Hey, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What have you been up to over the past year in this big old mess?
Hi Sofia, thank you for your continued interest in my work. I have been very busy over the past year writing, recording, traveling with my band, The Loop, in the Mid-Atlantic region. I have also just finished my degree in education/inclusive Ed, and I will walk for my commencement on May 8. Since the release of my debut EP, “World I’m Coming For You,” with my special guests–Richie Cannata on sax and Liberty DeVito on drums–in January 2022, I have released 3 singles with accompanying videos, the last of which is the current single, “Can’t Write About Today.” I also have been going on occasional storm chasing escapades when the conditions are ripe, and was asked to appear on The Weather Channel’s new show called Deadline To Disaster for the footage I captured near my hometown of an EF3 tornado. My footage made the national news and captured the lead producer’s interest, hence my appearance on the show in December 2022.
I’m very interested in how you started your adventure with music, and did you know from the beginning that this is what you wanted to do?
Well, I have been around music since birth, as my dad is an accomplished pianist/composer, and my mom is a poet. They never pushed any of it on me as a child, but I became seriously interested around age 7. By age 8, I had written my first organized composition that kind of freaked my parents out because of how they said my writing was deep beyond my years. Ironically, the song is called “Childhood.” At that point, I knew I wanted to continue writing and I have not looked back, having written close to 300 songs since, some I think are good, and some not as good, but it is a process that needs to be honed over time with maturity. I then felt compelled to become skilful at the piano to be able to execute what I was hearing in my head. I began formal lessons at 9, while dad assisted, coached, and encouraged me. I even joined Rock University, a program at the music school, by age 10 and got my first taste of performance with a rock group. I simultaneously became serious in my study of classical music and began entering piano competitions and recitals while learning the different elements of rock, blues and jazz. There then came a day, when I was 12 years old, when I learned Bohemian Rhapsody to play for a Rock University show. While practicing it on piano in our living room, I began singing it–something I had never done before as I was just the keyboard player. Once again, my parents were taken back by my singing and began encouraging me to sing and play in public. At that point, I formed a band and recorded 4 of my originals singing lead vocals. By the time I was 16, I was playing open mic nights and getting featured with the house bands. It has been a long process that continues with a lot of love, dedication, and hard work.
Congrats on your new release, ‘Can’t Write About Today’. Can you give us some insight into it?
This song was written as an expression of the unrest in the world, whose inception began during the pandemic, but has continued to manifest as uncontrolled gun violence, war, and strife among mankind. Even the weather has become more frequently violent–another sign of the times. During one of my all time lows, mentally speaking, I express my utter grief at not being able to even write about these happenings, much less think about tomorrow, and realize that only the Lord can save us from the wrong mindset we are taking as a human race. I ultimately believe in hope for the future, that we will come together as a race, overcome our differences, live in peace, and become responsible stewards of our planet.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
I continue to practice piano on a daily basis, while I continue to hone my craft as a songwriter and record new songs. I have been working diligently to build a strong following on the internet, in particular, Instagram, Spotify and YouTube, while solidifying and making my message and brand consistent.
What should we expect from your next releases in terms of style and sound? How different are they going to be compared to your previous works?
I have a very diverse palette, so expect to hear anything from prog rock influence, to soul, gospel and indie pop/rock a la Matt style.
Where are you based? Can you tell us how the music scene there has inspired your sound at all?
I am based out of Washington Township, Gloucester County in Southern New Jersey. We are essentially a Philly suburb, so the Philly sound has influenced me. Philly is where rock and roll began with Dick Clark and Bandstand, to the soul groups at Sigma Sound, where David Bowie recorded Young Americans. Joe Tarsia, who owned and built Sigma Sound and the Sound Of Philadelphia, was a friend of the family, having known my grandfather who coached him on his baseball team! So I have a soulful influence, but also a strong British influence from artists such as The Beatles, Bowie, Elton John, Gentle Giant, Yes and Genesis, all of which were embraced and hugely popular, here in the Philly area.
If you could perform at any venue in the world, where would it be and why?
The London Palladium. As a new artist, my dream is to be able to get my message to the world. I have found that European audiences are more open to new music by new artists like myself.
Can we expect a new EP or an album from you in the near future?
Possibly. Right now, my short term goal is to release quality music in the form of 4 or 5 singles with videos a year. It’s important to keep a visible profile before your audience and I am able to produce singles in a more timely manner.
Finally, have you got anything to share regarding upcoming gigs, and what have you got planned for 2023?
I will continue to perform with my band and release new music. We are particularly busy in the Summer months playing up to 5 shows a week at every Philly and New Jersey Casino and many large venues and seashore resorts on the Eastern seaboard where we will be performing my songs along with covers. I have also performed solo at Dobbs on South Street in Philly and have been asked to play there again. I am working on more solo dates this year.
