 to catch Michael Jackson’s performance. Once he performed and did the moonwalk, I was hooked. His performance was mesmerizing, and he had everyone in a daze. It felt as though he was gliding and spinning. Once he did the moonwalk, it was over. It was then I knew I wanted to learn how to breakdance and move like Michael Jackson. That moment is when I immersed myself into breakdancing which later progressed to rapping. As I am writing this, I realized I watched both of my passions. I am a musical artist. I work in the aviation field as well. My fascination with flight started with Superman.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Music has always been a part of my life. I started off writing poetry when I was in middle school. In high school, I auditioned for a group in New Jersey, which led me to my first venture of performing when I was given my stage name Furyus. I completed a drug-free rap at my high school talent show in high school. This led to attending Hancock Broadcasting academy for WBSL AM1190 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. After graduation, I decided to join the Navy. This eventually led to me forming my first record label, Secrets Of Society Records. Then, later creating Stand Alone Music. Through Music, I’ve performed in places like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, New England, Southern California, The Mid-Atlantic Region. My Music has been in Dance Moms, Breaking Amish, Craft Wars, Say Yes To That Dress, and Bride Wars. I’ve also been Grammy Considered for my single “So Fancy,” featuring Pop singer formerly of the Boy Band US5 Vince Tomas.

I still had a passion for radio. So in 2015, I decided to get back into radio, this time interviewing fellow musicians and entertainers, so I decided to create “Deeper Than Music Radio.” Initially, the show was on TMI Radio based in Arlington. I want to thank Kevin Hopwood for that opportunity. I took a break from it then restarted the show last summer. Now “Deeper Than Music Podcast” is on various platforms such as IHeart Radio, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spreaker.

Stand Alone Music is my production and music company. It is the primary vehicle for my albums, singles, and releases. I specialize in urban, hip hop, and R&B music. I’ve made a few collaborative efforts, but mainly, it’s the vehicle for my music. Because I am a musical artist, I needed to create a company for all my songs and creations. Stand Alone Music is known for putting out upbeat music, mainly hip hop, in the vein of artists like Common, Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, and The Roots. I am most proud that I’ve been able to tour the east coast, be grammy considered, and so far have over 100,000 streams and reach over 39 countries through my music on Spotify Alone.

Deeper Than Music Podcast is a podcast that I created to help bring the stories of fellow artists and share their stories and music. I wanted to create a platform where entertainers could share more than just their music. They could share the story behind their music. The show is a platform where the artist shares their motivation inspiration and gives advice to the listeners who aspire to be like them. My proudest moment is that I got to interview well-known people such as Dallas Native Liz Mikel, Damion Hall of the legendary R&B group “Guy.” I am also proud that my show is now streaming on IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and various other platforms, helping me reach a broader listening base.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Word of mouth, engage with the artist, buy their much and promote their music and shows. Get immersed in their creative ventures.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Creative feedback, hearing that I made a difference in someone’s life or my music inspired them. Some people have been following me since the beginning of my official release in 2003, and they are still around. I have. I’ve seen old pictures of me posted with fans who attended a show over ten years ago. That in itself is awe-inspiring to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.iammarkivus.com/
• Instagram: @Furyuslyspeaking
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FuryusMarkivus/
• Twitter: @Furyus
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIFzy-jsz7XhUqDcX3n9PQA
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11150243/

Image Credits
Carrie Sybert