Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hey! I come from New Jersey where I grew my roots in classic rock. Throughout high school, I practiced guitar and went to numerous concerts while other guys were practicing football and going to games. My friends were musicians, and we covered bands like Journey and Guns N’ Roses in summer festivals and theater shows. Right as I was graduating, I found out an old guitarist for the Spin Doctors and a collaborator to guys like Lenny Kravitz lived in town and worked a studio. I called him up and asked him to teach me to write songs, and let’s do one. That song is called “Walk on Water” and it’s the first song I ever wrote. It’s very Creed. One day we’ll go back to it and try to get it cut – that song isn’t out in the world yet. But it’s a great, great song! We have a rock version and a more pop version that my friend, Austin, did a great job on. So, as I learned what went in to songwriting – I was really hooked by it! I used to dream of being a rock star on stage, and now I dream of just getting songs written that impact people emotionally – and hoping for a really good cut or placement!
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: When I started on guitar, I had a teacher – a great blues player. Then in early high school – there was a guy who pulled a bunch of budding students together to form a band and teach us all how to hold it down and put on concerts. That was “school of rock” basically before that was a thing! Then, as time moved on and I was more interested in production and songwriting – every one in the room you quickly find out has been around the block before you, has many more years of experience, and has worked with people more famous than you…so I always asked questions, and took notes. That’s kind of in the middle of formal and self-taught, but those are the best lessons. When you’re in the control room with a great engineer – you’ve gotta ask questions. You’re missing out on lessons if you don’t. Actually – I found a professor on YouTube one time in early college who taught in NYC, and had a history as a songwriter with guys like Al Jardine, the boys in Bad Company, and is a Grammy nominated songwriter and friend to many others in this industry; I reached out to him with that song “Walk on Water” and said, “can you teach me more?” He said, “come visit me in NYC and we’ll jam and we’ll see what I can offer.” So there was this kind of trek I had to take out to NYC with a guitarist friend of mine, my first time traveling into the big city alone, to meet a stranger just to talk shop. I still remember his lessons, and I use them when I write still.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: Because of my attachment to the guitar, I have a lot of favorites in terms of bands, and songs, that are center weighted on that instrument. Aerosmith is my religion, I tell everyone. When I was younger, and when I’m in a certain mood now – I will blast Michael Jackson because those infectious grooves and lyrics are still unmatched today. The recording qualities, and the vocal range on top of the deep beats he created are more moving than a lot of hits today. I do also really enjoy a lot of what Ryan Tedder creates. He’s got the formula. And he’s always expanding on it!
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘With You’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes! “With You” was written specifically for my wife. I started writing it in December 2022, and we just married May 21, this year! I set out to write an ultimate wedding song that made her melt. When I premiered it to our wedding guests (and her!) on our special night, it absolutely did make her melt! I bet a lot of couples will relate to the feelings of foreverness, longevity, and lasting love in this song.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: I’m trying to cement myself as a songwriter. The future is all about those hit singles – and that’s all I want to write. I want to get my songs cut, placed, or released with my featured singers – but don’t wait around for an EP or album! “With You” was sung by an incredible powerhouse of a vocal – Llambo, and you can check out his covers of popular songs here: https://www.youtube.com/@transblack
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I focus my intentions on telling timeless stories from a unique point of view. I believe these stories resonate with listeners emotionally. “With You” is one such story that will never stop being told! I hope that my unique perspective of a singer traveling through their lives together and finding that love stands the test of time will resonate with a lot of couples. I like a big sound! I think the choir, the strong lead vocal, and guitar flare will excite and surprise listeners. I also typically use a wide crescendo with my music where the acoustic elements fade into more electrified ones – and specifically, this rock arrangement incorporates big punchy drums and a melodic bass line – two other elements that I strive to use often.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I actually find that I receive more and more from the songs I write than what I could ever hope to ask for. It takes a lot of hours, a lot of energy, and a lot of trashing bad takes to end up with something that makes my heart race, but once it starts getting to the redline – I can’t contain my excitement and I let it all out into what feels like a masterpiece. Then I usually edit it 100 more times to find the real statue! That’s when I start feeling the song take its own shape, and it dances around me while I just watch in awe. I get a lot out of this. The trick is doing a fine enough job that a lot of other people get the same feelings from listening to my music. Join me on this journey as I attempt to do that for people!
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: If I was to map out my process on paper, I think too, it would mimic a lot of other songwriter’s approach. It would look something like: Being inspired by a concept -> Refine that concept (i.e. ‘boy likes girl, girl doesn’t like boy’ or ‘mad at the world, gonna change the world’) -> Find a tempo for a riff that feels right (shooting for 90BPM or above) -> Sketch a rough arrangement (sticking to around 2:30-3:30 in length) -> Scratch a melody together -> Beat that melody -> Beat it again until you have a hit song -> Produce and re-write until you have a radio ready song! Oh, and there’s no particular order either!
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I think the hardest thing to do as a young songwriter (or even an outdated songwriter!) is to inspire people to take you seriously. I try to work with stronger songwriters, find co-writes, and impress myself on artists for collaboration purposes – and you have to prove yourself to them immediately and strongly. In this industry, it takes SO much time and effort to write one single hit song, and the only work worthwhile are hit songs. If you can’t prove yourself immediately and strongly, you don’t have a chance to work with new names unless you have a good recommendation of course. Take “Walk on Water” as an example again. I used that to have my NYC friend take me seriously just so I could get 45 minutes of free lesson time! But, I’m here to start proving myself more now. I want those new connections, and I want them to trust me! I’m always game to prove myself.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: My heart was beating, my nerves were racing, and I said to a room filled with people “So, Nikkie (my wife) doesn’t know this…but I wrote her a song. And on June 9th, it’ll be released to the world…” and it was the most successful and significant point so far in my music career. We write songs to tell stories, to connect with people – and what makes me so proud, is that I was able to make my wife melt with a piece of music I wrote. That’s the biggest connection I could have ever hoped to create.
