Life & Work with MES of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to MES.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Before stepping into my career in music, I originally got my start in the visual media world – video production, directing, photography, and touring while creating content for artists and labels including Monstercat. My dad was a professional photographer, and he gave me my first camera when I was around 12 years old. That instantly sparked something in me creatively and pushed me deeper into visual art and storytelling.

When COVID hit, everything slowed down, and I suddenly had an insane amount of time to focus on creating. At this point, I was surrounded by artists who inspired me heavily, and I had always wanted to learn music production, so I finally decided to fully commit to it. I would spend 15–17 hours a day locked in learning production, sound design, songwriting, and everything I possibly could. I completely fell in love with the balance between the technical and creative sides of music – it felt like the perfect combination of everything I naturally gravitated toward.

After some contemplation, I decided to fully pursue the artist project “MES,” which is just my initials: Michael Elliot Shapiro. My real name “Michael E. Shapiro” sounded more like a lawyer or doctor to me, so MES felt like the natural choice. It also developed into a dual meaning because I’ve always identified with being a bit of a “mess” myself, and with the community of misfits who don’t always feel like they fit the mold, which resonated with many.

Not long after I started producing music, one of my close friends and established artists, DirtySnatcha, asked if I wanted to play direct support on one of his Atlanta tour dates. At the time, I had never even touched a DJ controller before – I had only been focused on production and releasing original music/remixes. Of course I said yes anyway, which meant I had about 20 days to learn how to DJ on CDJ-2000s and prepare my very first live set… for a 2,000+ capacity venue during a prime time slot. It was an adrenaline rush to say the least, but I stepped up to it, put everything I had into preparing, and thankfully crushed the set. From there, everything started snowballing.

I’m still learning and growing every single day, but I feel incredibly fortunate to now have an amazing team of like-minded individuals around me who help bring the vision for MES to life. I’m beyond grateful that music has allowed me to play bucket-list festivals and shows alongside artists I looked up to long before I ever got into the scene, including events like Lost Lands Festival and Elements Music & Arts Festival, while also giving me the opportunity to travel, meet incredible people, and continue pursuing something that genuinely means the world to me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been a mix of both. There have been periods where things felt very smooth and exciting, and other moments that were extremely challenging mentally, creatively, and personally. I think the most important thing I’ve learned through all of it is the importance of keeping your head on your shoulders, staying grounded in gratitude, and avoiding the trap of constantly comparing yourself to others. 🙂

It’s easy in creative industries to look at someone else’s success and feel behind, but I always remind myself that just like I aspire to be where somebody else is, there are also people looking at my journey the same way. Everyone is on a different timeline, and comparison can truly rob you of appreciating your own growth if you let it.

Like anyone pursuing entrepreneurial or creative goals with high aspirations, you eventually have to develop thick skin. You learn to keep showing up consistently, stay open to learning and growing, and continue believing in yourself even when you hear “no” over and over again. Rejection is inevitable in any industry like this, but I truly believe no door is ever closed as long as you continue working hard, evolving, and leaving positive impressions on people.

One struggle I didn’t necessarily expect was learning how important it is to protect your energy and be intentional about who you allow into your world. As you grow in any entrepreneurial field, you naturally meet a huge number of people, and unfortunately not everyone always has good intentions. I’ve been fortunate overall, but I’ve definitely encountered a couple people who were very talented at presenting themselves positively on the surface who ultimately turned out to be unhealthy or dangerous to have around… both personally and within the community.

At the same time, every experience like that has taught me something valuable. It’s helped me become far more perceptive when it comes to reading energy, body language, character, and intention. In a strange way, even the difficult experiences have contributed to my growth as both an artist and a person.

Overall, I think the biggest lesson is that there will always be challenges, moments of self-doubt, setbacks, and uncertainty, but if you genuinely believe in yourself, stay consistent, keep learning, and give yourself grace throughout the process, there’s really nothing you can’t accomplish.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Overall, I would categorize myself as an artist – but more specifically a producer, vocalist, DJ, and songwriter. Outside of my personal artist project, I also do ghost production, audio engineering, and help mentor/develop other artists, which has honestly been one of the most fulfilling parts of the journey for me.

That said, in today’s world, pursuing a career as an artist means wearing a lot of different hats. Beyond the music itself, you also end up becoming your own photographer, editor, videographer, creative director, social media strategist, content creator, and more. It can definitely feel overwhelming at times, but it’s also become an essential part of building a project and connecting with people.

Musically, I’m most known for a high-energy sound I often describe as “Rocktronic,” which blends elements of melodic bass, punk rock, dubstep, dark trap, and cinematic electronic music. I use my own vocals and songwriting on the majority of my records, combining emotional storytelling with aggressive, anthemic production and live energy, which I feel has set me apart from a lot of acts.

I’m also very known for the visual side of my performances. Coming from a visual media background, I put a huge emphasis on creating immersive live experiences that blur the line between a rock show, cinematic experience, and rave. The visuals, atmosphere, storytelling, and emotional energy are all just as important to me as the music itself.

Beyond the art, one thing I’m extremely proud of is the community that has formed around the project. I created the name “MESfits” for my supporters – a play on the word “misfits” – because I’ve always wanted the project to feel like a home for outsiders, creatives, and people who may not always feel like they fit into traditional boxes.

I also proudly represent and support the LGBTQ+ community and strive to make every show, no matter the city or venue, feel like a safe and welcoming space for everyone. At the end of the day, I want people to leave my sets not only entertained, but feeling seen, understood, inspired, and accepted for exactly who they are.

What sets me apart the most, I think, is the combination of all of those worlds coming together at once – the music, live vocals, visuals, storytelling, energy, and community aspect all existing under one vision. I’ve always wanted MES to feel bigger than just “songs” or “DJ sets.” I want it to feel like an experience people can emotionally connect to and truly become a part of.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I honestly love this question so much because there are truly so many people who have played important roles in my journey as an artist, whether through direct mentorship, collaboration, random acts of kindness, inspiration, or simply leading by example in the way they carry themselves.

I think one of the coolest parts about pursuing any creative career is that every interaction, experience, and relationship teaches you something. Whether it’s learning production techniques from collaborators, receiving advice during difficult moments, or even just being inspired by someone’s work ethic or energy, all of those moments slowly shape who you become over time. The truth is there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of people whose micro-footprints have contributed to who I am today in one way or another.

There’s a handful of people who immediately come to mind, one being my dear friend Leah Culver. We originally began working together through visual media projects – I shot, directed, and produced music videos for some of her label releases with Monstercat. Over time we became very close friends and eventually began creating music together as well. She has been an incredibly positive presence in my life both creatively and personally.

My friend Leigh (a.k.a. DirtySnatcha) has also played a massive role in my journey – He has truly been a light in my life and his belief in me early on meant a lot – I’ve been fortunate enough to perform alongside him at iconic events like Lost Lands Festival, which not only created lifelong memories, but also introduced me to so many amazing people within the industry and helped give me opportunities to continue growing.

I’m also incredibly thankful for my friends and supporters within the Atlanta music community. Huge shoutout to people like Veronica Weibs, Andrew Park, Frankie Sinn, and the entire family at Believe Music Hall / IRIS Presents for believing in my vision and helping provide a platform for me to showcase my art and grow a support base here in Atlanta. There are also countless other local collectives and promoters who have trusted me with opportunities to curate headline sets and continue building the MES project.

I’m immensely grateful for my manager Michaila Diel and the entire team at Continua as well. It’s very rare to work closely with people you genuinely love and consider lifelong friends, and Michaila is absolutely one of those people for me. Having a team around me that is kind, intelligent, supportive, and able to offer valuable insight from their own experiences has been incredibly important not only for strategy and decision-making, but also for maintaining balance throughout the chaos that can sometimes come with this industry.

Lastly, and honestly most importantly, my close friends and family deserve an enormous amount of credit for keeping me grounded through all of it. No matter how exciting or chaotic things get, having people around me who genuinely care about me as a person outside of music has been one of the biggest blessings throughout this journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ffm.bio/mes
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmesmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mesmadeit/
• Twitter: https://x.com/itsmesmusic
• Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCJSffXAu_vk9Civ6kDqof7g
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/itsmesmusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Jiv4qC9cdbR4zKacsHWup?si=BsrKHg8HSMib-vo1K3ooJw