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

Joe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project of my career is one that’s still under wraps—our upcoming album. While I can’t share too many details due to confidentiality, I can say that this project has challenged me in ways I never anticipated, both as a guitarist and producer. It has pushed me to explore new artistic directions and delve deeper into my creative core, breaking many internal and external boundaries along the way.

What makes this album truly special is the thematic approach we’ve taken and the deeply personal context behind it. Over this multi-year process, I grappled with many life-changing events (just as many of us go through in the cycle of life) that heavily influenced the music we created. Collaborating freely with my bandmates and guest musicians has been nothing short of amazing—there’s a certain magic in what we’re creating that we have never captured before. Our new album isn’t just about the music, it’s about telling a story and capturing a raw emotional energy that I hope will resonate with and connect deeply to listeners.

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?

My journey with music began as a young teenager when I discovered my passion for the guitar. It quickly became more than just an instrument, it became my voice and a means of self-expression, allowing me to articulate emotions and ideas when words failed me. Teaching myself to play demanded discipline, patience, and persistence—qualities that later extended to my exploration of music production. This new dimension of creativity gave me the freedom to shape the sounds I envisioned, deepening my connection to my craft.

Much of my creative work has taken shape in solitude, a space where ideas can grow unhindered by outside distractions. For many artists and musicians, this solitude is essential. It’s where we tap into our truest selves and give form to our thoughts, emotions, and visions. For me, it’s in these quiet, introspective moments that my obsessive attention to detail and deep thinking drives me to pour everything into my music. Each note and melody I compose carries intention and purpose, reflecting my belief that music is more than art—it is a legacy. I believe that music has the power to connect deeply with people all over the world, evoking emotions and memories that become part of their own stories. This belief fuels my commitment to creating compositions that are honest, emotionally raw, and profoundly impactful.

As I honed my skills, my journey led me to join IATT (pronounced “eye-at”), a band conceived in the heart of Philadelphia in 2008. Together, we’ve carved out a distinctive place in the music community with our signature blend of progressive metal that is infused with elements of jazz, classical, Latin, fusion, and extreme metal. Touring and creating genre-bending music with my bandmates has been an incredible experience, and I’m deeply proud of the connections we’ve built with our listeners. Our ultimate goal as a band is to craft compositions so raw and genuine that they evoke frisson—a visceral, almost electric response that speaks directly to the soul. Through our music, we strive to make listeners feel truly understood and connected, leaving a lasting impact that transcends time.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing fans sing along to our songs when we play live is one of the most rewarding things I could ever ask for as an artist. We even experienced instances where fans have cried during our set because of a specific song that touched them in ways only we thought we felt when creating it, which is highly rewarding to see in our genre of music.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal as a musician is to give voice to the emotions and thoughts that words often fail to capture. Music is a language all its own, and for many of us creatives, it’s how we connect and express our true authentic selves. Every note and instrument carries intention and purpose, building a soundscape that resonates deeply with others. Our ultimate goal as a band is to craft compositions so raw and genuine that they evoke frisson—a visceral, almost electric response that speaks directly to the soul. Through our music, we strive to make listeners feel truly understood and connected, leaving a lasting impact that transcends time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://instagram.com/iatt_official
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jcantamessa
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/joecantamessa