Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mikey Vee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Mikey, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Ever since I was a little kid I loved music. My first hip hop album was actually “Get Rich or Die Tryin” but I was into a bunch of different types from the start. I remember staying up late downloading music off Limewire hahah. When I was in high school, I began writing poetry to be able to write down how I felt. This eventually led to me writing songs and doing open mics in college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. My homie M Shah had put me on to studio recording and I recorded my first songs at his apartment. After college, my other homies and I formed a 3 man Fil-Am rap group from Daly City called Doyen. Throughout this time, however, I never really took it serious and for the most part just did it as a hobby. It wasn’t until Covid around 2021 that I began to push my music harder. I went solo and rebranded as “Mikey Vee” and the rest is history.

Thinking back, part of me wishes that I had started taking it seriously at least a few years earlier, because now the market for musicians and artists is extremely saturated. However, I believe I was meant to wait and gain the experiences that I had over the years in order to create better music and put me in the place I am today. I always like to say, “You grow where you’re planted”.

Mikey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Mikey Vee and I am a Filipino-American hip hop artist from Daly City in the Bay Area. I believe I have a unique style of music and perspective that you don’t usually see from many Bay Area artists. I like to experiment and produce all types of music and consider myself extremely versatile and able to make any type of song. I also put a lot of thought into what I rap or song about and speak on subjects ranging from love, to God, to mental health and everything in between.

I got into the music business through releasing music online and networking online and in-person over the years. What began as a hobby of writing lyrics on paper to express myself turned into a full-fledged business and part-time music career. I have now been officially signed to a Bay Area label known as Musiq Production and am working on my second full-length hip hop album.

I feel I have been blessed with incredible opportunities and accomplishments, but a few of the things I am most proud of are:

1. Getting signed to an official label – Musiq Production
2. Writing, Producing, and Distributing my Debut album, REM
3. Getting interviewed on TFC
4. Creating my latest cinematic music video for my song, Danae, which can be watched on Youtube now.
5. Winning a grant from Balay Kreative to fund my project

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

A lot of people might not know this because I rebranded around 2021, but I have been doing music for over 10 years on and off. I released music for a bit when I began and eventually became part of a rap group called Doyen whom I mentioned earlier. I had to take a break to pursue my professional career as a Mechanical Engineer. The funny thing is that I was kicked out of my college at Cal Poly SLO TWICE for my grades and was forced to move back home and start over. Eventually however, I was successfully able to graduate with my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from San Francisco State and began working in the tech industry for companies such as Google and Tesla. But the music kept calling to me.

I still remember doing shows where no one had showed up and doing shows where a bunch of people were present but I received no love. Even today, I still occasionally do shows where no one comes or the energy isn’t there, but I’ve continued to press forward and take the steps I need to grow and reach my goals. I also have a big problem with anxiety, which hasn’t been the most helpful thing to have when you’re performing in front of a crowd. Honestly, every time I get on stage, even today, I still get nervous, but I don’t let that stop me from sharing my gifts. I know that with enough time and dedication, I’m going to make it to the big leagues!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

For awhile now, I’ve set forth in my head that my ultimate purpose is to inspire others to go for the things that they want. My mentor told me that without purpose we are just empty shells and that walking in your purpose not only opens doors but allows you to create the life that you want. I want to be able to say I did everything I could to reach my goal and my goal – is to see just how far I can go with my music.

I created my debut project, REM, to show people how to connect with others and how to connect with things that you didn’t believe you could understand or relate to. As a Filipino American rapper from the Bay Area today, I should have absolutely nothing in common with a 17th Century Dutch Painter halfway across the world. But, I was somehow able to relate to and find kinship with this man named Rembrandt and create a whole album, inspired by his works.

I want people to take what they need from my music and bring people together. That’s my mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hitmkr.com/mikeyveemusic
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeyveemusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC98wAeWAfAJDGL1cGDjQoDQ
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mikey_vee

Image Credits

Dale Keano, Jerome Oliviano, Kiara D. Photography