After breaking through with his much-loved debut single 'That Night' last year, Birmingham's Davi The Mavi is back on the grind once again with his impactful new offering 'Come Back'.
Bringing back more of that rich and immersive hip-hop-inspired aesthetic he first emerged with, 'Come Back' makes for a stellar return to form for him. With his killer flow riding across a soaring production throughout, he continues to cement himself as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Man, the first instrument I properly fell in love with was the Berimbau. I started Capoeira back in 2020 and just really connected with the vibe and the rhythm of it. It’s got this raw, unique sound that’s properly inspiring. It’s influenced a lot of how I think about rhythm in my own tracks now.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I’ve always been on everything, literally. My taste is all over the place. But yeah, if I had to pick, Dancehall and Hip-Hop were always the main ones. The energy from both is just different, but I also used to listen to techno, although I still put it on here and there. They’ve been a part of my rotation from day one.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Owned is a strong word in this day and age, haha. I never really bought CDs or that. The first album I properly remember getting hold of, like downloading the whole thing, was XCAPE by Michael Jackson. It takes me right back to when I was like 7 or 10. Don’t really bang it out much now but it’s always there in my head, you know?
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
‘Racks on Racks’ by Wiz Khalifa, easy. The way all those different artists jumped on one track, each with their own style and flow... mad respect for that. It’s just a sick collaboration and shows how music can bring different worlds together.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Nah, not really. I don't have any mad rituals or anything. For me, it’s just about getting my head clear.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Ah man, my playlist is all over the place right now. I’m heavy on people like Lil Baby, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, and Metro Boomin for that vibe. But then I'll switch it up to some Ninjaman or Sizzla for the proper dancehall energy. Got loads of UK stuff, US stuff... Drake, Tyler, Offset, Key Glock, and always got some desert tracks by Tinariwen and DJ Suparific riddims on the deck.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
It would be Travis Scott, 100% and to be a part of that, even for one night, would be a madness.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Just creating stuff really, it gives me satisfaction.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Trying to stay organised and motivated when you've got school, exams, and all that other stress on your mind is tough. I'm only 15, so sometimes my brain just has too many things to deal with to properly focus on music the way I want to.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Just to keep going. Simple as that.
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Davi The Mavi's new single 'Come Back' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.