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I’ve been realizing that I have not respected my destiny. The destiny I’ve chosen, that is. I was born into music. I have thrived on music since before I could spell. At every turn, during every boon and through every hardship, music has been my constant companion. Nothing ever been more important to me than music. (THING, not PERSON – people like my kids are on a higher plane.) So why? Why have I undermined & avoided embracing this very clear destiny? Why have I assumed that money and my music are mutually exclusive, or have a tenuous relationship at best? Why have I spent more time searching for yet another day job, instead of writing & recording & performing every chance I can get?

Apparently the Universe won’t stand for it. Two years ago, I was “let go” from my 13-year day job at the Bronx Zoo. I freelanced as a musician, actor & voice actor for a while. Then last October, I took another day job at a giant shit show of a company. I quit after a month because I couldn’t stand the work or the people. Then this January I was hired at a very good company with very good people. Still, it’s another day job, and I realized quickly that it’s not my world and never has been. Lo and behold, m-m-m-myyyy corona (apologies to The Knack) came and shut down that company. So I’m back to being day-unemployed, back to freelancing. And what that says among other things is: stick to music, kid. It’s what you’re made for. It’s the one thing that always feels right.

This album – my dad’s full-fledged debut as a singer/songwriter – is a big reason why I do what I do. It’s a small but highly significant part of the massive music world that is my dad. All of these songs sank deep into – no, ARE – my blood. They are the DNA of how I write & produce. Original music was never his main focus. Other than this, he’d written a bunch of other tunes before & after, and then released an EP of original country music in 1996 (included at the end of this album at the link above). When he did this album, I was 7. It was one of the first things that opened my eyes & heart to the world of the possible. I was barely a human, but I knew then that music would be my life. Just like my dad. Through all of life’s changes. Career ups and downs. Financial yeses & nos. Family and friends coming & going. It’s always been music.

There are many things my dad & I have in common. One that stands out is the joy of busting through genre boxes and playing/singing/writing/recording whatever we want. Of knowing a good song is a good song no matter what it is. There are many differences too. A big one being he staked his claim in the world of cover tunes, while I leapt almost immediately into originals. But the BIGGEST DIFFERENCE is the one that gets to the heart of this week’s post: Every week month year decade, he made his living with music. He supported his family and paid his bills and financed cars and vacations and a house with music. I haven’t. I have assumed for too long that my music and money don’t mix well. Well, with the world all topsy-turvy and key parts of lives upended, let me say I HEAR YOU, Universe. That assumption ends NOW. Whatever I can and have to do to make my living solely in the creative arts, I will do. NOW.

Listen to my dad’s album. 

Nicky DeMatteo

Then listen to my song below, or any from the same album, and see if you can hear a spiritual connection. It was the peak of that:

NICK - “Deal” (from the album The Metrogrande Sessions)

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