Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alex Mazzucchelli. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alex, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
As a singer-songwriter, having writer’s block from time to time is inevitable. Much like we are never certain when inspiration will strike, the same goes for when we are stuck. Whenever writer’s block would rear its ugly head, the initial feeling was frustration but what came next was actually creative. I realized that I had to come up with clever ways to get what I wanted when the words and ideas just weren’t flowing naturally. A few things I credit to helping me. Writing through what I would deem was “bad” is one of them. When an idea is forced or more laborious than I would like, I still work through it anyway and let it crash and burn. I then give it some space, sleep on it and come back to it when I am feeling a little more optimistic about it all. Recycling work like this and revisiting past songs has been very helpful in my songwriting process. The “bad” ideas I realized had some gems buried inside- I didn’t have to throw it ALL out. There are usually some bits in there that I can use, it becomes a puzzle to solve, a fun little way to mix and match.
The key is learning when to take a break, as well. My song, “Cross That Line”, off of my EP, is a perfect example of this. This song has so much meaning behind it personally and some would say it’s the most moving song off of the EP. However, the evolution of this song was such a journey. It started as an entirely different sound and had completely different lyrics. I was working on this song for a few months and was just about to throw in the towel before the right chord struck. At first, I couldn’t understand why this song wasn’t coming easily to me when I knew what I wanted to express and what I wanted it to be about. Then, I had to have an honest check in with myself. The “block” is an opportunity to check in with my process, I learned. Why was I stuck? The fear of being vulnerable. Honest songwriting is being innately in tune with your thoughts/ feelings and having the fearless ability to put pen to paper and express yourself uncensored and unapologetically. It can feel like a diary being read aloud sometimes. I’d write something brutally honest, then back off of it, or try to rephrase it so that the person who inspired it wouldn’t be able to know it was about them. I would start to water down my lyrics in order to conceal the identity of said person and to keep the anonymity of the situation. When I realized this was stifling my creativity I had to get real uncomfortable in order to eventually get to a place where I was comfortable just bearing it all in my songwriting. The subtext of a song, and all the “easter eggs’ are fun to try to figure out for the listener. A lot of good songwriting is being able to write and express yourself in an out of the box, poetic way rather than explicitly spelling it out. Good songwriting hooks you and makes you think. A great song will make you want to go back and listen again and again to see if you missed anything the first time.
So, once I was able to release myself from being so careful about what I was saying and how I was saying it, I was able to move past the block and finish “Cross That Line”, making it what it is today. A totally bare your soul kinda song about being in love with a friend and asking them to take that risk by really going for a relationship with you.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a multi-hyphenate artist and performer- singer/songwriter/actor. Born and bred New Yorker, which is where I’ll accredit my grit and passion. I am a creator- on the film/theatre side, I have written, produced, directed, conceptualized, consulted, coached and instructed, in addition to performing. As a musician, I am a singer, recording artist, writer and lyricist. I started my artistic journey as a child, developing a love and talent for the arts at an early age and nurturing my craft throughout. I received my BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts (Training: New Studio on Broadway and Stonestreet TV and Film Studio), and have been working professionally in the entertainment industry ever since. In the last few years, I have shifted my focus to my original music; releasing my EP, “Rise” in 2022, dropping two brand new singles in 2023, with some exciting new music and live shows on the way soon. I get the most joy when I am working in the studio; rehearsing, writing, recording. Making music, and art in general, is truly what I love most in this world. It’s when I feel most alive.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Authenticity- I think about this a lot. How can I separate myself from all the others trying to do the same thing? And the best answer I can come up with is authenticity. Our individuality as artists is what makes us unique and is something that cannot be replicated or manufactured. You just have it or you don’t. Doing projects that feel genuine to what I am feeling, thinking, going through, celebrating etc., are some of the ways in which I stay grounded and true to my artistry. So many people are chasing the same dream, but that’s not what I focus on. The only person I should be competing with is the previous version of me. This momentum lights a fire and keeps me engaged and progressing as an artist. I like to challenge myself to keep my music fresh and to avoid being boxed into one style. When I was a kid, I started out with the fundamentals of all solid vocal training with musical theatre and classical. As I got older and expanded my interests, I developed my own sound through pop/rock music. Whenever someone asks me what kind of singer I am I have trouble answering this straightforwardly because I’ve pretty much sang it all! This also goes for when I get asked about what genre my music is. Singer-Songwriter is what I usually reply with but I feel there is so much more to that answer. I’ve written so many songs, in all types of styles over the years that have either not been produced or released yet. Some of my unreleased original songs I would love to give to other artists. That’s another goal of mine, to write for contemporaries. All this is to say, I don’t want to slap a label on my music, by doing so I feel as if I am placing a ceiling on potential opportunities. Who knows what direction my writing will take me. That’s the beauty of this artist life: you can define and redefine yourself at any time and at any season.
Confidence- Don’t let anyone, and I mean NO ONE steal your joy. Hype yourself up. You have to be your biggest inspiration and cheerleader in my line of work. Reminding yourself of who you are, how amazing your talent is and how much you bring to the table is not only an act of self- love, but also self- preservation. I found it most helpful to go where you are celebrated and appreciated by those who see your worth. Take your flowers when earned and cultivate methods where you are able to lift yourself up in heavier moments. Admittedly, there were times in my journey where I found myself in the wrong spaces, where my work wasn’t valued as much as it should’ve been. I call those spaces being in the wrong “story”. If I think of my life in chapters, I would check in and question, is this right for me? Is it time to start anew? The power is in knowing when to remove yourself from those situations and no longer give energy trying to convince others to see your worth. Never do that. Know your worth and stand firm in it. Trust that what is right for you is on the other side. Your power also lies in finding whatever did not serve you no longer attractive. My art, self discovery and finding strength within is what gives me confidence. Having the bravery to try out new ideas that may not work, but being able to brush it off and push on is also key to my confidence. No longer needing approval of others goes hand in hand with that, as well. Create, move forward and don’t abandon your line of talent.
Solid Work Ethic- Having a disciplined work ethic is investing in yourself. I think of my career as having two parts: the art and the business. They need to exist as their own entities but they also need to work in tandem. The best advice I would give to those who are early on in their journey is to note that before you develop your brand and all the fun stuff that people get to see, you must nurture your talent. The music industry has changed so much and we are constantly inundated with attention seeking content on social media, where anyone with access to it can go viral and become a household name instantly. To have fleeting success is one thing, but how to have longevity is a whole other thing. I also think that “fame” itself is an unhealthy and unworthy goal- gasp!, that may be controversial to some. I’ve always wanted to just be respected for my work and make a name for myself as someone that people know they can rely on as a hard working talent. What I really feel keeps some of our favorite artists relevant is their solid foundation and self starter mentality.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am an independent artist so I am always looking for collaborators on new music/projects! I like to keep a tight knit circle of like-minded, hardworking, trusted artists. People want to work with kind, good natured folks. So, I am always networking and making connections with co-writers, producers, musicians, managers and PR mavens to collaborate with. One of my favorite things to do is loop my circle of creatives in with one another, hoping they’ll hit it off and work together, as well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve helped make a great professional match between two of my favorite people. Paying it forward is so important. I really do think good things come back to you when you help others. Want to collaborate and share ideas? Give me a shout [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexandramazz.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/alexmazzmusic
- Facebook: facebook.com/alexmazzmusic
- Other: https://linktr.ee/alexmazzmusic
Image Credits
Photo: Kiera Wood Photo: Rebecca Gnasso
