Exclusive Interview with 'ANTHONY CASUCCIO'

Anthony Casuccio is back with a retro-pop classic that taps into his love for ’80s music, Synthpop, and cool guitar licks. This comes after the success of his EP Emotional Lockdown and the remix of his song Love Is the Answer (featuring Cynthis Moore). These components come together in What Is the Point to produce a multi-genre, incredibly catchy song that, after just one listen, will stick in your head.

Anthony Casuccio is a 25-year music industry veteran whose audio production work has appeared in numerous TV programs and commercials, been nominated for three Grammy awards, and gone gold. Several of the songs he has produced have reached the top of the Billboard Dance charts. For legends like Roy Orbison, Tony Bennett, and Johnny Cash, he has remastered a number of their albums. His band A&L achieved success by topping numerous charts around the world while he served as band leader, songwriter, producer, and engineer. Three of Anthony’s solo songs and nine of the band’s top 20 songs on various U.K. independent music charts. They were played on radio in more than 70 nations across Europe and the USA.

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO: I have always had an affinity for music. From hearing my first Beatles song to Van Halen, I loved the guitar and started playing at an early age. I went to college for sound recording technology and started working in the music industry in New York City right out of college. I was remastering older music from well named artists like Johnny Cash and Tony Bennett. From there I started my own company Xtream Audio and had a lot of success working on 3 Grammy nominated and topping various charts with my clients. I had national jingles airing on TV. I started a band called A&L finding success in the UK charting 9 times on various Indie music charts and reaching the top 20 9 times. During covid I wrote a lot of music and released a solo EP. Now I have a new single out called What Is The Point.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO: Both. I took trumpet and guitar lessons as a kid. I went to Suny of Fredonia and took music engineering classes and traditional music classes. I can read music. When I moved to New York City, I was fortunate enough to take some classes at the Juilliard School of Music. One of those classes was orchestrations with the famed Professor Meadows. I still do a lot of research and trial and error teaching myself. My students keep me on my game.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO: I have to say The Beatles have been the biggest influence on my approach to writing and producing. I love layers and I love harmonies. Good harmonies. The Beatles were the best at vocal arranging.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO: That is a tough question. My musical styles are very broad. That is why I like being an independent artist. I can do whatever I like. From Country music to EDM. There are a few elements that do tie my music together. Like I mentioned earlier, I love harmonies. I hear these great harmonies and if I cannot sing them, I have a secret weapon, the artist Robin Grandin. She is on this song. Look her up. My songs are also highly produced. Production in my daily job. I teach it and work with other artists. You hear that in all my releases.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as INDIE?
**ANTHONY CASUCCIO**:
Technology has really helped me grown musically and transition into new forms of music. I tend to be a perfectionist. Having my own studio allows me to push my imagination and try new things or different approaches. The result often a finished piece of music in a style that I did not try to achieve.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO:

Music has always been a force in societal angst. It has spurred a revolution, cultural trends, and even political change. My songs are more political that most people realize. If you really pay attention to my releases over the years, you will pick up on the political overtones.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO:

I will always be making music. I am getting what I want and need. The fact that more than one person has listened to my music makes it all worthwhile. I have had more success that I ever hoped for or planned on.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO:

It really depends on the style of music. For my EDM projects, the beat is what gives me a foundation. For my other musical styes, it usually starts with a lyric or chord progression. I very rarely collaborate. I did say I am a perfectionist! I do aim to change that and work with more people on my songs. I started a production entity with two music industry insiders. Hoping to get something out in the new year from this management team.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO: Losing a parent and getting divorced where tough times in my life. Music has always helped me endure and move forward. Pain can be a great creative force if you can harness it.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud, or significant point in your life or music career so far?

ANTHONY CASUCCIO: Working on 3 Grammy nominated albums and topping various charts with my original music are significant points in my career. Going to the gym and while I was stretching and hearing one of my jingles on CNN was also a career highlight.