Marcio Novelli

In the IMA Long Form Video category, Marcio Novelli was named winner for the documentary “Marcio Novelli Presents Walking Proof,” a film that shows the process of recording his debut album “It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason.” - Independent Music Awards

Who are your influences?: My influences are so eclectic and vast that I wouldn’t even know where to begin so I think that if I simply list the artists that have made albums at one point or another that I feel have changed my life and had a large impact on me, that might give you an idea of where I’m coming from: 30 Seconds to Mars, Alexisonfire, Brand New, Circa Survive, City and Colour, Copeland, Dashboard Confessional, Finch, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Incubus, Jack’s Mannequin, Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson, My Chemical Romance, Nirvana, Slipknot, Smashing Pumpkins, Staind, System of a Down, Tegan and Sara, The Rocket Summer, The Used, Thursday, Weezer… To name a few.

Describe your nominated work: Walking Proof takes you through the seventeen day process of fully recording and mixing my debut full length album ‘It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason’.

Did you use any unusual effects or instruments in this recording?: I played every instrument myself, save drums. I did this in just over a week which also included the time it took to track every single vocal part. It was a marathon of 16 hour days with no breaks whatsoever. I believe that if you’re going to put out a solo record, it should be a testament of who you are as an artist. If you don’t write, sing and play practically every note, is it really a solo record?

Were there any happy accidents while in the studio, or did everything go as planned?: A lot of things did not go as planned and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. All of the vocal harmonies were made up on the spot, the same goes for the guitar solo in ‘Doctor, Please’ as well as a lot of the backing guitar and keyboard parts. Speaking of ‘Doctor, Please’, Chris Steele of Alexisonfire made an impromptu appearance on the album playing bass on that track so I would definitely consider that a happy accident.

How did you raise the funds for this project? How long do you expect it will take to recoup your out-of-pocket recording expenses?: I literally used my life savings to make the record and I raised a couple thousand with the help of my amazing fans through crowd-funding. The documentary cost very little money but I did spend well over a year straight working on it with my co-director/co-editor Matthew Dorman all the while experiencing fatherhood for the first time with the birth of my son. Needless to say, it was a very busy year and the expense was my time.

Why did you choose to submit this work to The 13th IMAs?: I want my art to reach as many people as possible and I hope that being nominated for an IMA will help spread the love. I feel that Walking Proof tells a very real story of the highs and lows that an independent artist goes through to make an album nowadays and I hope it inspires others to follow their dreams no matter how impossible they may seem.

What’s your definition of success and how will you know when you’ve achieved it?: Success is such a suggestive term. Some people measure it in monetary value, I tend to measure it by artistic contentment. My ideal situation is to be able to fully support myself through my art alone so I don’t have to find creative ways to generate income outside of that world.

How will you leverage your IMA honors to achieve your career goals?: I’m really not sure. I’m currently focused on writing my sophomore album so, if this nomination helps me to reach more people that I can share my art with, that would be wonderful.

Who’s sitting in your audience and what makes your fans unique?: My fans really are the most supportive fans I could ask for. They span a large age demographic and are not gender specific. From a marketers standpoint, it would be a nightmare but I love it. I believe that sincere music that comes from a truly honest place will find an audience if you say what you mean and mean what you say.

What is your guilty pleasure on the road? Any close calls or mishaps while on tour?: I am a strict vegan so I tend to eat very well even on tour. I load my suitcase up with Vega One bars, chia, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, kale chips etc. I don’t really drink alcohol, especially not while on the road, because I like to keep my body in as healthy of a state as possible. I am the anti-thesis of what most people think a musician’s lifestyle consists of.

Who are your musical heroes & influences?: I wouldn’t say that I have any musical heroes but I tend to be inspired by modern Renaissance people who are all around artists who don’t limit themselves to any one art-form. Besides my wife and son, music is my first love but I also find great joy in expressing myself through other mediums such as film. In addition to co-directing and co-editing my documentary Walking Proof, I also direct and edit my own music videos.

Are there any songs you wish you wrote and why?: There are so many! One that stands out to me is “Make Yourself” by Incubus because it really describes my basic philosophy in life from a lyrical standpoint.

What artists are you listening to that would surprise your fans?: I don’t know if it would surprise my fans but I listen to everything from folk to metal. If it grabs me some way emotionally, I’ll listen.

How do you discover new music? Do you buy music or are you content with streaming?: With any new artists I discover, I first stream then buy. If it’s an artist I have been following for a while, I will usually immediately buy their latest album upon release.

How will musicians make a living if fans continue to expect music to be free?: I think that musicians need to come up with creative ways to make their fans want to buy their music. Firstly, if you’re sincere and genuine with your listeners, they will be more inclined to want to support you. This is something I’ve done from the beginning because I have always recognized that they are no less important than I am. Secondly, in order to compete with today’s over-saturated market, you better be offering something real and honest with your music. It doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel but it needs to come from the right place because music lovers, particularly those who support independent artists, are very smart and can easily spot a fake. Thirdly, offer them something special or exclusive with your music. For example, for the physical version of my debut album ‘It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason’, I included ‘Walking Proof’ for free. So, if my fans would like to download my music then great but if they want to own the physical CD then they will be rewarded with a DVD of the documentary that takes them into the whole process of making the album. It’s my way of saying “thank you”.

What don’t fans/audiences understand about the music industry today?: Artists can have sustainable careers without ever being heard on the radio or seen on TV. Having said that, even artists who are heard on the radio or seen on TV can have a very difficult time paying their rent. The truth is, if you really want to support your favourite musicians so they can keep making music, go see them play live and buy their music and merchandise directly from them (or from their official website).

Are digital singles/EPs vs. full albums the future?: I have always been an album artist. Even when I release EPs, I look at them as mini-albums. When I make an album, I think of it as writing, directing, producing and editing a full length film. With an EP, it’s a short film.

Finish this sentence: The music industry is…a contradiction of terms.

What do you have in the works for the upcoming year?: I plan to put together a mostly acoustic EP featuring re-imagined versions of some of my previously released material chosen by my fans. I’ve also been doing a lot of writing lately and hope to hit the studio some time early next year to begin recording my sophomore album. I’ll definitely be documenting the process on film once again! I’ve got touring plans underway as well so I’ll be doing a lot of that this year.
- See more at: http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/marcio-novelli#sthash.gV1CGCz3.dpuf -

Your name:
Marcio Novelli.

Where are you from?
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.


How would you describe yourself?
I'm really not a fan of labels because of their narrowness but I'm also aware that most people need things to be categorized in order for it to make sense to them. In that regard, I would very loosely refer to the music I make as alternative pop rock. Having said that, I like to remain limitless in my songwriting and try to keep myself out of any creative boxes.

Who are your main influences musically?
It's always very difficult for me to name any few bands particularly because my influences are truly an amalgamation of such diverse and eclectic artists that have helped to shape me as an artist over the course of my entire life. I tend to be inspired most by experiences in my life and the therapeutic need to find a release to express myself.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I hope to be able to make and share my art until the day I die. If I'm lucky, it will live longer than I will.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Making my debut album It's Not An Excuse, It's A Reason was a real milestone for me. I had been waiting for years to make a full length album, waiting for the perfect conditions, waiting for a label to pick me up and fund it for me. After my wife and I experienced a tragedy that could have torn us apart, instead, we worked as a team to make the production a reality on our own terms. I really have her to thank on countless levels for unlimited reasons. The whole process was documented in my film Walking Proof which has recently been nominated for an Independent Music Award.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
There have been a few key moments when I have felt so defeated that I have been ready to pack it all in but it's all a part of the journey and always leads to some of my most honest, and in my opinion, best songs. In retrospect, there have been many missed opportunities that weren't seized due to inadequate funds or lack of experience but all I can do is keep moving forward and remember why I make music in the first place.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
This is a great yet challenging question! I probably haven't written it yet but, if I had to pick one of my personal favourites, I'd have to say "Doctor, Please". I wrote it at a point in my life when everything had come to a point where I felt so lost, frustrated and vulnerable. Some songs I've written over the years are not always as easy to relate to as you grow and change as a person but that's not the case with "Doctor, Please". It depicts a very specific ongoing psychological burden that I've been struggling with for most of my life. - RealSoundsOK

With his debut LP, It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason, Marcio Novelli proves that great music isn’t written with intentions to impress the masses, but as a personal anecdote by the musician. In the same fashion as artists like Andrew McMahon and Bryce Avary, Novelli oversaw every aspect of the album almost singlehandedly while also playing guitar, bass, keyboard, strings, and percussion. It’s no wonder that It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason is drenched with emotion from beginning to end. Recorded in just two weeks and produced by Jim Wirt (Incubus, Jack’s Mannequin), Novelli’s debut is a revival of simple pop rock with meaning, the kind that has been fading out since 2005.

When the album kicks off with “Siren Song,” it becomes immediately obvious that the most defining detail of the album is Novelli’s voice, which is reminiscent of Brandon Boyd. However, where Incubus is sultry and powerful, Novelli is uplifting and energetic. Despite his contemporary twist, there is no denying the 90’s alternative influences that are weaved throughout every track on the album.

While the entire album has an upbeat sound and an air of positivity, a close listen to any of the lyrics will reveal that much of Novelli’s inspiration comes from struggle. In first single “Doctor, Please,” a song about anxiety, Novelli sings “I cannot sleep / My brain will not allow it / Overcome by the urgency / So doctor, please cauterize the cancers / Instrumental lobotomy.” Lyrics of this nature are weaved throughout the album in songs like “Eyes Wide Shut” and album highlight “S.A.D.,” but are easy to miss when disguised by the hopeful tone of Novelli’s voice and fast-paced guitar riffs.

Later in the album comes “In The Mourning,” featuring soft acoustic guitar, deep cello, and Novelli’s trademark sweet wail during the refrain. This is the first point on the album where the depth of the music truly matches the personal and troubling lyrics. However, it is the following track that confirms the intention of It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason – to lend hope to those who have struggled with the same problems that Novelli has. The chorus of “Walking Proof” is the album’s most positive, with an enchanting piano melody and lyrics about ignoring naysayers and following your dreams.

While there is something very familiar about the music of Marcio Novelli, it is hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. It may be his unique ability to weave many influences throughout one album, or it may be the fact that his subject matter can easily hit close to home. Either way, there is no denying that any fan of alternative or pop rock can easily find something both comforting and exciting throughout It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason.

Rating: 4/5 - idobi Radio

Director: Marcio Novelli

Genre: Documentary

Length: 1hr 11minutes

Screening: Thursday October 17 – 7:00 pm – Royal Cinema

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS: The film follows the 17-day process of making of Marcio Novelli’s debut full length album It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason. The independent Canadian singer songwriter entered the studio with producer Jim Wirt (Incubus, Fiona Apple) and engineer Nick Blagona (Deep Purple, The Police) without the support of a label.

THOUGHTS: Loved, loved, loved this documentary. Walking Proof is proof you don’t need to follow around a music legend on their quest for music excellence, you can hangout with Marcio Novelli making his debut album with just as much joy at seeing something special onscreen. Marcio is actually talented and the album is definitely purchasable after seeing this documentary, so it is easy to jump down the rabbit hole with Marcio and his team in the magic that is making an album.

The documentary is engaging whether you have seen a lot of “making of” music documentaries or not. Director Matthew Dorman (and Marcio) did a phenomenal job of editing the film and making it look sharp and fully professional. Assuming the budget was pretty much nothing, a lot was accomplished and at a very high level of quality, taking on the adage – do a job well or don’t do it at all. The cast of characters was as much fun to watch, Jim Wirt is full on awesome and highly skilled as is the slightly off-beat Nick Blagona. It was fantastic to see bassist for Alexisonfire, Chris Steele, come down to the studio and play on the album.

Most of all, Walking Proof came down to Marcio and whether he could pull it off – make his first full album in seventeen days and be interesting enough to be followed in a documentary. Marcio managed to do both and bring the audience into the intimate setting of the studio and creative process of a team. Touching moments were seen in the film with Chelsea, Marcio’s wife and Manager along with moments of humour, such as everyone trying to figure out what a “number 3” was.

Walking Proof has a feel to it, style and a voice. Call me a fan. - Canadian Film Review

The last 15 months has been a time of firsts for Marcio Novelli.

Since September of last year, the Hamilton singer-songwriter has released his debut full-length album, become a father for the first time, made his first music video and released his first documentary.

Novelli's album, It's Not An Excuse, It's A Reason, received a digital-only "soft release" in October 2012, just a couple of weeks after his son was born. The album — the followup to Novelli's Hamilton Music Award-winning 2009 EP Break Me — has since been given a CD release and Novelli is now touring behind the record for the first time.

In a recent phone interview, Novelli acknowledged that his life has changed greatly since he first began writing the album.

"It really spans a long period of my life — three to five years — and when I look at it now, especially having some time, I really look at it as the person I was when I started writing all those songs to the person I am when I made the record, and even today now with the record being out and being a dad, I'm just a completely different person. So I would say the record is me growing up as a person before becoming a dad. Because that'll be the next record," he said with a laugh.

Recorded with producer Jim Wirt (Incubus, Live) and legendary engineer Nick Blagona (The Police, Deep Purple, Cat Stevens), the songs on It's Not An Excuse, It's A Reason tell the story of Novelli's personal journey, he said.

"There's a lot of personal issues within the album, personal psychological, emotional, mental struggles that I deal with that I raise within the album. The track listing was really thought out, so it ends off with a song that really just talks about moving forward in life. I spent way too much time working on the track listing," he admitted with a laugh. "I like to look at albums as like a film and every scene stands on its own but every scene needs to be put in the right order to tell the story. So there's a story within each song and there's also a story across the whole album."

Novelli said making his first full-length solo album was a "huge milestone" and a couple of weeks before recording began, he contacted filmmaker friend Matthew Dorman to ask him to help document the sessions. Intending to make a 10-minute online teaser for fans, the two eventually produced a full-length, 72-minute documentary that premiered at the Reel Indie Film Festival in Toronto this October.

A self-described "control freak," Novelli also wanted to document his ultimately successful attempt to self-finance and record an album in 17 days while playing almost every instrument himself (save for a couple of guest drummers).

"It was a wild time, it was amazing," he recalled. "I guess as we were going through it, I started to realize that making a record in two weeks, especially when you have one guy pretty much playing everything, is not very common. Most bands, if they do a record in a month, that's a crazy thing. So that's kind of why I wanted to document it, just to share the experience with the people who are into my music."

Continued Novelli: "I basically just made it for people who are into whatever I'm doing but it ended up becoming this whole thing in and of itself, I guess, and introducing new people to my music and just showing the experience of an independent artist on an incredibly low budget making an album."

Novelli has previous experience in film — he appeared in commercials as a child and recently acted in a short film called Never Take Your Eyes Off The Prize — and said he's looking forward to becoming more involved in the medium next year.

"I was the kid in high school that was the drama nerd, so it's something I'm really looking forward to getting into again and 2014 will probably see a bit more of that."

Added Novelli: "I'm looking to make some more documentaries … and (get) just completely absorbed in music and film and basically just create, create, create," he said. "It's what I live to do." - The Record

Walking Proof tells the behind-the-scenes story of how Hamilton indie rocker Marcio Novelli pulled together some of the most renowned names in music to help him record his solo debut album It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason independently in just 17 days.

Featuring the talents of producer Jim Wirt (who’s worked with musicians like Fiona Apple, Incubus and Jack’s Mannequin) and audio engineer Nick Blagona (famous for much of his work with artists including Green Day and The Police), this film is as indie as it gets. It was shot entirely by cinematographer Matt Dorman (whose day job, I discovered, is making promotional docs for the Hamilton Tiger Cats!) except for a number of confessional style, handheld iPhone video clips shot by Marcio himself in front of a mirror, and produced, directed and edited by the duo.

The film really yanks you into the process right away through fast-paced, kinetic editing and deeply personal forays into Marcio and Chelsea (his wife and manager)’s lives in the just over two week process of creating the album from scratch. It plays like an extended MTV special (back in the good ol’ days when the “M” actually made sense!) with a mixture of in-studio and at-home footage, talking heads interviews with the principal cast overlaid with catchy pop-rock music, and a real sense of getting at the truth of what the process is like, warts and all.

An engrossing and cleanly edited tour into the process of creating an album on a low budget and with a severe time crunch, it also features a revolving cast of supporting characters contributing their talents in one way or the other toward his cause. These include two separate drummers (Dan Fila and the ridiculously photogenic Rio Nicolle) providing backing drums for several of his tracks each, as well as bass by Chris Steele, bassist for Alexisonfire, whose cousin happened to be one of the audio engineers in the studio.

Speaking of familial connections, though, there really seemed to be a family atmosphere in the studio, goodnatured fights, teasing and all. In one scene, engineer Nick Blagona is making fun of Marcio who apparently always seems to be eating something, by asking him if he’s from Naples. Then someone suggests that the film include a compilation of scenes of Marcio nibbling at something and this is followed by a very meta superclip of scenes of Marcio nibbling at something.

For a low budget he really pulled together an excellent team, all the way down to a personal voice coach, Jennifer Molinaro, in the studio with them, helping him ensure he was reaching the peak of his vocal potential. One thing I took away from this film is that in the entertainment industry, as much or even more than in any other, relationships seem to be the grease that keep the gears spinning, because to a person all of those involved in making the album expressed their adoration of Marcio.

“That’s the thing about him,” says one of the cast during an interview. “He’s got all this positive energy!”

That energy is something that comes across quite clearly in the film. Incredibly personal, it really showcases a very reachable artist, someone who feels very close to the audience not just in terms of accessibility, but also in terms of having similar challenges in life, and a powerful determination to overcome them. The personal nature of the film might have been helped by the fact that he and Matt Dorman, who shot and edited the film, have been friends for over a decade.

It really made me wonder if this – low budget, high quality production done with friends and family – was the future of indie music making? Or maybe it’s already here, and this is simply the canary in the coal mine.

All in all, certainly worth a watch, if not for the educational value for all you aspiring artists out there, then just for the sheer fun of the ride! - Gesila Azorbo (Blogger)

With an album title such as It's Not An Excuse, It's A Reason, all-encompassing musician Marcio Novelli may be misinterpreted as egotistical.
Nothing could be further from the truth for the Hamilton-born writer, arranger and composer.
Hes' an extremely driven individual who has worked tirelessly to make his mark in the ultra-competitive alt/pop/rock world.
Mr. Novelli is even the subject of a feature documentary film called Walking Proof, detailing how these, at times, deeply personal songs came together in the studio over an intense two-week span.
Truly a case of things happening for a purpose. It's available as a CD/DVD bundle on MarcioNovelli.com. - What's YR Take

For an aspiring musician, walking into a recording studio to create and record your first album is a dream. Canadian singer and songwriter, Marcio Novelli made this dream a reality near the end of 2011. To capture the moment, Walking Proof was shot over the 17 days that Novelli, producer Jim Wirt, and engineer Nick Blagona, worked together to create Novelli’s debut full-length album, It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason.

This look into the process of recording an album from director and editor Matthew Dorman, shows a mastery of the documentary format. Dorman draws from footage taken during the recording sessions, talking head interviews from Novelli, Wirt, Blagona, and others who were involved with the process, as well as personal videos and confessions from Novelli during breaks from recording. Novelli’s music and spirit have a great influence on the film. Walking Proof, much like the featured music, are upbeat and seem to find the silver lining in every struggle. While much of the focus is on Novelli, his first-time experiences in the studio and working to create the record he’s always wanted, the real highlight comes from the camaraderie between him, Wirt and Blagona. In only a short 17 days the three formed a very interesting and sometimes hilarious relationship, which unfolds very nicely in Walking Proof. - Toronto Film Scene

October 2012 is a month Marcio Novelli will not soon forget. For it was during these 31 days the Hamilton musician celebrated the birth of his son and the release of his first full-length record.

"My wife Chelsea and I could not feel any more blessed," he says of Skyler Blue's arrival. "We were first pregnant earlier last year and traumatically lost our baby at 24 weeks. We got pregnant again only to miscarry that pregnancy in the first trimester. The emotional turmoil of our first pregnancy is what inspired me to make this record. It kept my wife and me focused on a goal when we could have both easily slipped into a depression."

It's Not An Excuse, It's A Reason was recorded and mixed in just 17 days. Many songs capture this emotional roller-coaster. Novelli oversaw the writing, arrangement and composition; he also plays all the instruments, except for the drums. The artist only let go of the reins long enough to let producer Jim Wirt (incubus, Jack's Mannequin) and engineer Nick Blagona (Green Day, The Police) fine-tune the finished product.

"Jim and I worked 16-hour days straight to get everything done," says Novelli. "Vocal tracking went by especially fast. Jim commented that I was a real natural, more than any other singer he's ever work with, which floored me because he's worked with one of my favourite vocalists - Brandon Boyd of Incubus."

One of the many highlights of this 10-song collection is "Doctor, Please". The poignant track talks about Novelli's attempt to deal with, and face, long-buried emotional demons that reared their ugly head 18 months ago.

"I've had a very turbulent life with many bouts of depression," he reveals. "Anxiety and sleep disorders were developed very young in my childhood and I've been dealing with them ever since. A year and a half ago with the traumatic pregnancy, everything came to a climax. I had to put my emotions aside to fully be there for my wife but I couldn't keep them buried forever and, much like a house filled with junk, a lifetime of emotional clutter builds up in your body, mind and soul." - Hamilton Magazine

Congrats to our 2 XS New Artists of the Month – LINDI ORTEGA and MARCIO NOVELLI!

With an unbelievable 1.8 MILLION and 1.6 MILLION votes each, Lindi and Marcio shattered all previous vote records in the history of 99.1 CKXS! - Jay Smith - ckxs (2012)

We’re excited to be bringing you an exclusive first listen of “Doctor, Please,” the first single from Marcio Novelli’s highly anticipated debut album It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason. Recorded in just two weeks with producer Jim Wirt (Incubus, Jack’s Mannequin, The Rocket Summer) and engineer Nick Blagona (The Police, Green Day, Deep Purple), the album is due out mid June. “Doctor, Please” features Chris Steele of Alexisonfire on bass, who warns fellow listeners of the song’s irresistible catchiness:

The chord progression has a lot of changes but yet it’s simple and it does get stuck with you so watch out for that! I woke up this morning with it stuck in my head and found myself moving to it. It’s a catchy tune!

Hear the track for yourself below!
http://tinyurl.com/marcionovellidoctorplease - idobi.com

Binbrook alternative pop/rock musician Marcio Novelli has had his fair share of challenges to overcome in his life, including the physical abuse from his father, which led to an uncertain future.
But his love of music always got him through the tough times. A steady support in his life has been his wife, whom he started dating at the age of 15.
Now 26, he has been married to her for a year and a half. But pain visited the couple as they lost their first baby near the end of the pregnancy a few months back.
He has had previous success with the EP entitled "Break Me" (named Best Pop/Rock Recording at the Hamilton Music Awards) which was produced by Juno Award winning producer Julius Butty (Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Protest the Hero).
Novelli has also been a huge hit on social networking websites, attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers. He has played to sold out crowds, performed with bands such as Mariana's Trench, Faber Drive, Stereos, etc.; toured across Canada and played at festivals such as the SCENE Music Festival and It's Your Festival in Ontario. Novelli has accomplished all of this on his own.
However, after losing his unborn child, Novelli was almost ready to give up his music altogether as he started losing his ambition due to the emotional trauma he has experienced. But with the support of his wife and others, he went on a trip to New York City to have a meeting with EMI Music.
Granted an opportunity to work with Grammy nominated producer Jim Wirt (who has worked with Incubus, Jacks Mannequin, No Doubt, and Fiona Apple), Novelli has made arrangements to start recording his first-full length album at the highly acclaimed Jukasa Media Group recording studios on the Six Nations territory in November along with the legendary producer/engineer and Jukasa staffer Nick Blagona (Deep Purple, The Police, Chicago, and BeeGees), he has the opportunity of a lifetime.
"Words cannot describe how thrilled I am to be having both Jim Wirt and Nick Blagona work with me on my debut album," says Novelli.
And therein lies the next challenge: funding.
Producing and recording an album doesn't come cheap. Even though Jim Wirt has given him an incredibly discounted rate for his services to help him out, Novelli will still find himself well short of the projected costs. To remedy this, he has come up with a method to involve his fans, family and friends to help him achieve his goal.
Using the fundraising website "Indiegogo", Novelli is reaching out for donations to help realize his dream. There are different donation levels which bring gifts in return.
Asked about the project and it's progress, he said, "We reached 10% of our minimum goal in just over 24 hours of announcing the campaign thanks to the support of my amazing and dedicated fans that literally span the globe. The whole concept is really exciting, because essentially I am not the only one making this record. Everyone contributing is just as much a part of it as I am."
He explained, "You are actually purchasing something tangible. It just hasn't been made yet. Your contribution is making it happen. It doesn't get much cooler than that."
Sound engineer and Jukasa studio manager Rob Lamothe of Dunnville, who has quite a worldwide following himself, sounds excited. "Marcio is super-talented. I can't wait to get him in the studio!" he said.
Studio director of Aboriginal development and head of U.S operations, Stevie Salas, who has worked and played with Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and Justin Timberlake, added, "Jukasa Studios and Marcio are sure to create some fantastic music together!"
A resident of Binbrook for the past five years, Novelli is himself very giving at heart. "I would love to help develop the music and arts community in the area" he said.
"I hope that the people here can help me get to a place where I can really give back."
For more information, go to www.indiegogo.com/MarcioNovelliMusic. - The Gazette (2011)

Having achieved more than one million song plays on myspace.com and attracted the attention of top industry professionals, singer/songwriter Marcio Novelli has certainly come a long way since his days growing up in The Creek.

“I write from a very real and personal place, so everything I release is very honest,” said the 24-year-old acoustic alternative rocker. “I hope anyone listening can relate and feel like they are not alone, but I also want to help people realize that it’s all what you make of it. My music is the epitome of turning a negative into a positive, so I want to encourage others to do the same thing in their own way.”

Raised by a single mother struggling to make ends meet, Marcio started writing songs after teaching himself to play guitar at age 10.

“I used songwriting as a way to deal with drama at home and bullying at school,” said the former St. Clare of Assisi Catholic elementary school student.

Marcio joined his first band, Article Nineteen, in Grade 11, while attending Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School.

“We built up a name for ourselves in the Stoney Creek and Hamilton area,” he said.

Marcio also starred in a lot of plays in high school and caused a lot of commotion by doing things that were alternative to the norm.

“I enjoyed challenging people to think outside the box and not judge people based on anything but their character,” he said.

After high school, Marcio attended McMaster University for two years, majoring in philosophy and psychology, with a minor in English, theatre and film.

“I didn’t study music because I’ve never felt like you can learn how to be an artist,” he said. “I decided not to return for a third year, in order to fully pursue a career in music. I came to the conclusion that you have to go for what you want and put everything you’ve got into it, so I did.”

Article Nineteen also broke up around the same time.

“I had already been garnering a fan base online via social networking sites like myspace.com and purevolume.com for my solo material before I even joined a band, so I decided to go at it alone,” said Marcio.

After independently releasing his debut solo acoustic EP, The Overture, in late 2006, Marcio attracted the attention of acclaimed Juno award winning producer Julius Butty, famous for his work with Alexisonfire, City and Colour and Protest the Hero.

The two co-produced Marcio’s new EP, Break Me, which is now available to buy on iTunes.

“Expanding on my acoustic sound, this time around, we added more instruments, all of which I performed myself – except drums – giving the new EP a ‘full band’ sound,” said Marcio.

“I had my CD release party last month at (Club) Absinthe (in Hamilton) and played to a packed house. Over the next year, I plan on touring Canada, taking my first dip into the States, making my first music video and hopefully, begin working on my debut full-length album.”

Having performed alongside popular Canadian bands, including Faber Drive, Marianas Trench, Ill Scarlett and The Salads, Marcio says he owes a lot to his fans.

“I am lucky to have a very loyal and supportive fan base that spans North America, Europe and Australia. I don’t treat my fans like they owe me anything and I’ve always made it a point of responding to every message, email and comment, especially when I’m being told that my music has played such an important part in their lives. When someone thanks you for making music that has saved their life, it’s a very humbling and moving experience,” he said.

“The growth of my fan base has always been a word of mouth thing, which is the greatest compliment any artist could ever have. It means people are listening and sharing your music because they authentically like it. That is probably the repeating highlight that I could never get tired of.”

Currently in talks with a few record labels and excited to take the next step in his career, Marcio says he would like to one day tour the world.

“I would also love to do some collaborations with some artists I really respect and admire. I think that would be a very surreal and enthralling experience,” he said, citing Jared Leto from the band, 30 Seconds to Mars, as one such artist. “Two years ago in Toronto, he told a large crowd of people outside his tour bus that we would one day be sharing the stage together. He heard a demo I gave him earlier that year and I was also invited to be in their music video for, The Kill.”

No matter where he performs or who he performs with, Marcio says he’s happy as long as he’s got his music.

“It’s my passion. I really can’t put it any other way. I mean, I didn’t choose music; music chose me,” he said. “Life is just far too short to spend it doing something you hate. Writing and performing music is therapy to me and it helps other people. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

Article URL: http://www.stoneycreeknews.com/arts_and_entertainment/article/168559 - Stoney Creek News (2009)

It was late 2006 that we documented a new artist on the scene. In the two years since, the man behind Euphoria’s Depression is offering a brand new CD, but this one’s under his own name. “At the time, I felt safer hiding behind a moniker because my lyrics have always been so personal,” reasons singer songwriter Marcio Novelli. “I felt like it was time to shed my skin and approach everything in a fresh new light. I don’t care what you call me, as long as you’re listening. I still write almost every song on my acoustic guitar, the only difference now is that I have a live band to bring the ideas I come up with in the studio to life.”
The new Break Me CDEP is light years away from his debut, showing marketable growth, no doubt attributable to the team working on the new project, including Juno nominee producer Julius Butty.
“The title of the EP is sort of a tongue–in–cheek poke at the industry,” says Novelli. “I’ve been doing this for a long time now and I’ve had to fight for people to listen. I’ve never felt stronger or more optimistic than I do now.”
With a CD release party scheduled for Valentine’s weekend, one might think Novelli has lost some of his emo trappings and writing songs where he gets the girl instead of just pines over her contemplating his own death but that’s not the case. “I enjoy being ironic,” deadpans Novelli. “I have never written a love song, I write anti love songs about being broken and feeling hopeless. There are a lot of single people out there that could use some love on Valentine’s Day. “To miss this show would be like missing that crucial point in a movie because you had to go to the bathroom and when you get back you have no idea what’s going on for the rest of the film. It’s something new and refreshing that can keep you entertained and get you an easy way out of making those dreaded Valentine’s Day plans or, better yet, not having to spend the night alone.”

Marcio Novelli plays this Saturday February 14 at Club Absinthe with Kristin Nicholls and Theset. The early show doors are at 6pm and $10 gets you in. - Ric Taylor

QUESTION: In the past - and in recent months - you have performed with a variety of bands from a variety of genres. Who was your favorite band to perform with? And why?

ANSWER: Out of all of the amazing yet varying bands I have shared the stage with, including Faber Drive, ill Scarlett and even The Salads, I would have to say that Marianas Trench is one of my favourite bands to perform with. Not only are they great guys to hang out with but the response from the audience has always been both warm and exciting. At first glance, you wouldn’t think that our styles of music would mix well but somehow it works. I’ve never been interested in performing with other acoustic acts anyway but always opted for a band line-up. I don’t really feel that I jive with folk artists because I tend to come from a different background musically and my fire is often much brighter than theirs.

QUESTION: Since you've performed with bands from so many genres, do you feel any pressure since their fans are in the audience and may not listen to your type of music?

ANSWER: I have found it interesting that over the last couple of years, I have gathered myself a strong army of fans that often differ greatly from one another in terms of musical tastes and even age. I haven’t been able to put my finger on it exactly but I’d like to think that no matter what, you just can’t beat a good song. Speaking to people with true feelings and ideas that stem from a place deep within is very important to me. It’s a form of honesty we don’t see a lot of anymore. I hope to impact and move people in order to allow them to take a break from their busy lives, slow down for a moment and just experience something real. So, to answer your question, no, I don’t feel pressure because my intention is not to impress anyone, it’s to move them, and if people in an audience choose to close their heart and mind to a style of music that may not be the flavor of the month then it’s really their loss. Besides, my music isn’t for those people anyway.

QUESTION: Your work is deeply emotional and is like an insight into your innermost thoughts. How do you feel knowing that these thoughts and feelings are being shared with the world?

ANSWER: My music definitely comes from a very difficult place and, at times, it can be a little unnerving to share such personal, heart wrenching experiences with the world, not because I am embarrassed or private in my life but because, once I have released something out to the world, it’s there to stay. I write to get through certain hardships and yet, ironically, the very same method is what keeps the memory with me forever. However, I do feel that once I’ve released something out into the world, it’s no longer mine – it belongs to those who grab onto it and apply to their own lives. When my music can be used in helping someone get through a hard time in their life, which in itself is the ultimate example of turning a negative into a positive, it makes it all worthwhile for me.

QUESTION: Working as an independent performer seems very important to you. You do not have a band and you mainly represent yourself. Why is this? And do you find it a lot harder?

ANSWER: I’ve been writing songs well before my high school years and I’ve done the whole band thing only to learn that my best work seems to come out when I’m flying solo. I have a pretty clear vision of what I want out of a song but at the same time, I’m always open to try anything. That sort of clarity and freedom is almost never seen in a band setting. I do enjoy collaborating with others but I always seem to enjoy my time alone. There’s no question about whether or not it’s harder this way, because it clearly is, but I think that the gratification is greater knowing what I have achieved going at it alone.

QUESTION: I hear that you are soon to be coming out with a new EP that is said to be "the flipside of the same coin that is Euphoria's Depression", can you elaborate on this?

ANSWER: I recently teamed up with producer Julius Butty (Alexisonfire, Protest the Hero, City and Colour) with the intention to outdo my last record, take a huge step forward and, most importantly, take risks. Since, in the past, I had been playing in bands that took up most of my time and attention, I always held the inane perception that a solo project should remain acoustic and less focused on. When my “side project” started garnering more attention than any other band I’ve ever played in, I realized that was a clear indication of what I should be doing. So, I decided not to limit myself or my music anymore. What that means exactly, you’ll have to wait to find out. What I can say though is that you can expect to see some people accompany me on stage in the not-so-distant future but don’t let that cause you the least bit of confusion, I am still the only person behind Euphoria’s Depression.

QUESTION: Lastly, do you have anything to add or any shout-outs you would like to make?

ANSWER - Through the Eyes of a Gemineye

At what age did you write your first song? What famous musician that has died, would you like to meet?

Marcio: I wrote my first poem at the age of seven and not soon after I wrote my first song. I must have been eight or so and I wrote it on piano. I’ve always been sort of an old soul and never really related to any of the other kids my age so I spent most of my youth creating. As for what famous deceased musician I’d like to meet, I’d have to say Beethoven. How a near deaf person can write some of the greatest compositions in the history of music leaves me baffled. Like Beethoven, I also suffer from tinnitus and, although I do not have as severe a case as he, I know how easily it can drive one mad, especially when your passion is creating music.

How did you come up with the name Euphoria’s Depression?

The name is multi-layered, really. Initially, when I came up with the name at the age of seventeen or so, the material I wrote was as varied and different as anything you could imagine. So, the name reflected the combination of varying influences and writing styles as well as my somewhat bi-polar personality. As the name had some time to sit, it began to grow into something much bigger with “Euphoria” becoming a very important central character in the grand scheme of things that is brought to life by every single person that understands the songs. The idea is that the music represents a part inside of us that we often ignore or pretend doesn’t exist by putting on a smile for the benefit of those around us.

What inspires you to write your songs?

To be perfectly honest, first and foremost, I write to deal and when people grab on and relate to the songs, it turns a negative into a positive. I really expose a lot about myself and my life through my songs, a lot more than most people would be comfortable doing but that’s always been what I loved about my favourite songwriters – their honesty and nakedness. I couldn’t get up on stage and play songs that weren’t an extension of myself. In fact, I probably reveal more through my songs than any other facet of my life.

Which song is your favorite off of your album The Overture? Why?

That’s a tough one because each song really means something different to me. I have my favourites to listen to which are different than my favourites to perform live so I really can’t answer that one. However, I could tell you what my least favourite song off the record is… but I won’t.

Which band has been the most influential that you have performed with at a show?

I’m not easily impressed and I’m even harder to influence. There is a lot of good stuff out there but there’s even more worthless drivel lead by front men that cannot sing and musicians that sound like every other band out there and, unfortunately, most of the stuff that gets recognized is the latter of the two. Most people just seem to eat up meaningless, calculated garbage instead of something with honesty and depth. All cynicism aside, I’m influenced by people who keep moving forward in the face of adversity and against all odds, something I find myself doing constantly.

If you could play with any band in the world, whom would you want to play with?

Probably Thirty Seconds to Mars. I’ve been supporting the guys since 2001, I’m in their music video for “The Kill”, Jared introduced me to his A&R girl, and he told a crowd of kids that we would be sharing the stage together soon. Does that count?

Where is one place that you would love to perform?

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. I have received more requests to tour there than any other place in the world. Stay patient, I’ll see you soon!

What was your happiest moment of your life?

From a musical standpoint, the first real fan mail I ever received telling me how my music saved their life and how much it means to them has got to be on the top of that list. Also, the first time I ever noticed kids in the crowd singing along to my songs definitely threw me off guard and made me feel like, with them by my side, I can accomplish anything.

If you didn’t have music what would you do?

I also act and write.

Where do you see music going in the future?

Digital, unfortunately. CDs are becoming what the record was when I was twelve… ancient history.

What is one instrument you wish you had invented?

Oh, good question! Umm… probably the violin so that I would already know how to play it instead of having it sit in my closet collecting dust for the past few years.

What was it like recording your album The Overture?

It was recorded entirely in the basement I was living in at the time and I definitely didn’t have a fancy “home studio” that some people are privileged enough to have. It was a shanty dive of a workplace complete with pink insulation and cold cement walls closing in on me. I often referred to it as “The Dungeon”, a name first coined while working on my old band’s debut album. Anyway, I spent a large part of 2005 recording ma - Auditory Assault Magazine

While a young life fraught with insomnia, death, and a lack of direction might not seem like the recipe for a pop music career, the resolve one Marcio Novelli experienced this past summer may have been the beginning of just that.
For most of his life Novelli has taken solace in music, but his relationship with his band, Article 19, had become too tenuous and his goals in general too obscured. Novelli had a revelation and decided to drop out of Mac, focus on his music and the result is the beginning of his concerted effort. Euphoria's Depression is the name he offers for his musical entity and The Overture, his new self–produced CD/EP. "I sadly saw the end of my band near," recalls Novelli on some of the traumatic events that led up to a crisis point for the 21–year–old. "Just as I set out to start cracking down on my solo album, a death in the family slowed progress down for quite some time. This caused my anxiety and depression to increase and the sleeping problems I have had since childhood worsened to the point of insomnia. I practically stopped attending my school lectures and began to completely ignore my studies. I spent night after night obsessively focusing on the recordings, never satisfied with the outcome.
"I began to doubt my own ability and then out of nowhere, one day I had this feeling wash over me that this was what I was supposed to be doing," adds Novelli. "I felt that this was what I had to do. After my second year at McMaster ended, I decided I would not return in September. I realized that I needed to do what I know would make me happy, not what other people told me I should do."
Connecting with area producer Julius Butty (Alexisonfire, Protest The Hero), Novelli was bolstered to follow through on his decision even if working with Butty wouldn't happen until 2007. So to continue his concept, a new preface to the bigger Euphoria's Depression catalogue is offered this week.
"Euphoria's Depression is the sadness behind the surface," reasons Novelli on the inspiration of the musical project. "Euphoria is personified as every person that wakes up every morning and tries their best to get through the day with a smile on their face, but goes home at night and cries themselves to sleep. Much like what is said about most who commit suicide, Euphoria is usually the person you don't expect to be chronically depressed. These songs are Euphoria's Depression.
"The theme of this CD/EP is ambiguity," he adds. "I have made a conscious effort to make everything from the front cover design to the select lyrics I included in the booklet to serve as an obscurity to be later revealed. I consider the EP as a whole to be an introduction to Euphoria's Depression, to give people a taste of the ideas and concepts I have hidden up my sleeve. The first track on the EP, the front cover and album layout, the selected lyrics and the songs themselves are all an overture to what will follow."
Novelli doesn't come off as a tortured soul in person, but perhaps that's because all his angst and aguish are channelled into his music. Lyrics about longing, loss, regret and remorse, self-doubt and at times self–loathing are unending, yielding a heartfelt if not overwrought listening experience. The musical presentation in converse is logistically simple, or at least the minimalist approach offers a simple splendor.
"I wanted to deliver something that was very true to what people have been experiencing at my live shows," offers Novelli. "This minimalist approach is how I wanted to introduce Euphoria's Depression.
"The lyrics are written from a very heart–on–my–sleeve and in–the–moment approach," he continues. "I don't tend to overanalyze anything because I want it to be as pure, honest and natural as possible in order to convey what I was feeling at the time I wrote it. The music is the most honest music I can possibly produce untainted by thought, criticism or influence of any kind."
Understated and raw, The Overture, released on his own Veracious Records, is meant to be a prologue for fans on an upcoming tour with Dear Jane, I... and The End Of August in November. By next year, Novelli will move to the next stage of songwriting and recording with Butty for his debut full–length. While the music seems sad, the night celebrating the music should at least be cathartic, if not happy.
"Just like the name Euphoria's Depression, the show will be a collection of opposites," predicts Novelli on the CD release party. "A friend of mine will open up the show with an acoustic set followed by three rocking bands tearing up the stage. I'll then deliver an intimate, passionate yet energetic raw acoustic performance that Euphoria's Depression has become known for."
Euphoria's Depression plays Friday November 3 at Absinthe with The Goodbye Celebration, Out of Options, Beautiful Nothing and The Swiss Army Romance opening. Doors for the all ages/licensed event open at 6pm and tickets are $10.

- Ric Taylor - View Magazine (Hamilton, On)

While he got his start, at the ripe age of four, studying piano at
the Canadian Conservatory of Music, it wouldn’t be long before
Marcio Novelli was teaching himself guitar and forming rock
bands. This weekend, the 21–year–old singer songwriter sheds
the band motif but furthers his own exploration of song with a
new project, Euphoria’s Depression.
“I remember hating the theory homework so much that I
would get my sister to do it for me,” recalls Novelli on his early
approach to schooling. “I still learned what I had to learn but
concentrated a lot more on playing by feeling and by ear.
“I got my first guitar when I was five or so, it was a child–
sized guitar and I would strum and sing for my family without
really knowing what the hell I was doing,” he adds. “Needless to
say, I broke all the strings. But around nine years old, Green Day,
The Offspring, Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana inspired me to
learn guitar and start writing my own songs.”
It would be that more daring approach to music that would
lead Novelli to head up bands by grade seven. In 2002, he fronted
Article 19, but this past year the band went on an indefinite
hiatus and Novelli focused on his more personal but no less
adventurous work.
With Euphoria’s Depression, Novelli offers up over–wrought
lyrics with much presentation in the vocal delivery, but the songs
have a delicacy and bristling honesty that is turning heads.
“My song writing is very free of rules because when I play
and write I’m not thinking of what the proper or technical thing to
do is, rather, I’m thinking about what emotion I’m feeling and
what it is I need to express,” offers Novelli. “[But] the name,
Euphoria’s Depression, has less to do with the style of music I
make than the lyrical content and me as a person.
“It originally began as a way for me to explain how I’ve
always felt and what my solo music means to me,” he adds. “As
clichéd as it sounds, music truly is my therapy and I really only
need to write when I’m upset. People can categorize me into any
pigeonhole genre they want too, but all that should matter is
whether or not my music, or any music for that matter, affects
them in some way. I make music to help myself deal (with life)
and I approach my songwriting in the most honest way possible. I
don’t hold back and I say what I need to say at that moment. I
don’t worry about what other people are going to think about it. I
think that people respond to that in a different way than music
that is written with the sole intent of selling millions of CDs and
packing coliseums.”
Via his myspace.com account, producer Julius Butty
(Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Protest The Hero) and CD
mastering legend Chris Athens (Bob Marley, Ozzy Osbourne,
Coldplay) have reportedly signed on to work on Novelli’s solo
debut. But while the singer has recently taken more solace in the
more solitary realm of writing and recording, the next phase of
his career will see him becoming even more personal with his
audience.
“I think that myspace.com is a great tool for bands to
expose their music to a large audience that may otherwise not be
able to ever hear their music,” ruminates the singer. “[But] when I
first added Euphoria’s Depression to the website, the people who
were interested were already fans I had earned by playing small
solo stints at my high school and, to a lesser extent, fans of A19.
In my opinion, nothing beats performing for a live audience. I
plan on touring as much as I can as soon as I’m done recording
my album.
“I feel like it’s the right time for me, I’m ready,” he adds on
this weekend’s start of more stage work for the ED project. “You’ll
see me on stage with my acoustic guitar as the only
accompanying instrument delivering an energetic, emotionally
draining performance that is both pensive and raw.”
Euphoria’s Depression plays Saturday May 6 at The
Underground with Awake & Dreaming, Sauce Rock It and Moose
Factory. The all ages/licensed event starts at 6pm with a $5 cover.

- Ric Taylor - View Magazine (Hamilton, On)

Marcio Novelli describes himself as a man with many different hats, and when you learn more about him you can understand why. Not only is he an outstanding singer songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist but he does so much more. He also produces/mixes records for other musicians as well as directing music videos and documentaries. In 2014 he and Scottish web designer Ross Barber-Smith launched the video podcast ‘Bridge the Atlantic’ which features stories from people within the creative industry.

It doesn’t matter what Marcio is doing, his heart is always about creating his own music which has a pop meets rock with an acoustic twist sound. This combination was first heard on his debut EP ‘The Overture’ in 2006 under the now defunct pseudonym ‘Euporia’s Depression’ which was self produced. This was followed up with the EP ‘Break Me’ (2009) and then his debut album ‘It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason’ (2012). Marcio took a step back from making his own music as he wanted to focus more on enjoying family time after the arrival of his sons. He did return in 2015 with a new album ‘Foreplay’ under his side project, Midnight Soundtrack. This has a very different feel as he created something with an electronic rock sound.

To the present and Marcio Novelli is preparing to release ‘The Reimagining: Vol. 1’ EP which is some of his older tracks rearranged and stripped down in an acoustic manner. He is also working on his follow up album, which is expected later in the year.



Marcio recently told some time out of his busy schedule to talk to Appetizer Radio and opens the doors to his world. He talks about becoming a musician, songwriting and much more, this is what he had to share with us:

What was it that inspired you to become a musician and who helped to shape your sound?

I’ve been singing since before I could speak, really; I didn’t speak for the first few years of my life. Music was something I always found refuge in, even as a toddler. At a very early age, I was exposed to many different styles of music thanks to my mother, aunts, uncles and sister.

Some of my earliest exposure to music that still remains in my memory would be The Cure, Simon & Garfunkle, Alphaville, Elvis Presley, Yaz, and the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Yes, I was an eighties kid… Born in the dead middle of it, to be exact. My mother was a huge fan of Celine Dion and Whitney Houston so I was exposed to those masterful singers as well.

My first instrument I ever learned was piano at around five years old but I was a terrible student… I’d rather improvise than play what the teacher wanted me to play. I discovered rock music before the age of ten with bands such as Nirvana, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Goo Goo Dolls, Our Lady Peace, and Marilyn Manson. This music impacted me so deeply that I used to sneak into the basement where my uncle lived with us and I’d strum the guitar because I wanted to learn it so badly. He taught me the basics and I learned the rest myself. I begged my mother to buy me a guitar so she got her siblings to pool together and surprise me for my thirteenth birthday. I began writing songs immediately.

My high school days saw me discovering bands such as AFI, The Used, My Chemical Romance, The Early November, Evanescence, Dashboard Confessional, Alexisonfire, Incubus, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Korn, Linkin Park, System of a Down, Motion City Soundtrack, Tegan & Sara, Thursday, Thrice, Slipknot, and Finch. Fast forward several years and I’ve either opened for, performed with, or, interviewed a number of these artists on my web-show & podcast, Bridge The Atlantic, which I never in my wildest teenage dreams would have imagined happening as a teenager. It’s a true lesson in how we really don’t know what the future holds for us.

I’m still a fan of many of the bands mentioned, especially the ones from my high school days but there’s too many new artists that I love to even begin to name and I’ve already gone on too long but my inspirations are vast and varied and always have been.

You have released a lot of songs of a high calibre, what is your secret when writing music?

Thank you kindly for that. I used to write a lot when I started, now I write a lot less. Some “experts” claim if you don’t use it, you lose it. In other words, you should always be writing if you want to be any good at it. I take the position that, for me, that’s a load of garbage. Songwriting for me has always been a therapeutic outlet and form of expression. I don’t look at it like a discipline and, if I did, I’d probably stop. I’ve always looked at it as a crucial art form and means to express complex thoughts and emotions that live inside of me. I truly believe I would not be here right now if it weren’t for the music I listened to growing up and my own songwriting that I began to develop as a pre-teen. I was the target of bullying at school and my home life was broken. This is what kept me from going completely insane, seriously. So, to answer your question, I don’t have a secret but I would say that it is one hundred percent essential for me to write from an honest, vulnerable place if I want to release any of the burning fire inside of me and hope to connect with anyone at all in hopes to help them through a similar experience.

From these songs, do you have any personal favourites? If so, which ones and why

There are definitely songs that stand out to me, especially those that still mean something to me years after I’ve written them. I’d prefer not to disclose them though because I don’t want to place any above the other and I wouldn’t want to take anything away from a song that really means something to someone else. I will say that some of my favourite songs I’ve ever written will appear on my upcoming new full-length album.

Your upcoming EP ‘The Reimagining: Vol. 1’ are older songs with a new take on them. What were the challenges you had to overcome to achieve the goal for this release?I actually found it quite liberating to strip my songs down to how they were originally written then lift them back up but much gentler than on my previous releases. My songwriting is always really cathartic for me but, on this EP, I felt I could really let the songs speak for themselves without my words being hidden behind blazing guitars and pounding drums that often juxtapose the pain and sorrow I express in my lyrics. That’s one of the main reasons that I chose the songs that I did for this EP – songs that were only previously available with full band arrangements can now be listened to in its raw state.

You are currently working on your second full length album. What lessons have you learned from previous releases which is helping you to shape this new project?

To say that I’m taking my time with the new album is a true understatement. I recorded my debut full-length in two weeks back in 2011. This time around, I had my main recording session in March 2016 and, after much time away from it, I’ll be finishing it this Spring. There are many reasons I took a break from the album and not a single one of them is because I don’t love it. There are some songs on the new album that are so heavy emotionally that I needed to take a breather from it but that’s all the more reason why I can’t wait to finish it and put it out into the Universe. The time away has allowed me to finish The Reimagining, Vol. 1, which I would have regretted not completing if I hadn’t pulled it off the back-burner before returning to the new album.

What can we expect from this new album?

You can expect full band arrangements but with acoustic guitars throughout and a more consistent vibe and sound than on It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason. And, that’s not a jab at that album. It was the culmination of so many years of diverse musical influences and it needed to represent that. I needed it to cover many different sides of myself. This new album will still represent different parts of myself but in a much more cohesive manner which, in a way, will actually be more true to me as a whole and that has just happened naturally for me.

Like you say on ‘Bridge the Atlantic’ you are a man of many hats (musician, songwriter, producer, editing videos, etc.) Which area to your music talents do you enjoy the most and why?

I enjoy being an artist which, to me, means that I create from a place of pain and use my art as therapy. Just because you create, it does not make you an artist. Just because you don’t create, it does not mean you aren’t an artist. I think it’s a state of being more than anything. My dreams have never been to be famous and wealthy, it’s always been to create and connect with others who might be feeling the same thing I’m feeling. So, to answer the question, making music is the most satisfying thing for me.

Time for a bit of fun. In 2008, NASA beamed The Beatles track ‘Across the Universe’s into space for the universe to hear. If one of your songs got this opportunity which would you choose and what would be your reason behind it?

I think I haven’t written that song yet but, if I had to choose, it would be one of the songs on my new album that I wrote for my kids. Sometimes, I fantasize about one day when I’m gone and my kids are old men listening to their dad sing about how much he loved them from the very beginning. That thought makes me both sad and happy at the same time.

From your musical journey so far, what has been your personal highlights?

The fact that there are a number of people with my words tattooed on their skin will always blow my mind. These are words that I wrote to help myself get through a difficult situation and the fact that they can mean enough to someone for them to have it on their bodies permanently, or, even just to take the time to write me about how my music has saved their life, keeps me going on the rough days.

Apart from the release of the new EP and album, what other goals to you have for your music?

I am not as goal-oriented as I probably should be but I do know that I never want to take a break from music again like I have over the last few years. I don’t regret it because I wanted to be the father I never had. In fact, I had an absolutely horrific one so I’m really hard on myself about being the best father possible to my kids. I’ve often considered quitting all things music because I thought that’s what I needed to do in order to focus entirely on them instead of always needing to split my time. However, I’m come to the realization that, if I’m not happy, I can’t be the best version of myself and music is so important to me and my well-being. Finding balance is the crucial yet difficult thing to get right. All I can say is that you will be hearing a lot of new music from me and I will be touring to places I’ve never played before. And, even though this has and always will be a balancing act with many sacrifices on both ends, my family will always be my number one priority.



During the interview you really see how much music means to Marcio and this makes what he creates that little more special. The way he connects to his lyrics with an honest emotional tone is what makes his music stand out. You can listen to all of his releases on his Bandcamp page which showcases his songwriting talents. Personally, I recommend that you check out his tracks ‘Remember Love’, ‘This song is not for you’, ‘Celebration’ and ‘Break Me’. You should also give his side project Midnight Soundtrack a listen.

I have been able to have a sneak peek of Marcio’s new EP ‘The Reimagining: Vol. 1’ and it really shows how creative of an artist he is. The way he has taken some of my favourite songs and remoulded them to somehow make them even stronger is simply amazing. I will also say that this is his strongest release to date and going off this, his upcoming album will be something special. You will have to wait until March 31st to grab a copy of ‘The Reimagining: Vol. 1’ but you can pre-order it HERE.

If you like what you have heard from Marcio Novelli and wish to support his upcoming album then take a visit over to his Pledge Music page HERE. If you want to learn more about this talented musician then visit his website at MarcioNovelli.com. You can also find him at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you should go say hello as he enjoys connecting with his fans.

If you like what you hear from Marcio Novelli then help support his music and spread the word about him TODAY! - Appetizer Radio