We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anthony Pepi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anthony below.

Anthony, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

The music industry is definitely one of a kind. I have started the hard way and working my way up literally from the bottom. I have come a long way since I first started 10+ years ago. Being a graduate of Berklee College of Music really helped in getting to know musicians, made me a better musician and made it a little easier moving to Los Angeles. I am from Worcester, MA and went to school in Boston. I moved to LA in January 2013. Since then, I have performed in bands, started one of my own, signed to labels that didn’t work out. It wasn’t until around 2017 where I started to see some things happen in my career. I decided to take a little turn and work in TV/film. It has been nothing short of amazing. It is still a ton of work and took a little bit to get in the door but once you do one project, others start to happen. I am signed to APM Music through Sound Manipulations, Primal House Music both based in LA and Pure Sync based in London. The main studio we work out of is in North Hollywood in which the owner is Walter Afanasieff who wrote All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, Hero by Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand etc. I am still working my way up in the placement world but it has been going well thus far. I also started recently working with upcoming artists in collaboration working and co producing with other writers. I love collaborations and working with other producers/songwriters because everyone brings something different to the table. Most of the music industry involves collaborating with another producer/songwriter. I enjoy making a living doing what I love in the music industry but I still have a long ways to go to get to the status I envision. As they say, It’s not about the destination but about the journey!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a songwriter/pianist from Worcester, MA and lived in LA for 10 and a half years. I have played piano for 20+ years ever since I was a little kid. I have always loved music and started out playing by ear. Fast forward, I got accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston and graduated in 2012. Shortly after graduating I made the move to Los Angeles, CA. I always new from about 14 years of age that I wanted to be in the music industry someway somehow. After graduating, I was seeing what city fit the best like New York, Nashville or LA and LA seemed to fit me the most musically and for the lifestyle. I Started out classically trained on the piano but did not continue it because I felt it was not a good fit for me. I soon realized being a songwriter/composer was where I was meant to be. I had a lot of years of training, lessons, reading music, scales, teachers who pushed me but still feel like there is always time to practice and improve. Being from the east coast and my upbringing with my parent, it really taught me discipline and making sure the work I do I give a 100%. I provide creative ideas as a songwriter to the people I collaborate with as well as the artists. Working in TV/film is a little different because sometimes they tell you what they are looking for and it is a quick turn around. For placements in TV/film, we provide cinematic elements in our music with a pop/indie vibe. For writing for artists, I try to dabble in a few different genres. What sets me apart from others is my work ethic and the different musical ideas I bring to the table. I always look for something different and new. I am proud of the music I have written thus far in TV/film like the Discovery Channel, Hallmark, Oxygen, Great American Family, etc. Currently working with upcoming artists as well and excited to see what’s to come!

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my main songwriting partner Candice Kelly 10 years ago when we both first moved to LA. We are both graduates of Berklee College of Music but she was a year or two ahead of me so the first time we met was here in LA through social media. Ever since then we have been writing together in which she is the main lyricist.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What I find the most rewarding is hearing my work in different areas like TV and film as well as with artists.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Only_Saints_Music
• Other: Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/anthonypepimusic/sets/highlights https://soundcloud.com/anthonypepimusic/sets/instrumentals

Image Credits
Brian Doherty