We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Massimo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Massimo below.
Alright, Massimo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My upcoming sophomore album, “Snow in Summer” (out May 3rd), has been my most meaningful project to date. I began writing this album in late 2020, eventually realizing I wanted to explore love songs—this was new territory for me. With the songs on this album, I not only delved into love but also captured the “in-between” state I found myself living in. I questioned if my romantic relationship was everlasting, healthy, feasible, and as I prepared to graduate college, I felt the tension of stepping into adulthood and no longer being able to rely on my parents for full financial support, all while struggling to survive in one of the most expensive, populated, and energetically cold cities: New York City.
The 10 tracks on this album are diaristic, poetic, and emotive. You can feel the sugar rush of a blossoming new romance or the swirling questions as I ponder “where do I begin?”; the gripping onto childhood and recklessness when I know I must enter adulthood, and the numbness in the silence.
Looking back, I was able to capture the heightened moments across the span of two years and somehow make sense of it, despite generally feeling emotionally void while in the motions of it all.
Recording the songs after they were written brought forth a whole new set of challenges, but ultimately was a true display of patience, timing, and faith. I couldn’t be more pleased or grateful for the final studio recordings.
Sonically, “Snow in Summer” harks back to the sounds of 70s Laurel Canyon folk-pop, inspired heavily by the music my father played for me growing up: Carole King, Nina Simone, The Beatles, Cat Stevens. With the turbulent themes and the space I found myself in during the writing of the album, I needed to create music that sounded comforting. I pictured lying in an overgrown field of grass and wildflowers on a cool summer day in my hometown in Upstate New York, the wind gently grazing my soft hair, the sun warming the apples of my cheeks. How could I translate this feeling into the music?
The visuals for this album were taken by my father, Antonio Avanzato, in my hometown of Oneonta, New York. From photos in my backyard to the abandoned trolley cars next to my dad’s favorite auction house, it was extremely meaningful to have this album not only sound like the comfort of my hometown but look like it too. To have my father, who isn’t a “trained photographer,” be responsible for the visuals adds another layer of intimacy to the album. A friend from Upstate I reconnected with during the album writing process, Emma Scheneman, had her hand in it too; Emma played cello on several of the songs, gluing all the pieces together and finally making the project feel whole. Additionally, collaborating with The Underground Attic, a vintage shop in my hometown that I was obsessed with growing up, was a personally resonant collaboration. They provided some western-inspired pieces for the shoot, which I adorned myself in, matching the 70s folk sound to the visuals of the album. And back in the city, working with Timothy Westbrook, a Brooklyn-based queer designer who also hails from Upstate New York, was equally as fulfilling. Timothy’s use of found material and repurposing techniques resulted in unique pieces that I wore for some of the album photos. His garments infused the imagery with elements of youth, romance, playfulness, and an Americana aesthetic, particularly exemplified by my personal favorite: a bomber jacket made from a vintage American flag.
“Snow in Summer,” encapsulates a transformative journey through love, self-discovery, and the delicate balance between youth and adulthood. It represents a profound exploration of my emotional landscape, weaving together the threads of introspection and vulnerability into a tapestry of poignant melodies and evocative lyrics. Making “Snow in Summer,” served not only as a musical endeavor but as a heartfelt reflection of growth, resilience, and the enduring bonds of home and family. It is a testament to the beauty found in embracing life’s complexities and finding solace in moving forward, even if you may not know what the future holds.
Massimo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a singer-songwriter living, performing, and creating in New York City. I moved to New York City in 2017 to study photography, and mid-way through my degree I began writing music. Carrying a journal with me everywhere, I wrote poems, daily entries, words and phrases that inspired me. By whom I was most inspired in my photography classes, I always named a musical artist. I was obsessed with consuming music and the concept of albums as musical projects and eras for the artist. Heavily inspired by Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and The Julie Ruin,) I learned how she also started as a photographer, writing feminist and socio-political poems on the side just like me, and eventually turned her poems into songs. “Could I do that too?” I remember asking my brother one day on the phone. My brother, Gianluca, encouraged me to do so after I read him a series of poems I had that dealt with my experiences with coming into my queerness and new-found gender expression.
These poems turned into the songs of my debut album, Razor Burn (released in 2021), which I produced with my good friend Spencer Boechler in his one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, completely self-funded and self-written.
As an independent musician, my hands must be in every part of my projects, especially with my roots as a photographer. From crafting melodies to designing album covers and directing music videos, I immerse myself fully in every facet of my work, even the not so fun parts! While this can be truly taxing and exhausting, it brings me a sense of ownership and clarity on having my vision be fully dictated with its original intention.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” When I read this book, there were so many profound passages that made me stop, think, breathe, re-read, and let out a sigh of “ahhhh right.”
Rubin discusses the spiritual ways of looking at the process of art-making, and offers valuable advice that can be applied to so many facets of creation and life.
This book is comforting, insightful, and paramount for any artist to consume!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part is finishing a project and looking (or listening to it) and thinking…”Wow. I did that.” The sense of pride and fulfillment, for me, is indescribable. To be able to create a world, both visually and sonically, with my albums and have that be “my mark on the world” feels gratifying, especially when I know people can relate to themes or narratives I am exploring. Each creation I release into the world feels like I am fulfilling my life’s purpose.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @massimo.av
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvnE08dUhuVdDneRU8fc6g
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Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/
artist/massimo/1521071975
Image Credits
Antonio Avanzato Massimo Avanzato