Today we’d like to introduce you to Marco Vallina.
Hi Marco, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I officially stepped into being an artist at 21, in 2024. I grew up in a very musically inclined household and have been singing for as long as I can remember, but for most of my life I never saw myself becoming an artist. Writing was my biggest roadblock. I had this misconception that artists were just naturally great writers or freestylers, and since writing didn’t come naturally to me, I mentally shut the door on the idea of making my own music.
That changed through community. In middle school, I met one of my best friends, Samuel Arias—known as SAMÜ—who was already producing, writing, and creating his own music. As we grew closer, I spent a lot of time around the creative process just by being with him while he worked. In the fall of 2024, we began exploring the possibility of doing business together. He was ready to release music professionally and asked me to step in as his creative director. At the same time, he encouraged me to finally explore making music myself and helped give me the confidence I didn’t have.
Around that same season, another close friend, Teddy Diaz—SOUTH SIDE T3D—played a major role as well. I met him in 2023 through doing photography and videography for his performance at Souls Fest 2024 in Homestead, Florida. While working on his visuals, he found out I was musically inclined and deeply connected to the Christian hip-hop space. When he asked why I wasn’t an artist and I explained my doubts, he simply said, “Why not?” That question stuck with me. He eventually asked me to feature on his song “Water,” which became the first verse I ever wrote as an artist.
From there, writing became an outlet. I started using music to process personal struggles, and I slowly fell in love with the craft. Along the way, my friend Lucas Camacho—Lucas Diego—helped me develop my pen and understand the writing process. What started as fear turned into purpose.
What I love most about my journey into artistry is that it wasn’t a solo decision—it was a team effort. Those same friends are now part of the team behind FusionFreq Records, a label Sam and I started together. Our vision is to fuse genres and cultures to create music that defies rigid labels and stereotypes. In many ways, my story as an artist reflects the same idea: growth through collaboration, honesty, and trust.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. In many ways, I stepped into multiple roles at once, all at the very beginning. I was learning how to become an artist while also developing my songwriting, managing releases, and helping lead creative direction for other artists. Everything was new at the same time.
One of the biggest challenges was writing. Since it didn’t come naturally to me at first, I had to push through a lot of doubt and frustration early on. There were moments where I questioned if I was even capable of doing this at the level I envisioned. But over time, that struggle became part of the growth. I had to learn discipline, patience, and how to trust the process.
Another challenge has been balance. Navigating work, personal life, and artistry—while also helping build something bigger through FusionFreq—can be overwhelming at times. There’s always something that needs attention, and learning how to manage that without burning out has been a process in itself.
But I think those challenges have shaped me more than anything else. They forced me to grow quickly, lean on the people around me, and stay grounded in why I started. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an artist, I create music that sits in the space between hip-hop, R&B, and alternative sounds, with a strong emphasis on honesty and atmosphere. A lot of my work is rooted in real-life experiences—struggles with identity, faith, pressure, and growth. I’m not interested in making surface-level music. I want people to feel like they’re stepping into a moment or a mindset when they hear my records.
I’d say I specialize in blending emotion with intentional production. I’m very involved in the creative direction behind my music, from the sound to the visuals, so everything feels cohesive. Whether it’s a song, a visual rollout, or a live moment, the goal is always to create an experience, not just a release.
What I’m most proud of is my debut album MADE NEW. That project represents a full journey—from brokenness and self-reliance to surrender and transformation. It’s very honest and vulnerable, and is settting the foundation for who I am as an artist moving forward.
I think what sets me apart is the combination of perspective and intention. I didn’t come into this as someone who always saw themselves as an artist, so I approach it with a different level of purpose. Everything I create is tied to something real—whether that’s personal struggles, faith, or the process of becoming. I’m also building within a team, not just for myself, which naturally pushes the creativity further.
At the end of the day, I’m trying to make music and visuals that are both honest and immersive—something people can connect with, not just consume.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the music industry is heading into a really interesting shift over the next 5–10 years. The biggest one is the role of AI. It’s already starting to change how music is created, distributed, and even who gets recognized as an artist. At the same time, platforms are having to respond to that by emphasizing authenticity—things like artist verification and real engagement are becoming more important as AI-generated music increases.
I also think we’re moving toward a more interactive and collaborative era. Music won’t just be something you listen to—it’ll be something you participate in, through streaming culture and fan-driven experiences. That changes the relationship between the artist and the listener completely.
I also think live experiences and real-world connection are going to become even more valuable. With everything becoming more digital and saturated, people are going to crave what feels real—live shows, community, and moments you can’t replicate online.
Overall, I think the industry is becoming more competitive. There’s more opportunity than ever, but it’s going to require more intention, originality, and authenticity to actually stand out. The artists who last are going to be the ones who know who they are and build something real around that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoismvrco/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@whoismvrco
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6w2hGCpCugtppYFoMKKNo1
