We recently connected with AJ Pantaleo and have shared our conversation below.

Hi AJ, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I always knew I was going to be a drummer, long before playing in my first band in 7th grade. As a child, my dad gave me my first pair of sticks and my mom gifted me copy of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. As a kid, I would dance in my room to MJ’s Thriller and eventually started messing around with the sticks and a small practice pad my dad had in the house. The rest they say, is history. In my 8th grade year book (1997) I wrote “I want to be a drummer” for my career choice! So, it’s been a long time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been performing as a live, touring and recording drummer for over twenty years. I am known for my pocket style groove drumming. There is no better feeling watching the crowd move to the music and that’s a responsibility I take very serious. I like to say I am in the business of making musicians around me better by laying down a foundational groove for them to shine over, Haha! I got into the game by playing live in front of as many people as much as possible and hanging around better musicians. I would ask questions and learn from anyone willing to teach me about the game. Always watching how they interact with each other, so that I could one day move like them. Because I was always honing my craft and showing up ON TIME (lol), I started to get more opportunities which led to me being able to tour and record more. Best advice I was ever giving was that the music game is a marathon not a sprint. Be consistent, always work on your craft, don’t give up and things will happen.

I love to play all styles of music but funk, hip-hop and groove is where my heart and soul is. I have toured and recorded with groups ranging from experimental music, punk, indy rock, funk and to more jazzy situations as well. I currently play in The Jazztronauts a funk group from Staten Island, NY signed to Nu-Tone Recordings and still make time to record and perform with solo artists as well.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to bring people together through the power of groove and playing music with other musicians for people is one of the greatest blessings in my life, other than my family and friends. Seeing people dancing and having a good time while the band is connecting with each other in real time, that’s what drives me to keep doing this.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Being able to adapt is crucial as a musician. I have been in a few situations throughout the years playing in bands where musically and professionally I was on a different page and ready to move in a different direction. Knowing when it’s time to pivot and making the moves to do so is the hardest part but I have always found it worth it at the end of the day. Playing drums is a full body experience and it’s something you just cant fake. So if you are in a position where you feel you can’t give your all to the music then it’s time to make a change. It’s going to be uncomfortable, scary, all that, but that’s how you know you are growing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ajpantaleo.space
• Instagram: @ajpantaleo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejazztronautsnyc?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: My Bandcamp: www.shaolindrumz.bandcamp.com Band Instagram: @thejazztronauts

Image Credits
Tabitha Lee Turchio Sean Sweeney Vincent Minervino Manish Gosalia