Maurio McCoy’s music taste is as varied as his skateboarding. From head-bopping bass lines, psychedelic solos, and heavy-hitting bass, Maurio keeps a wide variety of music on hand to suit his mood. He’s the type of person that makes you want to skate after watching him and his music is just as infectious. Get to know Maurio’s music taste in our On Rotation interview below.
What type of music do you like listening to?
Oh man I mean I like it all. I like mostly hip hop or funk, and stuff like that, but I kind of listen to a lot of different stuff. I’ve been really fucking with Mac Demarco lately and Tame Impala. Kind of getting out of norm trying to diversify my playlist.
How are you getting into other artists and genres like Mac Demarco and Tame Impala?
Honestly, man, just Instagram edits. Or sometimes Spotify kind of shows you those ‘discover for you’ things and just get random tracks and I just find it like that. There’s nothing really much to it. It just happens.
Any specific skate videos you watched growing up have an impact on what you listen to now?
I’m sure everyone says this, but Baker 3. Just everything about that video. I could probably listen to any song on that because everyone who had a part in that was insane. Antwuan Dixon hands down. Man, that was the best one. That was the best part and the best song. One of my favorite parts was Trevor Colden’s Nike part with the Lil’ Wayne song. That influenced me pretty heavy.
What is it that you look for when choosing a song for an Instagram edit or a video part?
It depends, man. I feel like an Instagram edit and a part are two separate things. With Instagram edits, you can have a lot more fun with and pick something with some real hard bass and just stuff that gets your head moving a little bit. I feel like for a part it’s a lot more coordinating your style and tricks with the type of music because not every song that has all the bass makes a good video part you know? A lot of times it’s like, it could be an artist that’s completely out of genres of music that you don’t even listen to, but it just goes so good together with skating. Especially your skating. So, I definitely try and look at what goes best with my skating for a video part and then what’s the most fun for an Instagram edit.
How involved have you been in the past for choosing a song for a part?
Pretty involved. Santa Cruz has been super open to my ideas for music choices and my suggestions in general. They are very open to collaborating on the editing process and so it’s not just me skating it’s also making decisions on how I want my part to look. So, I’ve had a pretty big hand in that as well.
What kind of songs hype you up to go skate?
That’s a tough one. That depends on the mood I wake up in, you know? It’s like some days you want that thumping bass that gets your blood flowing but other days you want a mellow session. That’s where the Mac Demarco and Tame Impala comes in. Something that’s a little lighter to get you going and not going too quickly but you know get your day going at a nice even pace rather than just right for it.
You ever rock headphones in while you’re skating?
I do sometimes, but I go back and forth with that, man. Sometimes the best noise is just skating itself. I don’t always need to distract myself with music. Sometimes the sound of music is just enough you know. Other times I do need to distract myself because there is a lot of distractions going on. So it depends I go back and forth with it.
Do you ever compete with headphones in?
Never, no, because I feel like in a contest you get that like energy. There’s that energy of the crowd. There’s instant gratification of hearing peoples’ reactions. I enjoy that its kind of what I imagine someone hitting a three-pointer would feel like. It’s that instant gratification of people tripping out on something you did. I feel like having headphones in and you miss that, and I like that.
What was played around your house and what influence did that have on what you listen to today?
My dad was a huge Bootsy Collins fan, Rick James, and all that funk sort of stuff. He was a big fan of Nate Dogg, lots of like soulful African American hip hop, lots of black artists. I always appreciate a nice smooth bassline and some good drums.
Do you find yourself listening to those same artists today?
I do, man, I do. Like back in the day I didn’t get it, but I’ll be playing Chaka Kahn now. I’m not scared to admit that.
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