Meet Aaron Rizzo | Music Artist and Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aaron Rizzo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aaron, what is the most important factor behind your success?
In a word? Truth. It’s something that I’ve grappled with for the past couple of years. Maintaining truth in every aspect of my process is a top priority. If people are gracious enough to give me their time, ears, and in some circumstances, money, then I have to uphold my end of the bargain by being 100% transparent.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This is always a difficult questions because, at the end of the day, all of us are simply trying to convey a message. The message itself may differ, but our mission remains the same. I’m not going to claim that I’m some artistic anomaly that is executing feats that no other person has, but, my story is my own. That is what sets me apart from others and what sets others apart from me. No-one else can tell it, and I feel a spiritually deep obligation to be the mouthpiece of those ideas and stories. I’m a firm believer that I am not the package, but simply the messenger. This obligation centers mainly around a duty to make others feel heard, seen and understood.

From a technical standpoint, my music does (and will continue to) carry heavy undertones, both sonically and thematically. I grew up in a scene that celebrated heavier genres of music, so lower-tuned guitars and heavy rhythms hold a special place in my heart. I’m also infatuated with the sect of songwriting that is “a person and an acoustic guitar.” Moving forward, I’m blending these two worlds into what feels like me. It is incredibly difficult to find what you sound like in music, but I believe I’m on the right path with this.

Much of my art and writing trickles down from my battles with mental health, relationships and the innate hardships of being a human. For much of my life, I faced some incredibly dark periods of deteriorating mental health, only to be pulled out by the gift of music. When something like that becomes the one thing keeping your head above the water, a profound bond is formed that will never be broken. Over the years of these struggles, I’ve learned that there are far worse things in life than death, and to simply feel at all is a blessing. I’m grateful for both the flourishing times and the rough ones, because there were lessons in both. Music helped me weather this adversity and has aided me greatly in making sense of this insane world.

If there is one thing that people take away from this, I hope it’s that there are people out there that are down in the trenches with you fighting the same fight. None of us need to be in this alone, and whether it is a line in a song or a friend that has been there since day one, just like the obligation of being an artist, it’s always good to be heard, seen and understood.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Every week long trip needs unplanned downtime, but in the planned up-time, there are a few spots that would be on the “must see” list. First off, one of the best ways to learn about a city is through its food. We’d start off with some breakfast and a coffee at Parkgrounds right here in Reynoldstown. This is my daily coffee spot that has grown to become very near and dear to my heart. Throughout the week, I’d try and show them the different corners of Atlanta culture through some live shows, restaurants and general spots to hang. I’d love for them to see the botanical gardens and the different parks around the city to see how nature-based Atlanta can be. We’d cruise around and check out all the different neighborhoods that have developed their own unique charm with both new and old folks living there. Some favorite spots of mine around the city would be on this list — Euclid Ave Yacht Club, Eddie’s Attic and Superica to name a few!

Above all else, I think the most interesting and inspiring part about Atlanta is the people who live here. I’ve met people from all different walks of life that have found themselves here for the strangest of reasons. This city has accepted me with open arms, and for that I’ll be forever grateful. I think it’s important that anyone who comes to check it out feels the same love that I did upon moving here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say that 99% of the credit should go to others. Mainly, I’d like to shoutout anyone who has ever given me a chance or supported me. It doesn’t matter if they bought a $1 sticker at the merch table or donated $1,000 to a tour fundraiser. That unwavering support is the reason that I’ve had the privilege to continue this journey. I’m not the kind of person that thinks they are busier than everyone else. I understand that most people on this planet lead incredibly chaotic and busy lives. When folks still show up despite having a million things on the docket, that means more to me than they will ever know.

In terms of my mentors and people who have inspired me, there are far too many to list them all. Everyone from my first guitar teacher (Mike Deiure) to my college professors (Alex Perialas, Mike Caporizzo and Brian Dozoretz) are responsible for my success. I also owe a great deal to my bandmates, Troi Aragon-Buchanan and Seef Anam. They keep me grounded and focused more than anyone else in my life right now.

Needless to say, I would be nowhere without my family and friends. They have supported me from the very beginning and have been nothing but encouraging and full of love every step of the way.

Website: https://www.aaronrizzomusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronrizzomusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaronrizzomusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF92E2xa2PL9vsVYpctUeXQ

Image Credits
First two images & main image (black background) – Jeremiah Rafferty
Third image (stage shot from behind) – Bridget Hagen
Fourth image (fur coat) – Katie Hart
fifth and sixth imgages (hazy) – Katie Holtzclaw