Edmonton Rapper Arlo Maverick Shows Gratitude for “Day Ones” on New Video
Edmonton hip-hop artist Arlo Maverick is sharing a new video for his track, “Day Ones,” a song of appreciation for all the people in his life who have supported him since the beginning. The soulful trap-inflected tune will appear on his forthcoming album, Blue Collar, slated for release on October 20, 2023.
A detour from Maverick’s cerebral rhymes and biting commentary, he switches up his usual flow to flex his singing skills while offering a simple message: appreciate and hold the loyal people in your life close. The video features a montage of friends, family, and loved ones over the years. Appropriately arriving ahead of Thanksgiving weekend, it’s a tender show of thanks to the community that lifted him up – and the haters that made him stronger – in his quest to make something out of nothing.
“The music video features archival footage of people who were on or tied to a label we ran in the 2000s, called Music For Mavericks, including members of Politic Live, Kreesha Turner, and others,” said Arlo Maverick. “We were a family in a lot of ways and we all keep in touch so I thought it was fitting to centre this video around them. Everyone at the table is part of this legacy. With hip-hop celebrating 50 years, this video in some ways pays tribute to Edmonton’s hip-hop history by showing some of today’s leaders in the culture like K-Riz and Mouraine when they were first starting out.”
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Arlo Maverick. I am a hip-hop artist, mentor, and filmmaker based in Edmonton, Alberta. My second solo album, Blue Collar, will be out on Oct. 20, and my documentary, Untouchable Crew, on Edmonton’s ‘80s breakdance scene, was released earlier this year. It can be seen on TELUS Optik TV.
You have unveiled your latest single, “Day Ones.” What can you tell us about the writing process behind the release? You shared a music video to accompany the release. Care to explain the concept behind the music video?
I had been thinking about the journey I’ve been on in music, and the people who have been there since jump. It started with a hook, and then the verses went through a few introspective rewrites before my production team was sold. The process forced me to share my come-up story, which I tend to shy away from. Most of my songs are told from a third-person perspective, but this song and this album needed to come directly from me.
The music video for “Day Ones” is both celebratory and reflective. In the 2000s, our label Music for Mavericks had a strong presence within Edmonton’s hip-hop community. We released albums that charted on campus radio and were nominated for awards; we managed and promoted artists like K-Riz, Mouraine, and Oozeela; we hosted events like Hip-Hop For Hunger, and we pioneered a lot of things during a time when the city’s hip-hop scene was really beginning to burgeon. It was a period in my life that I loved and would revisit if I could.
With hip-hop celebrating 50 years and fans reflecting on its journey and impact, I wanted to do the same with the artists associated with the label. We shared a lot of great moments together and became a family that was there for each other outside of music; we also helped change the landscape of hip-hop in Edmonton and possibly Alberta.
The single is off of your upcoming album, Blue Collar, which is set for release on October 20. If you had to explain the story behind the album in ten words or less, what would you say?
The struggle of trying to have purpose, happiness, and love.
What’s your favourite thing about being a musician in Edmonton?
Being surrounded by so many world-class artists and musicians that it forces me to level up. Their talents are both an inspiration and a call to action. I don’t think Edmontonians understand how special Edmonton is and where our talents truly rank on a global scale. In my travels throughout the world, I have experienced other music scenes and ours is strong. But until we realize what we have here, no one else will.
Last but not least, what do you have up your sleeve for the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024?
I will be celebrating the release of Blue Collar with a live show at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre in Edmonton on Oct. 21. After that, a regional tour through B.C. and Alberta is in the works to support the album. This tour will be more intimate and stripped down so audiences can really take in the messages from the album.
At the beginning of 2024, I will be gearing up for festival season. I hope to be back in Europe in the spring and touring across Canada in the summer. I will also be premiering my new documentary on Edmonton’s Caribbean cricket community.