IN THE NEWS
DANTE MAZZETTI INTERVIEW
Late last year we had the opportunity to speak remotely to Dante Mazzetti. The singer-songwriter joined us from his New York apartment and shared stories of his songwriting process, the way NYC has changed during his lifetime, and old war stories of touring and promoting his music. Mr. Mazzetti is the man responsible for one of the greatest songs we had the please to review on Alt77 last year, the down and out, Tom Waits-styled, "Hey Now." In this interview, the songwriter also discusses his shift in artistic direction over the course of his career, moving from 60s inspired indie-rock to the weighty, instrumentally complex folk-rock of his most recent releases...
THE HOTEL SAGA CONTINUES WITH DANTE MAZZETTI'S LATEST EP HOTEL VOL. 2
Dante Mazzetti began weaving a new musical story in his July EP Hotel Vol. 1. The project reintroduced Mazzetti to the world and to his songwriting skills. With just four tracks, he weaved together chapter to a story of change - specifically one man restarting his life in the abundant city of New York and within the walls of the famed Hotel Chelsea. Dante Mazzetti has now concluded this plot with his latest EP release, Hotel Vol. 2, which embraced the darker points not explored in the first record. Hotel Vol. 2 continues the tale of a troubled man finding a new life and new challenges. Through 4 new original tracks, Dante Mazzetti tackles a darker tone, infusing his sound with somber vocals and bluesy undertones...
EP PREMIERE: DANTE MAZZETTI'S HOTEL VOL. 2
Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Dante Mazzetti’s EP Hotel Vol. 2. Hotel Vol. 2 was produced by Adam Sussman & Dante Mazzetti, engineered by Daniel Alba, and mastered by Oscar Zambrano. The EP is Dante Mazzetti on vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, upright bass, and drums; with Peter Kuan on trumpet and piano. The whole collection is characterized by thoughtful musical arrangements and genuine lyrics, the hallmark of great Americana music. Hotel Vol. 2 is the perfect blend of rock and funky, heartfelt innovation and empathetic tales...
DANTE MAZZETTI INTERVIEW
We recently got the chance to interview Dante Mazzetti who was born and raised in New York City. We chatted with Dante about his music, his EP Hotel Vol. 2, working as a FDNY Firefighter, and more!
upfrontNY: When did you discover your passion for music?
Dante Mazzetti: As far as I can reach back in my memory, I wanted to make music. My father was often playing guitar and writing songs. Other musicians would come over and they would play together. I wanted to be a part of that music that was happening in my household...
NEW MUSIC: DANTE MAZZETTI - COLD RAIN
The spirit of Tom Waits is strong on this song from New York songwriter Dante Mazzetti. The skeletal jazz bones and intimate, smoky vocal delivery bring to mind Waits but as the song progresses you can also hear a bluesy Bad Seeds-styled rousing delivery gradually encroach on the pared back sound of the song. ‘Cold Rain’ comes from his recently released new EP Hotel Vol. 2. Of the EP, Mazzetti says “The music on this EP is a mixture of accessibility and wild imagery. I’ve always enjoyed making music that goes off on a tangent but doesn’t fall off the cliff. The songs are doors that open easily into bizarre worlds rather than places of comfort.”...
DANTE MAZZETTI - COLD RAIN
In this song, it’s all about the atmosphere. Get ready to get abducted to a dark, cold and melancholic place. This track can almost be felt more than heard. The dark, warm vocals of Mazzetti feel like they’ve been there, done that, as if the singer has seen it all, and now he wants to share his wisdom with you. The backing instruments are basic but somewhat jazz-styled, and they take their time to build the music base for these vocals. Going slow, the created scenery feels like walking alone through the streets of a broken city at night...While other one-hit starlets will be forgotten right after you heard them, Mazzetti will be remembered wandering down these cold dark roads for a long time...
DANTE MAZZETTI, MOONLIGHT
“Well, I decided to live forever, or die trying.” What an opening lyric. It sets the mood perfectly for this cinematic, Spanish-sounding, seductive and captivating ballad by NYC-born multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and firefighter Dante Mazzetti. “Moonlight” is an appropriate title for this track. There’s something about the muffled quality of the instruments combined with Mazzetti’s own fragile yet emotively bold voice that seem to suggest this song exists in the shadows of a very full moon indeed. A pro on the guitar, mandolin, upright bass and piano, Mazzetti has an evident understanding of music that has integrated into the very fiber of his being. Everything about this track is visual...
DANTE MAZZETTI - MOONLIGHT
Born and raised in New York City, Dante Mazzetti started playing the fiddle at the age of three. By five, he was learning guitar and writing his own songs. If you’re looking for something to jump start your week, look no further. Dante Mazzetti released his infectiously catchy new single ‘Moonlight’ just three days ago and we haven’t stopped playing it. His energy and his writing style deliver a force so great you’ll be hooked after your first listen. For fans of rock music, you’re looking at the next big thing...
DANTE MAZZETTI / MOONLIGHT
Some lovely Monday afternoon Americana Blues here from New York City rising star Dante Mazzetti...He makes his much awaited musical return this year with the release of two EP’s Hotel Vol. 1 and 2. His unique singing voice is what took hold on us, Dante Mazzetti is an artist of the highest caliber. Moonlight is a song taken from Hotel Vol. 2 that was released on November 22nd that has really struck a chord. The rolling beat and and horn instrumentation heard in this tune are stand out. I have been listening to this one on repeat for the last week or so. Mazzetti has a big future in this music lark – a multi talented man with fire in his voice...He is an artist on the rise, 2020 will be a big year for him without a doubt...
MOONLIGHT BY DANTE MAZZETTI
"Moonlight" is a poetic piece with a rolling rhythm and a jazz coffee feeling. It is one of the fours songs from Dante Mazzetti's EP Hotel Vol. 2 which came out November 22nd. With a raw voice and a unique sense for songwriting, Mazzetti has an interesting sense of reinvigorating classical musical themes with a modern twist. All the American influences (jazz, blues) are a beautiful musical universe, but we do not know how to speak about it better than through the emotions felt when listening to "Moonlight." There is a mysterious side in this question on death and eternal life. As if a pact with the devil were being woven in a dark alley in New Orleans...It made us travel...
DANTE MAZZETTI - MOONLIGHT
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Dante Mazzetti. I’m a musician who has recently come back to music after taking a break to join the New York City fire department (FDNY). Music has always been a part of my life. My father was always playing the guitar and writing songs. So, as a child, I wanted to be a part of the music that was happening in my household. It kind of just took hold of me...
DANTE MAZZETTI UNVEILS NEW SINGLE "BREAKING IN THE SUN"
New York-based singer and songwriter Dante Mazzetti has just unveiled his brand new single Breaking in the Sun, the latest single to be taken from his Hotel Vol. 2 EP, out now. I am quite fond of his Americana blues sound and how great a storyteller he is. His raw and sombre vocal delivery infuses the song with a dark and melancholic atmosphere that is really up my alley. The mellow sound, bluesy undertones and honest lyrics make it easy for the listener to connect with his captivating story. Breaking in the Sun is such a great piece of Blues-infused Folk/Americana music with intricate guitar melodies, emotive piano keys and rich, deep vocals perfect for a laid-back weekend at home...
DANTE MAZZETTI IS BACK WITH "BREAKING IN THE SUN"
Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dante Mazzetti has unveiled an atmospheric new single titled “Breaking in the Sun”... It is part of his new four-song EP titled Hotel Vol. 2, released this November 2019. Like the three other tracks, this single is about the tale of a troubled man finding a new life and new challenges. In particular, the singer tells the story of a man who comes back from prison and finds out he has been replaced as father and husband. Atmospheric guitar arpeggios, bluesy instrumentals and Mazzetti’s deep but delicate voiceprint characterize this beautiful single, while lyrics manage to convey all the pain and struggle the protagonist feels...
TASTE TEST: DANTE MAZZETTI IS "BREAKING IN THE SUN"
Folk music has a way of delving into the darkest and most tortured of humanities. A vehicle of great, perhaps earth-shattering, storytelling, simple acoustic guitars play in plaintive rays in the background, and the vocal line is often drawn in intimate, inward-gazing shapes. Such is the case with New York singer-songwriter Dante Mazzetti's “Breaking in the Sun,” a terribly lonesome and crippling piece of music that explores a newly-released ex-convict and his place in the world. “How’s our little one / How’s our precious son / Does he call your man daddy / Does he see him as the one,” he wrestles with seeing his life as something forlorn and foreign, his entire outside existence upended by time’s cruel...
DANTE MAZZETTI RELEASES "BREAKING IN THE SUN"
Much of what Dante Mazzetti does is storytelling. “Breaking in the Sun” is no exception to that. It tells the story of a man who has come home from prison to find that he has lost his family. He has been replaced as husband and father. He has no connection to the life he once had and loved. Mazzetti says, “It’s like staring through a window at something you want but can’t have. Something you can no longer hold. He sees the beautiful life he could have had, but through mistakes, he has become lost.” This song explores his emotions surrounding that realization. The refrain, “I am too small for you,” suggests the power of a life one doesn’t fit into anymore. The track consist of an acoustic and soft melody with raw vocals that we all love...
DANTE MAZZETTI - BREAKING IN THE SUN
The talented Singer-Songwriter Dante Mazzetti released a mellow folk song two days ago titled ‘Breaking in the Sun’. The sound of Mazzetti’s warm vocals seamlessly mixing with the catchy melodies, and his writing style is touching and emotional. For me, I think Dantewill be a legend with his attractive and distinctive voice and style. ‘Breaking in the Sun’ tells the story of a man who has come home from prison to find that he has lost his family. He has been replaced as husband and father. He has no connection to the life he once had and loved. Mazzetti says, “It’s like staring through a window at something you want but can’t have. Something you can no longer hold. He sees the beautiful life he could have had, but through mistakes, he has become lost.”...
DANTE MAZZETTI - BREAKING IN THE SUN [REVIEW]
A father’s heartbreak is rarely examined to this depth, but there are many father’s out there who are not as big a part of their kid’s lives as they’d like. This is a quiet folksy song about a man owning up to his past mistakes and trying to find a way forward. Honest and heartfelt the single takes you on a riveting emotional journey....
NEW MUSIC CRITIQUE: DANTE MAZZETTI
Plenty of artists are competent singers. Few voices, however, possessed a distinctive level of character that sets them apart. And that describes artist Dante Mazzetti, whose vocals are downright loaded with attitude and character. Or, let's put it this way: the guy's a real character, alright? He delivers a unique brand of country-folk blues-rock that's fed through a modern-day Brooklyn boho filter. "Hey Now, " "Secret" and "I'll Be around" all possess the artist's loose and ragged brand of blues-rock, flavored with mandolin, horns, piano and more, all of it spiced with an occasionally dirty-ass guitar tone. And despite the retro origins of the genre, there's not one lyric here that's cliché. This artist is a diamond in the rough...
DANTE MAZZETTI SHARES FIRST NEW EP SINGLE "UGLY"
Dante Mazzetti returned to the New York scene with four new singles on the energetic Hotel Vol.1 which combined acoustic folk and soul, laced with lyrical storytelling. It was the first of two volumes and Mazzetti now returns with the first single off the forthcoming Vol.2. “The music on this EP is a mixture of accessibility and wild imagery,” explains Mazzetti. “I’ve always enjoyed making music that goes off on a tangent but doesn't fall off the cliff. The songs are doors that open easily into bizarre worlds rather than places of comfort." Ugly is the first single off the EP. With a carnival in tow, Mazzetti saunters though dark back alleys as he tells a tale of a troubled man discovering a new life with new challenges...
DANTE MAZZETTI PRESENTS HIS NEW SINGLE “UGLY”
With a talent for music that first made itself known at the age of three when he started playing the fiddle, Dante Mazzetti’s love for the craft has only gotten stronger as he’s gotten older. He honed his talents, which also include playing the guitar, by performing on subway platforms and music clubs in New York and has studied both voice and studio engineering in order to make himself as well-rounded an artist as he can. After releasing two albums in 2002 and 2005 respectively, and taking a break to join the New York Fire Department, this past July saw the release of his EP Hotel Vol. 1, and its follow-up, Hotel Vol. 2 is out in November. Before then, however, Mazzetti is offering fans a taste of what to expect...
INSIDERS GUIDE: NEW MUSIC AND NEW ARTISTS
Singer-songwriter Dante Mazzetti recently announced his new EP Hotel Vol. 2, slated for release on November 22nd...Through 4 new original tracks, Dante Mazzetti tackles a darker tone, infusing his sound with somber vocals and bluesy undertones. In preparation for his upcoming EP release, Dante dropped the first single “Ugly” in September. A combination of jazz, blues, and a slight Latin flair, “Ugly” conveys a story of an unpleasant encounter. Dante once again shows off his diverse artistry, while maintaining his notable songwriting skills...
FOLK SONGWRITER DANTE MAZZETTI RETURNS TO MUSIC WITH HOTEL VOL. 1
Musical storyteller, Dante Mazzetti is pleased to make his return with Hotel Vol. 1. With four original songs, the EP combines acoustic, indie-folk and soul, laced with lyrical storytelling. What makes Mazzetti a standout songwriter is his ability to create a worldly story in only 4 songs. As the track listing progresses, Mazzetti builds on a classic story of a lost man finding a new life in New York City. On this new EP, Mazzetti brings together a remarkable team – Oscar Zambrano (two-time Grammy-winning engineer) and Adam Sussman (named “New York City’s Best Studio Engineers of 2013” by URB Magazine)...
RELEASE ROW: NEW YORK FOLK MUSIC PULSATES WITH DANTE MAZZETTI
In the spirit of his childhood heroes Bob Dylan and Otis Redding, folk singer Dante Mazzetti has stories to offer and a compelling voice through which to offer them. On his latest Hotel, Vol. 1 EP, released today, Mazzetti once again puts forth a collection that excels in both its honesty and its simplicity. Mazzetti, while based in New York City, creates tonally pleasant and subdued harmonies that have unwavering endurance, representative of the city where they are created...On the new EP’s previously-released single “Hey Now”, Mazzetti’s voice shines through a brisk backyard chord progression and creates a self-reflective atmosphere only experienced by a seasoned musician...
SOUNDTRACKED
Here are some of the recent song releases we’ve been enjoying at LDOI...
Secrets - Dante Mazzetti
Jazzy indie rock with hints of funk and soul, raw vocals, and an effortlessly smooth guitar riff. FFO: Gavin DeGraw, Daniel Poulter...
DANTE MAZZETTI RETURNS TO MUSIC WITH HOTEL VOL. 1
Inspired by iconic artists including Bob Dylan, The Band, Otis Redding, and Slim Harpo, Dante Mazzetti creates the first volume of a conceptual record that brings back the sounds of NYC folk. Stepping away from music to join the FDNY, Dante Mazzetti gave himself time to experiment and find himself as a storyteller. To announce his return to music, Mazzetti released Hotel Vol. 1 on July 26th. The EP is the first of two volumes that bring together unreleased songs in folk and Americana. Lyrically, the records emphasize Mazzetti’s ability as a songwriter to express struggles and triumphs in life...
TASTE TEST: DANTE MAZZETTI DISCARDS HIS PAST SELF ON NEW SONG, "HEY NOW"
Life is about changes, and nothing ever stays the same. Each chapter offers as a crucial stepping stone to the next, and we must let the old fade and fall away before a new one can begin and take root. New York City native and folksy storyteller Dante Mazzetti is self-aware enough to know it’s time to shed the past and step across the threshold into a new state of being. His song “Hey Now,” containing a drastic tempo shift to mimic his personal revelations, snaps from his jaws and soars as a front-porch blues ditty about learning to let go...He’s a marksman of both vocal skill and finger-plucking on a song that more than earns its four-minute-plus runtime...
DANTE MAZZETTI - HEY NOW
Everybody’s looking for a shoulder to cry on, and your favourite rock stars are no different. Down and out tunes about failure and misery are a dime a-plenty. Yet, for the most part, they come off as acting done with not enough decent lines to work off of. The career screwups, the professional drunks, the ones whose dreams have been irrevocably shattered speak in broken sentences that carry the comedy and burden that makes up their life. These characters sound a lot like Dante Mazzetti on “Hey Now”. I don’t know just how Mr. Mazzetti was able to pull off this magic trick. He’s created a Tom Waits-like song without using any props such as hipster lyrics, strange instruments, or a cement-mixer timbre...
DANTE MAZZETTI - "HEY NOW" [REVIEW]
Folk Yeah! A sprinkle of Prine, a dash of Dylan, a hint of Guthrie ... the final recipe is damn sure satisfying, but the flavors of the past are evident in every bite. Sit down and savor this one and welcome Dante Mazzetti to your ears...
MYSTERY SHOWCASE FEATURING DIFFERENT PLACES IN SPACE, FROGGI, PERCASSETTE, DANTE MAZZETTI, ABASE, AND PEARLA
Dante Mazzetti is a storyteller who was born and raised in New York City, he started playing the fiddle at the age of three. And by five, he was learning guitar and writing his own songs. The rest is history. Mazzetti’s new track “Hey Now” focuses on an individual who is completely honest about who he is and where he’s at in life — broken and now hardened. He knows that he must leave the life he once had and be born again. But it’ll be hard. “The songs are doors that open easily into bizarre worlds rather than places of comfort.” – Mazzetti...
FRESH N' GREEN
Nine “fresh n’ Green”, ultra tasty tunes to feed your music appetite. We are pretty confident, you don’t wanna miss those ones right?
Featuring "Hey Now" by Dante Mazzetti...
FYIG CHATS WITH SINGER-SONGWRITER DANTE MAZZETTI
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in New York City. I still live on the same block where I grew up – in a building down the street. The neighborhood was a very different place back then. It was filled with bodegas instead of chic restaurants, and prostitutes and drug dealers hung out on 10th Avenue in plain sight. Now, the same neighborhood has become one of the most sought after zip codes in the city. It’s been interesting to be right in the middle of that transition. I’ve never felt like now was better or vice versa. I’ve just watched it change and be an observer more than a critic...
DANTE MAZZETTI, "HEY NOW" [EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE]
Americana singer-songwriter Dante Mazzetti is preparing a new EP, and he's giving The Boot's readers a first listen to one of its tracks. Press play below to hear "Hey Now." Tempo changes and a sing-a-long chorus highlight "Hey Now," written by Mazzetti. The song, according to the artist, "focuses on a man who is completely honest about who he is and where he's at. Broken, then hardened, he knows that he must leave the life he once had." "The river wilds its way close to me / The candle burns back the day to a dream / Oh, and I could stay for good / And you would never know," Mazzetti sings. "But I must go / Just let me ..."...
AMERICANA SINGER-SONGWRITER DANTE MAZZETTI ANNOUNCES HIS UPCOMING EP HOTEL VOL. 1
Singer-songwriter Dante Mazzetti announces his new EP Hotel Vol. 1, slated for release in July 2019. With four new original songs, the upcoming EP combines acoustic, indie folk and soul, laced with lyrical storytelling. The album draws inspiration from iconic artists of Mazzetti's childhood, including Bob Dylan, The Band, Otis Redding, and Slim Harpo. On this new EP, Mazzetti brings together a remarkable team - Oscar Zambrano (two-time Grammy-winning engineer) and Adam Sussman (named "New York City's Best Studio Engineers of 2013" by URB Magazine)...
INTERVIEW: AMERICANA SONGWRITER DANTE MAZZETTI
Hi Dante, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
I’m good! I’ve been really busy recording. This new project has taken up a lot of my time.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Breaking in the Sun (Live)”?
People usually fall apart in the rain, but I titled this song “Breaking in the Sun.” I liked the idea of falling apart in the sun because of its strength and ability to warm you and hold you up. This man sitting in the sun with all the freedom in the world feels trapped, small and cold...