We were lucky to catch up with Ramiro Marziani recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ramiro, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’d like to begin by answering, “Yes”. I am happy doing what I do, which consists of performing as a Touring Guitarist and Studio Musician for artists and songwriters. I am also a Recording Artist of my own compositions and a Private Music Instructor. But it’s not an obvious answer. Do I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job? Yes. It is through this thought process that I am able to draw conclusions and parallels that can sustain my state of happiness and purpose as a creative. To be happy as an artist is not something that simply occurs because I get to do what others may consider a dream or a privilege. I think that’s a superficial view. It is a life of sacrificing other privileges and deep commitment to a craft. It is a lot to ask of the world (let’s say the gods) to survive by playing the guitar, hehe, so I do it with a lot of responsibility and respect to the art form. The occasional uncertainty or pressures one feels in balancing the romantic aspect of art and the fact that I am selling a product or service of high quality can grow to be quite big. The commercial world of the Arts is a very subjective space that can take a lot of discipline not only to be good, but also to be happy within it. My happiness is a constant journey of meditating on the positives of my reality, exaggerating and focusing on my strengths, and then thinking about the alternative reality: “a regular job”. When we think of a regular job, as a creative, we take all our negatives and compare them with all the positives of a regular job. Financial uncertainty? Future plans? A change of perspective, as I’ve discussed with my friend and incredible musician Firas Zreik, allows me to see the huge advantages in what I do: TIME and FREEDOM. I am in my 20s. I am my own boss. I control the quality of the service I provide. I own my schedule. And because those are two elements that most people in the world do not have, even those with “good” regular jobs, it is a perspective that allows me to relax, plan for the future and find honest ways to move forward. I have the time and freedom to think of the choices that will move me forward in the various aspects of my life. And being aware of that privilege I earned for myself makes me happy.

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?

Hello everyone. My name is Ramiro Marziani, mostly using my last name Marziani as an artist, although a few of the people that I work with prefer to call me just Ramiro, with a special emphasis on that rolled R. My mother calls me Rami. I am Guitarist from Mendoza, Argentina, the land of Malbec wine, and I’ve been based in New York City since 2019. As a member of the music industry, I have acquired many skills and assume many different roles. Presently, my jobs title(s) include Touring Guitarist, Studio Guitarist, Recording Artist, Band Leader, and Private Music Instructor. I am also active as an arranger and audiovisual music producer, but currently, these disciplines do not occupy most of my time. As a touring musician, I’ve most recently performed with Taimane, a thriving artist from Hawaii, whom I have toured the US and Europe with, playing Glastonbury Festival in the UK and even a Tiny Desk concert at NPR. I also just returned from a nationwide 2-month tour with Disney, playing a live-to-film sing along concert of the movie Encanto. A fundamental aspect of my role as a guitarist and why I get hired for touring and also for studio recordings, which I am able to do in NYC studios, or remotely from my home studio, is the versatility I provide. I play Electric, Acoustic and Nylon string guitars authentically in a variety of styles. It is common to find me strumming Flamenco rhythms, playing acoustic Folk, performing a shredding solo or throwing in Country licks on my Telecaster. I sincerely enjoy the colors that I can create with all these instruments in the purest form. It seems to me that one reason artists enjoy working with me is my deep commitment to my craft and to the focus I offer in bringing their vision to life. In the context of working as an accompanying musician, I understand my role in providing a service, which sometimes means laying back and other times assuming a leading role, a dynamic I really enjoy. I often hear, “it’s easy to work with you” as feedback, and I intend to keep it that way.

As a Composer and Band Leader, I have 2 albums to my name, 1 EP, and a few singles, available on streaming platforms under my artist name Marziani. I believe one my strongest ties to music is a particular sensibility for melody. That plays an important role in my studio work, and it becomes even greater when writing music. I like to describe the identity of my sound as “Jazz, Folk and Rhythm with a bit of Rock n’ Roll sugar”. Although I spend more time listening to songs with lyrics, I compose mostly instrumental music, and in that context, I strive to create an environment where improvisation and collaboration can thrive and feel purposeful.

I’d also like to add that I maintain a roster of private music students. Most of them learn guitar with me, from beginner to advanced players; bass, piano and composition students take my classes too. Teaching music is a big part of my professional life, and I’ve become dedicated to the duty and joy of sharing knowledge with my students.

Within all of the spaces of the music industry that I inhabit, I would highlight a few values that characterize me: Profound dedication to my craft, a poised and balanced demeanor, and an internal motivation to do great work, even when the context does not provide it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My journey in the music world has personal and social goals that I attach to it, and it would be most genuine to admit that they all come from a desire within to feel realized in the universe. Above all, the search for truth has become the main driving factor in my life and career. My goal is to find my true values and beliefs within, and that I can say to myself that these are not influenced by external or tribal thought. To be able to express myself in truth always, and to surround myself with people who try to reach that divine state of truth where you can simply be present and aware. The beauty of music as an art form is its inherent calling to these values. It is a practice that offers me the ability to deep dive into myself enough to find out what I want from the more pragmatic elements of my day-to-day life. The Goal is the search for divine Truth. How I wish to experience the journey of truth is what some would define as the actual goals: To focus on live music as a source of expression and be able to connect with audiences around the world; to play my own compositions in front of smiling crowds; to work with artists who have a strong will to share their truth; to make good money from experiences where I feel I have been of service and value to my audience or co-workers; to feel that my family values and my own have come full circle, and from there, to express love and respect. Sometimes, a shift in perspective alters your whole state of mind. I choose the freedom I find in the search for truth to guide my perspective in everything I do.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I do read and consume quite a bit of content. I can’t say that I have a particular source that has affected my management or entrepreneurial thinking. All the knowledge that has allowed me to succeed as a Freelance service provider and business owner has come from a multitude of places. Friends and colleagues leading businesses in different fields, artist managers, wall street managers, teachers, etc. There are also more known individuals that have influenced my philosophy of life greatly though books or interviews, which in turn affect the decisions I make every day. I recommend “Freedom from the Known”, by the 20th century Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. He discusses the relentless search for truth within us, learning to understand ourselves deeply through meditation and deep thinking. I think the old classic “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie is an excellent book for business and life. And there are other books that are not business oriented but have a lot to do with success in my daily life; “Breath” by James Nestor, “Deep Nutrition” by Catherine Shanahan, and “Free Play”, by Stephen Nachmanovitch. I think all these books have incredible value to anyone who wishes to connect with their deeper self, which I consider an obligation if we choose to follow a true artistic path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marzianimusic.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/marzianimusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramiro-marziani-780159a2?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RamiroMarziani

Image Credits
Hamza Shallwani, Mikhail Lipyanskiy, Mike Reardon, Peter Xiong, Salah, Brooke D’Avanzo