#63: Miva’s Deep Dive into Victorian Spirituality, Death, and Modern Hip-Hop

The spotlight is on Miva, a wildly dynamic, Russian-born artist and producer who blends hip-hop, metal, techno, and raw emotional storytelling into her own genre-bending universe.Here are the heavy-hitting themes from the interview:From the Runway to the Studio: Miva breaks down her intense origin story, from immigrating to Canada from Russia as a kid to entering the high-stakes modeling industry at just 14. She pulls no punches describing the objectification and exhausting nightlife of the fashion world, which eventually pushed her to pivot into photography and music production.The Abyss and the Ascent: The conversation gets incredibly real about the dark side of creativity. Miva opens up about her severe battle with alcoholism and addiction, sharing the chaotic reality of trying to be a "functioning" artist while slowly destroying herself. Approaching two years of sobriety, she describes the profound, almost cinematic spiritual awakening that finally pulled her out of the dark.The Pandemic Pivot: Trapped inside during the 2020 lockdowns, Miva linked up with a mentor, taught herself Ableton, and went on a relentless production streak. She handles her own graphic design, engineering, and mastering, proving she’s an absolute powerhouse of independent artistry.The New Era & Launch Strategy: Fresh off her Kino EP, Miva is gearing up for a brand-new 5-track project built entirely in her sobriety. She drops serious game on her launch strategy—releasing one track per month for five months—and dives into her unique inspirations, including the Victorian era's romanticized obsession with death and spirituality.The Independent Hustle: She’s not just making music; she’s building an empire. Miva talks about producing for other artists to maintain financial stability and launching her own streetwear line, Miva Apparel, to fully execute her creative vision.