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

Hi Joe, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I love this question because the name REANIMATE is truly at the heart of our mission. It speaks to my deeply-held, unwavering belief that we all have innate creative gifts and abilities, whether it’s for our professional endeavors or simply for personal fulfillment and joy.

I’ve seen firsthand how society’s focus on transactional engagement can make us feel like taking time for creativity is indulgent. Yet, everything within us (as well as robust research) tells us the opposite is true: it’s vital to our wellbeing, and positively affects all areas of life. Our core purpose at REANIMATE is to do just what our name says: to breathe life (back) into something. So, when individuals or businesses feel creatively stuck, when their vision needs clarity or their message needs to reliably resonate with their audience, that’s where we come in. We offer that expert, outside perspective to clarify and reanimate their direction, goals, or overall brand. Through collaborative planning and hands-on creative assistance – from accountability and strategic guidance to media production and communications services – we help them rediscover their full potential.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My journey into REANIMATE is a culmination of diverse creative experiences. My roots are firmly planted in music. I spent years as a world-touring and recording guitarist and producer across Miami, Nashville, and Denver, and those travels and experience gave me an invaluable global perspective on audiences and the creative process. What I discovered in myself, beyond the joy of performance, was a natural gravitation towards and love for creative direction – guiding others to be their absolute best, whether in a touring band, recording project or other collaborative endeavor.

This passion for artistic leadership led me into the non-profit sector, where I found a deep purpose in uniting diverse artists, from musicians to videographers, audio engineers, visual artists, and dramatists, towards a shared creative vision. It was there I honed my unique approach – recognizing that across all disciplines, artists face similar hurdles and resistance: self-doubt, inconsistency, and the immeasurable courage it takes to share a piece of your soul with the world. I developed a system for guiding them through these challenges, while continually refining my own production skills in audio, video, photography and communications.

Launching REANIMATE was a natural evolution. I realized I possessed the exact blend of experience, expertise, and a comprehensive toolbox to guide any artist or business, whether they’re just starting out or seasoned but feeling stuck. What sets us apart is our ability to diagnose precisely what’s holding clients back, and then prescribe a tailored path forward, helping them take action every step of the way.

The aphorism, often attributed to Abraham Maslow, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” is a common approach in the creative world, and it goes like this: A client thinks they just need some new video for their website, new headshots or some other specific creative product, so they go looking for that exact solution. And, of course, there are many creatives and firms out there to gladly take their business, and will do a great job providing their service. But the important step of asking, “Is this the right answer?” often gets skipped, and so that shiny new video or website likely won’t address the root problem. We don’t show up with a limited skill set, and we don’t always suggest the same service. We bring our full spectrum of creative experience, backed by a trusted network of collaborators who are the best at what they do. This allows us to become a guide that perfectly matches each client’s unique needs. At REANIMATE, it all begins with our core strength: expert diagnosis and precise prescription, ensuring every creative effort brings new life to their vision. This is why we’re trusted by authors, spiritual teachers, artists and other businesses to be their creative partner.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s a great question, and the lesson I had to unlearn was the dangerous idea that art and commerce are almost indistinguishable, and are inextricably linked. For much of my career, especially during my time in the intense music industry hub of Nashville, everything was about commerce: songwriters chasing contracts, artists seeking label deals, tours needing crews. I thrived in that environment, and I’m grateful I made a living from it. The professionalism and drive in those industry cities are unmatched.

However, I also witnessed genuinely creative, kind individuals struggle to find their place when their art didn’t fit the ‘mass market’ mold. Many would simply abandon their craft after repeated rejections. As I gained perspective, I had to re-learn a fundamental truth: creativity, art and play are essential gifts for all of us, regardless of their commercial viability. That songwriter who left Nashville to become a small business owner deserves to reclaim their love of music just as much as a published artist needs to continue honing their craft.

This realization – that creativity isn’t solely for the marketplace, but also for personal joy, wellness, and practice – was a profound turning point. It felt like a new door opened, illuminating a path I now help REANIMATE clients find: rediscovering and breathing life back into their creative spirit, whether their goal is a major project, mental wellness or personal fulfillment. And it’s why we love working with avocational artists just as much as professional creatives.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

That’s a question I can certainly speak to, as life is nothing if not a series of pivots! While in all of life I try to practice equanimity – that balanced state of mind where you can look at any situation and simply say, “Well, this is what’s here,” or as my favorite meditation teacher puts it, “Welcome to the party” – my biggest pivot came just before launching REANIMATE full time.

I was in an arts leadership role that had become an incredibly toxic work environment, and unhealthy in every way to me. For two long years, I desperately sought another full-time job, eventually being ready to jump to anything just to escape. Then, a wise friend counseled me against leaping from one burning ship to another. So, I chose a different path. For my final year in that position, I took on every outside creative job I could, diligently building my savings and network. Then, I simply quit. I vividly remember the terror of turning in my resignation letter because, while I had some financial padding, I really jumped without an obvious net. But I knew I was choosing to trust in myself and my skills rather than waiting for an external employer to provide guidance, purpose and a salary. It was a frightening but liberating act of self-reanimation and, while I can’t recommend it to everyone, I do generally recommend doing scary things in life just to realize you can do them.

Being a business owner, especially for creatives, is undeniably challenging. I now spend as much time on administration and business tasks as I do on creative work, but every time I face my inbox or accounting software, I greet it with “Welcome to the party!” This pivot was one of the best decisions of my life, profoundly shaping my belief in trusting your own path, which is a core tenet we help our REANIMATE clients discover for themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reanimate.us
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reanimate_us
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reanimatecreative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sixstringbuzz