La Mave On Music, Motivation, And Making His Mother Proud

If there’s one name you need to know right now within the realm of local R&B and hip-hop, it has to be La Mave. 

The up-and-coming Filipino artist has become a star in his own right, using his masterful blending of the two genres to lay down his very own path that has led to an unprecedented ascent to the top.

With a strong discography led by the popular singles “Vibrate” and “Dominga” with Filipino rapper Nateman, La Mave has been busy making himself known to our local music scene, one carefully crafted hit at a time. With this, he has soon found himself dominating the Philippine airwaves, having found viral success and a massive breakthrough into the Billboard Philippines charts within the past year alone. 

Above all these massive wins, however, his love for the music remains top priority, as he remains unfazed by the success and instead, is fully honing his focus on the next songs he can create. For him, the music and the feeling each completed song leaves him with is the true reward in pursuing what he inherently loves. 

With this, in order to get to know the rising artist better, Billboard Philippines connected with La Mave, as he reveals his biggest influences, discusses the widespread success of his songs, shares what drives him to constantly make music and his biggest goals this year, and more.

Billboard Philippines: Who or what made you realize you wanted to be an artist?

La Mave: Sa totoo lang, hindi ko talaga pinangarap maging sikat na artist dati. Pero noon pa, may mga pinapakinggan na akong groups, like Kartell’em, Bawal Clan. Halo-halo. Hindi lang hip-hop genre. Hanggang sa nag-try lang ako magsulat ng kanta. Tapos, nagustuhan ko ‘yung feeling and ito, tuloy-tuloy pa rin hanggang ngayon.

(To be honest, I didn’t really hope to become a famous artist before. But even back then, I would listen to these groups, like, Kartell’em, Bawal Clan. All sorts. Not just in the hip-hop genre. Until I just tried writing a song. Then, I liked the feeling of it and here, I’m still doing it until now.)

How would you personally describe your music?

Sa bawat linya na sinusulat ko, lahat ‘yon galing sa puso ko. Kaya, personally, iba ang dating ng music ko para sa sarili ko [and] iba rin ‘yung dating sa mga tagapakinig.

(With every line that I write, all of it is from my heart. So, personally, my music is different to me and it’s also different to the listener.)

Who are your greatest influences as an artist?

Sina Mac Miller, Arthur Nery, at Waiian. Sila ‘yung mga idol ko talaga kahit prior ako mag-music. Kaya tuwang tuwa ako na nakapag-collab kami ni kuya Pabs (Waiian). (chuckles)

(Mac Miller, Arthur Nery, and Waiian. They’re really my idols even prior to me doing music. Which is why I’m so happy that me and Waiian were able to collaborate.)

Outside of music, what else do you enjoy doing?

Ang sarap mag-basketball, bike, kulitan kasama ang tropa, punta dito, punta doon. Pero bago ko mag-enjoy, dapat tapos na lahat ng trabaho ko sa studio. 

(It feels nice playing basketball, biking, joking around with friends, going here, going there. But before I’d enjoy those, I need to have already finished all my work in the studio.)

What usually inspires you when creating music?

Nakaka-adik ang musika. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit araw-araw akong ganado magsulat. Siguro, dahil sa feeling na binibigay ng music sa ’kin after ko makatapos ng kanta o baka dahil gusto ko na yumaman. (laughs)

(Music is addicting. I also don’t know why I’m motivated to write every day. I guess, it’s because of the feeling that music gives to me after I finish writing a song or maybe it’s because I want to get rich already.)

What is your favorite part about your song “Vibrate”?

Pinaka-paborito kong part habang ginagawa ‘yung “Vibrate” is habang sinusulat ko yung last lines ng second verse — ‘yung, “Isang daan limang daan tinambakan.” (chuckles). Ewan ko ba pero feeling ko ako si Loonie n’on.

(My most favorite part when I was making “Vibrate” was when I was writing the last lines of the second verse – the ones that go, “Isang daan limang daan tinambakan.” I don’t know why but I felt like I was Loonie there.)

What has been your most memorable moment so far as a performer since “Vibrate” went viral?

Wala pa gaano kasi hindi pa naman ako nakakapag-perform sa ngayon. (chuckles) Pero okay na tanong ‘yan. Gusto ko rin malaman ang sagot.

(Not that much yet because I haven’t been able to perform for now. But that’s a good question. I’d also like to know the answer.)

Aside from “Vibrate” and your collaboration with Nateman, “Dominga,” you released a lot of singles last year. Among those other songs of yours, what is one them that you would recommend people listen to and why?

‘Yung isa sa mga latest release ko, titled “Alam Mo Na,” gusto ko ‘yung sulat ko dito sa track na ‘to and ‘yung vibe ng mismong kanta pang-in-love type beat talaga siya. Plus, ang ganda ng music video.

(One of my latest releases, titled “Alam Mo Na,” I like how I wrote that track and the vibe of the song itself, it’s really like an in-love type beat. Plus, the music video is also so nice.)

A number of the other singles you released last year came out after “Vibrate” and “Dominga” went viral. What was it like releasing music after those two became popular? Did you feel any pressure when following them up?

Naranasan ko na ‘yung pressure gumawa o mag-release ng bagong track sa unang kanta kong nag-million streams sa Spotify — ‘yung “West.” Kaya, simula nung ni-release ko ‘yung “Dominga”and nasundan ng “Vibrate,”wala na akong iniisip na negative kasi mas bumabagal at mas nagiging pilit ang emosyon na masusulat ko.

(I’ve already felt that pressure to make or release a new track with my first song that reached a million streams on Spotify, “West.” So, since I released “Dominga” and it was followed by “Vibrate,” I haven’t really thought of anything negative because it just slows down and makes the emotions I write with feel forced.)

After the success of “Dominga,” which other local artists do you want to collaborate with?

Arthur Nery.

In relation to the last question, who is your dream collaboration and why?

Arthur Nery! Idol ko ‘yan!

(Arthur Nery! He’s my idol!)

As an artist on the rise, what has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

Hindi about sa pera pero proud akong proud sa akin ang nanay ko.

(Not about money but I’m proud that my mom is proud of me.)

Like you, there are so many other Filipino artists who are out there making a name for themselves in our local music scene. Which of these fellow artists do you think more people should listen to and why?

Hintayin niyo lang ‘yung pinsan ko! Si Dale. Wala pang release pero wait n’yo lang. Up next talaga.

(Just wait for my cousin! Dale is his name. No release yet but just you wait. He’s really up next.)

Where are the top 3 places you want to perform at in the future?

Australia, Dubai, at (and) Canada.

What do you think is your greatest strength as an artist?

‘Yung style ko sa pagsusulat at pag-gamit ng tono. Ayon lang siguro.

(My style of writing and my use of tone. I guess that’s it.)

On the other hand, what else do you think you can still improve on as an artist?

‘Yung sipag ko at siguro ‘yung pag-e-English ko kasi, ‘pag nag-tour na ako sa ibang bansa, baka ‘di ako makapagsalita [if my English is not good].(chuckles)

(My diligence and I guess my English because, if I tour in other countries, I might not be able to speak if my English is not good.)

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about music so far?

Na hindi ako nagkamali sa linyang tinahak ko. ‘Yon ang mas naintindihan ko ngayon.

(That I didn’t make a mistake with the path I chose. That’s something I understand more now.)

What’s the biggest dream you have for your music?

‘Yung umabot ako sa 50s na andito pa rin ako sa industriyang to.

(That I reach my 50s and I’m still here in this industry.)

How does it make you feel that your music has reached so many people across the Philippines?

Sobrang grateful. Unang-una kay God, sa mga taong nasa paligid ko, especially sa Nanay ko, sa manager ko, at sa mga kuya ko [in the industry]. Masaya ako.

(So grateful. First of all, to God, to the people around me, especially to my mom, to my manager, and my seniors in the industry. I’m happy.)

In terms of music, what can we expect from you in the near future?

Mas magandang quality sa recording, mixing, sa mga music videos at, siyempre, mga panibagong storya na kailangan kong ilabas.

(Better quality in terms of the recording, mixing, music videos and, of course, new stories that I need to put out.)

What do you hope to accomplish by the end of 2026?

Gusto kong sagarin sarili ko. Isang album, mixtape, isa hanggang tatlong kanta kada buwan, hanggang magkaroon na ng chikot si La Mave at ‘di na sumakay ng Dominga [Street] si Chinay.

(I really want to exceed myself. One album, a mixtape, one to three songs each month, until La Mave gets a car and Chinay no longer needs to ride on Dominga Street.)

Listen to La Mave’s music below: