MYLES nuzzi
Myles Nuzzi, 28, Singer/Songwriter/Actor
What was it about (creative endeavor— acting/cooking/) that makes you want to do it?
The first time I was truly honest with myself about wanting pursue singing professionally feels like the first time I was really honest at all. I felt like it unlocked something in me, a way to express how I felt that I never knew was possible. I had never felt like that before, and I felt like I literally had no other choice than to follow that feeling.
Where do you get your faith from to keep creating?
When I am deep in the creative process, or really anything that I’m passionate about at that moment, I honestly look for little Easter Eggs from the unvierse to let me know that I’m on the right path. Something as simple as someone mentioning a new restaurant they liked, only for me to coincidentally walk by it the next day. Someone tells me a story about one of our old friends, only for that friend to randomly text me that same week. I feel like those seemingly mundane things are little lamp posts lighting my way and saying, “you’re doing it right, keep going.” In a more creative sense, this will happen when I start writing a song about something I’m dealing with, only to have someone I know vent to me about the same issue. I’ve never been a religious person, but it would feel dishonest to dimiss any possibility of some sort of higher, cosmic power calling the shots. The truly magic feeling that I get when I’m working on something that I love doing, it’s gotta come from somewhere beyond us.
What’s the drive behind your work?
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” At the end of the day, I’m of the mindset that if you really, really want something– you have to earn it. Not even in a rite-of passage sort of way, but if you dream big enough and then put in the work to make it happen? Euphoria.
What has your process been as a creative?
I honestly love this question because I could not give you a solid answer, I feel like it changes every single day. Sometimes I’m like so high on lyrics and writing and journaling and other days I’m like, “I’m just going to start playing the piano and vibing and see if something happens.” To be quite honest, the project I’m writing now, I have not been functioning in any sort of healthy way. I don’t have my routine and my exercise and my meditation on-lock, I feel like I’ve been on crack (I haven’t). Sometimes, I’m like literally pacing my apartment muttering to myself and randomly clorox wiping things and eating cereal and smoking weed and I’ll be like, “I have it.” and immediately go to my piano. But.. it’s been working? But I should probs get that in order.
What advice would you tell to your younger self?
To stop giving one single shit about what other people think about you. There’s a way to be a kind, empathetic, and thoughtful person/friend while not letting your environment dictate your decision making. Sing the song you want, order the food you want, watch the TV show you want, fuck the haters!
What is your biggest failure as a creative/business owner? What did you learn? What did you change from that?
Not asking for help. I’m often of the mindset, “this will just be easier if I do it myself,” – but then I find the ‘tasks’ adding up, until it’s the only thing that I’m doing, and I’ve lost all the magic that made me want to do it in the first place. I’ve changed in being acutely aware of my strengths and my weaknesses, and really reach out to friends whose creative direction/skillsets would move things forward in earnest, and not leave me bitter and stagnant. Ask for help!!
Why don’t you quit? What would you tell someone who is about to give this up?
Honestly, it’s hard to say. I’d say I have an above-average level of self-confidence, but most of that strength comes from the people around me that I love and trust really encouraging me and validating me that I’m doing the right thing. Every time I question it, someone important to me will knowingly, or unknowingly, send me a sign that I need to keep pushing forward. I’m lucky to have this support system, and know that a lot of people unfortunately do not, but for anyone questioning themselves I would do two things: 1. Look inward and question why you want to do what you’re doing. Is it for the right reasons? Is it to please someone else? Is it for fame? It can be an answer as simple as, “Because I fucking love this.” and 2. Reach out to the ones you love and trust the most: a partner, a friend, a family member – be honest with them about how you’ve been feeling, it doesn't mean ‘you’re quitting,’ – people in every industry of all time have thoughts of doubt. They’ve likely been on this journey with you and will offer you perspective you may not even recall as to why you wanted to do this in the first place.
What do you hope to create that will continue to repeat?
I write with universality in mind – of romance, of nature, of beauty, of sadness, of hope, because I want to write songs that generations past and future can all connect to the same idea. I want to create art that is for the moment on more of a macro scale. I grew up on jazz standards, many of which had relatively simple lyrics that have stood the test of time because they address aspects of human nature that will never disappear.
What are you on the verge of?
I’m on the verge of creating music that is ultimately for me – obviously I want other people to like it too, but for the first time in my life I am making art that I want to make. Not for a class, not for a client, not for a boss, not because I wonder what my family and friends will think, but because it feels the most authentic to my lived experience and how I want to communicate to the world. I’ve been doing that for the past few months and it’s all coming together in a way that I’m really proud of. It’s been a long time since I’ve looked at something that way. It feels very, very good, and I can’t wait to start sharing it with people.
What is one thing you love about yourself?
My resilience. That’s not an answer I would’ve said a few years ago, or a few months ago, but I’m really growing into it. Like anyone else, I get super bogged down with the day to day of how we’re “supposed” to live our lives, but as time passes I’m able to acknowledge those feelings and use them to my advantage, knowing that the end result will feel that much better, having overcome those adversities.