In The Studio

In the studio with PVRP

We caught up with Soweto, South Africa-based rapper, PVRP

Jaz from the RepostExchange Team

Hailing from Soweto, Johannesburg, South African rapper and producer PVRP brings their own brand of uncompromising edge to hip-hop. What started nine years ago out of curiosity on FL Studio Mobile has turned into a self-taught production journey. Driven by a desire to make the sounds in his head without relying on anyone else’s studio, he channels personal experiences with trust, betrayal, and mindset into their tracks. We caught up with PVRP to chat about their minimalist studio setup, how Repost Exchange helps independent artists connect beyond their immediate circle, and their advice on protecting your own creative voice.

How long have you been producing music and how did you learn?

I’ve been producing for about nine years. I taught myself because I wanted to make the sounds I heard in my head without having to depend on somebody else’s studio. I started on FL Studio Mobile, learning as I went. At first, it was curiosity. Eventually, it became a world I could disappear into. I wanted to be able to create anywhere, at any time. I still carry that with me. The tools changed, but the reason stayed the same.

What DAW(s) do you use and why?

I grew up seeing FL Studio. Even the Fruity Loops logo caught my attention. Back then, having my own studio felt like a distant dream. I think part of me was already attached to the idea of building something of my own before I knew what it would become. Now I’m still building it, just with a clearer understanding of what I want PVRP to sound like.

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

My headphones. I can listen loudly without disturbing the neighbours, but there’s another side to it. I can sit with music nobody has heard yet and decide what it needs before the world gets involved. Some things are better kept between you and the sound until they’re ready.

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

Pitch shifting and reverb. I like being able to change the character of a sound and make it feel like it exists somewhere beyond the room it was recorded in. Sometimes the smallest change can turn something ordinary into something that feels unfamiliar. That’s usually where my interest starts.

What resources do you use to improve your craft?

YouTube and magazines. I like learning at my own pace, going back over something until it makes sense. Nobody starts knowing everything. I’d rather teach myself something properly than pretend I already know it.

What is the last YouTube tutorial you watched that you would recommend to other Re-Ex Members?

Jahseh’s interview. It wasn’t a production tutorial; it was more about the mind, the law of attraction and getting yourself in the right place mentally. I’m interested in what happens inside a person before the world sees the result. You can have the equipment and the talent, but you still have to understand yourself.

What knowledge or advice do you wish you'd learned earlier?

Don’t trust everything you hear or everyone you meet. Even the devil can be pretty. Learn your craft, pay attention and don't let every voice around you become your own. You can learn from people without handing them the power to decide who you are.

What challenges related to making music do you face and how do you overcome them?

Finding the right channels and opportunities to get my music beyond social media. You can spend years creating something and still struggle to get it in front of the right people. Talent and visibility aren't always the same thing. I’m still figuring out how to close that distance without losing what makes the music mine.

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

Ad-libs. They can give a song another personality without taking away from the main performance. Sometimes the details people barely notice are the things that make them come back. I pay attention to those details.

Which track are you most proud of and why?

Has Repost Exchange affected the way you make music? If so, how?

It hasn't changed the foundation of how I make music, but it has helped me connect with artists outside my immediate circle. As an independent artist, you're often creating alone and hoping the right person eventually hears what you're doing. Repost Exchange gives that process another route.