New Single Called " Shake Sum " By Sleaze Is The New " Va Anthem ".

DMV is taking over the music industry for the Summer. Virginia native Sleaze has a new single out called " Shake Sum " that is sparking online. Inspired by Wiz Khalifa, Sleaze has been dropping banger after banger. We recently caught up with him and got to know him better. Check out our exclusive below.

Tell me in a few words, who you are. How would you describe

yourself in a short story.

My name is Khyli Mavin, from Smithfield, VA. I’ve been making music

since 2015 during my sophomore year of college at Louisburg College,

(Louisburg, NC). I'm a Virginia native, having lived in 5 of the 7 cities. And

also lived 2 and a half years in North Carolina during my college time and

1 year after graduation. I’m a country boy to the bone with a bit of city

influence.

● What’s your stage name and how did you come up with it?

My stage name is Sleaze or Sleazefrmda4. The 4, being an abbreviation

for the number 24, alluding to 24 Jamestown avenue from the

neighborhood I spent the majority of my life in. Sleaze is a term that was

brought about by one of my favorite artists “Wiz Khalifa” who used the

term as an expression of reckless individuality.

● What got you into music?

What got me into music was being around artists during my most

influential years. There were people very close to me that were artists &

even though I wasn’t in a place of confidence to pursue the life of an

artist, I always knew that I had a talent for music.

● What was life like growing up?

Growing up I was nothing like how I am now. I was a really shy and timid

person, heavy on the video games and anime. Naive and just wanted a

friend.

Life for me growing up was really a lot of me learning who I was over

and over again. I did a bit of moving around in my younger years so I was

around different energies and personalities and as I got older I realized

how a big part of how your experience as a person goes is based upon

how well you can adjust to countless energies you encounter on this

journey.

● Who is your inspiration? What keeps you going to get up daily and

put effort into your music career?

My first inspiration in music was Wiz Khalifa, mainly because I was told

for a while before I even knew who he was, that I favored his image.

Once I took the time to investigate who he was, I started to learn that

his points of view and ways of expressing himself were ways and

energies that I wished I embodied. In more recent years I’ve taken more

of a liking to Kendrick Lamar and his ways of expressing and making

music.

● What is your creative process like? What is the meaning behind

your current single?

My creative process is actually quite simple, I write songs really quick

when I have a beat that speaks to me. I’ve yet to develop a strong

freestyling ability but likewise I’ve seen in multiple scenarios that my

ability to write a song in-studio is second to none. I write and record

songs to completion in under 30 minutes pretty consistently. My current

single “shake sum” is basically the latest installment in my journey of

manifesting & expressing my own self confidence. In the question “who

gone shake sum” is not based solely from a place of sexual expression,

not meaning chiefly an ass being shaken. But who’s gonna make a move,

who’s gonna take a risk, who’s gonna do what makes them happy.

● What is the name of the current single/ep/album that you are

pushing? Do you prefer people to buy it or stream? And why?

I’ve been between names of my current ep because it’s taken so long for

it to come to fruition. My original name was “Good Guys Finish Last”.

But due to cutting ties with the producer who did most of the work for

that version of the tape, and evolving from the mindset I was in during

that process, I mostly trashed it.

I’m currently between the options of “Music To Manifest To” or

“PineWood Dr.”.

As far as whether I’d prefer it bought or streamed, I'm willing to get into

the public ears whichever way is more convenient for them. There

aren’t many people buying music these days when it’s so easily

accessible, but for those who support me enough to wanna pay for it,

then I’ll graciously accept.

● With the industry changing so much, would you stay indie or sign to

a label? Why and why not?

I’ve had this thought many times that if I was offered a record deal;

would I take it and honestly, I’m not against it. It’s something I’d have to

mull over for as long as possible until I feel like I have the entire contract

and fine print understood, or get the most trustworthy legal advice I can

about the contract. Likewise if I’m in a position of traction and

consistency, and my fans are showing out and supporting me to the

extent that I can sustain my vision then I would absolutely stay

independent.

● Do you feel like the music industry has gone down since the

pandemic? Why or why not? Were you affected by the pandemic

with music or everyday life?

I feel like the music industry has evolved dramatically since the

pandemic. It made it harder in some areas and easier in others. Harder

for those who had traction in house at actual brick and mortar venues, it

slowed that side down drastically. But for those who’ve always been

heavy on social media, it opened up the avenues for the live stream

shows and versus battles that gave people the same content they

wanted but through a “safer” Avenue. I would say that I was definitely

affected by the pandemic music wise because I was just starting to get

traction in clubs and open mics but when that was cut off, it sent my

situation back to the drawing board since I was and kinda still am behind

the curve on social media.

● If you were given a chance to sit down and have a business dinner

with a celebrity who would it be and why?

I’d love to sit down with Kanye West; As radical as he is, I feel that his

abrasive & uncanny approach is the type of energy that I need to really

get in people's faces. The complete disregard for people's thoughts and

reactions is something to be studied and admired. On top of his proven

business acumen, his musical prowess is second to only Pharrell &

Timberland in my opinion.

● How do you balance everyday life tied into your music career?

Truthfully, theres not much balance in my life as far as music goes.

Unfortunately life events have been taking dominion over my time and

resources, but in the grand scheme I guess that’s just an excuse lol. The

lack of balance is really stemming from the lack of confident energy due

to the lack of comfort in my everyday life but let’s not go so far into that

rabbit hole just yet. I’ll say in a nutshell, I fit the music into the spaces

that aren’t occupied by work & bills.

● Tell me about your most memorable moment in your career?

I’d say I have about 3 very memorable situations so far in my journey as

an artist. Number would be having jadakiss actually reply to a dm and

talk to me about a placement on an independent artist tape he was

putting together. Unfortunately I couldn't pull the money together to

make that happen. The second would be performing in Atlanta for Ugly

money niche and ryme records. To date that’s been the biggest stage,

venue & crowd I’ve experienced. And 3rd would probably be one of the

last times I performed at the first radio station with 94.7. It was the first

time I had a packed room with people truly vibing to my music and

having so many people approach me afterwards.

● What style of music do you prefer to make? Would you ever try a

different lane?

I’m a very versatile artist and I feel like I can approach any type of style,

but personally I feel like my bag is really in upbeat, hyper, motivational

type music. Anybody can make shooting and drug music and call it art

but I feel like the industry is way over saturated with that sound. My bag

is in talking about overcoming adversity, finding self confidence, feeling

good about yourself and your progress. I can’t just talk about what

everybody else is talking about.

● Do you have a celebrity crush?

SZA

● Is there anyone who you would collab with right now?

Wiz Khalifa, Big Krit, JID, Kendrick, J Cole, Curren$y, Kevin Gates. All my

favorites honestly.

● Who is the producer and engineer behind your music?

My main producer and engineer for the bulk of my career has been my

high school friend Deontre Fenner, better known as Tajuan. He makes

pretty much all my beats minus a few. I recorded my first ever collection

of songs with him and developed what would turn into the sleaze you all

love and enjoy today. Big shoutout to him. I’ve worked with Ace Firefist

from Newport News quite a bit as well. Things are how they are with

that situation but shouts to him anyway.

● What are you currently working on and what is next for you?

As I’ve said earlier I’m working on my first real deal project that gives a

comprehensive look at who I am as a person and as an artist. For the

sake of the conversation, we’ll just call the project you can do it. But this

will be my official introduction into the music industry.

What’s next for me is grabbing hold of the energy I need to push myself

to the top. My goals are set on going on an official tour by next summer

at least opening up for a big name artist. Traveling, concerts, festivals,

merch, becoming a recognizable entity.

● When it comes to fashion, what's your dressing style ?

My fashion style is what I can best describe as a mixture of east & west

coast 90’s retro kinda vibe. I love jerseys from any sport, ripped jeans,

flannels & button ups, flashy colors and all around uncommon items. I

took note as to how artists such as Fabulous, Wiz Khalifa, Tyler the

Creator & Asap Rocky put together looks.

● What is your creative process like and who inspired you to make

music?

My creative process is, in my opinion, pretty straight forward. Im not yet

a skilled freestyler so I’ve honed the skill of writing verses with precision

and in very little time in most cases. If I’m feeling myself, I’ll have a song

written, recorded & ready to go in under 30 minutes. If a beat is being

made during the session it may take me the same time it takes for my

engineer to finish making the beat, but by the time he has the beat

wrapped up I’m usually writing my last lines.

I was inspired by the friends I had around me, a few of my close friends

were always rapping even long before anyone had access to recording

equipment.. My brother Yung Trap & our late friend YTN Blingg we’re

the Me being the shy & reserved type, I found my way into the freestyle

sessions by learning how to beatbox.

● If you could open up for one celebrity who would it be and why?

Some artists I'd love to open up for and be on tour with are definitely

Wiz Khalifa & Kevin Gates. I feel like my style of music would correspond

the most with the crowds they attract. They’re the artists I feel like I

relate to the most and who I could learn the most from as an artist and a

person all around.

● Any funny stories or embarrassing moments you want to share with

our readers?

A funny and slightly embarrassing moment in my career I don’t mind

sharing would probably be the first time I tried Molly and had a

performance at west beach tavern. The embarrassing part was honestly

just who I was with and how I conducted myself. I got on stage and lost

my shirt immediately. But, the energy that the substance lended me,

led me to win the competition that night and was offered an opportunity

to perform in Atlanta at a bigger event, which I allowed someone I

shouldn’t have been in business with in the first place to pull that

opportunity from under me.

● What would you be doing right now if it wasn’t for your music

career?

If not for music my life would most likely revolve around building &

racing cars and bikes. I grew up around technicians all my life. My father

works on & races dirt bikes, my step father runs a dump truck company.

And I’m obsessed with motor sports of all kinds, especially drifting,

rallycross & moto cross.

● What is one message you would give to your fans?

The best message I can give anyone who’s looking for the next thing

from sleaze is to just be patient with me on this journey while I’m

figuring out what it means to really embody an artist. Stick around and I

promise I won’t let you down. For the music lovers who need something

to pep them up in the morning, those who need an encouraging word,

or just wanna turn up without the mention of guns and drugs in every line.

Sit tight, the good part is about to come.

Please follow Sleaze on instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/sleazefrmda4/