Tony Correlli shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Tony, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I love the cold weather. I drink hot coffee regardless of the temperature, but it hits better when it’s colder out.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a musician, producer, and mix engineer. I work out of a studio I built by hand, and I jumped into mixing in Dolby Atmos just before Apple publicly embraced it by unveiling their Spatial Audio Dolby playback. I have gone on to mix excellent artists from all over the world out of my Middle River-based studio.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I learn so much from the artists I produce. I’m working with so many genres, people of different cultures and generations with different audiences, and that has really broadened my understanding and sharpened every corner of my musical and technical knowledge. I learn from every artist I work with, every day.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Nope. I always knew this is what I wanted to do. It was a struggle for years, and it still can be at times as a self-employed gig worker. But I’d rather work all day and through sleepless nights in a recording studio than do a 9-5 job. I’m very lucky to do what I do, even on the most challenging days.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That social media followers and streaming numbers matter. We’re in a strange time when people value casual, low-commitment online interactions like views, follows, and streams. They’re basically meaningless, and increasingly driven by bots rather than humans. Even if a song wins the social media lottery and ends up in a TikTok trend, it gets consumed in a week or two and people don’t even listen to the whole song! 5 million people may have heard 10 seconds of your song, but how many will listen to the rest of it, let alone your other work? Musicians should focus on creating their best work, being real, putting their heart into it, and connecting with genuine fans who resonate with your art. Quality over quantity. One true fan who will enjoy and share your music and come to your shows is worth more than 10,000 “like” reacts with no real-world action.`
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If immortality were real, what would you build?
Every work of art has the potential to live long past our life spans. I don’t know if a recorded song will be “immortal” – it’s still relatively new compared to other art forms – but each has the potential to reach future generations in a unique way. It’s a fulfilling venture.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tonycorrelli.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonycorrelli/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tony.correlli/
Image Credits
Shane Gardner (main photo)
Beth Starner (live performance)
