Behind the Song
Annemarie Picerno

Annemarie is a registered songwriter with BMI, a Member of The Americana Music Association, Member of The Recording Academy ©Grammys and an Indie Collaborative artist. She has performed in theater, bands in every musical genre, comedy shows, film, radio and television. Her diverse musical sounds mix country, pop, blues, soul, and rock.
For fans who have never heard your music, can you pick three words to describe it?! If three words just aren't enough then tell us more!!
Powerful vocals, metaphorical lyrics, music with visual imagery and mixed genres of country, blues, pop, rock, and soul, but mainly in American Roots.
I have never written a song or tried to sound like anyone else, so the "genre" label is my own - "Unique"!
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else?) Tell us why.
I enjoy not only the songwriting but the full creation of the song put to music, and the artistry in which it is presented visually in performance. The full connection to the audience in live performance is always a thrill, to hear their response and feel that connection on a stage as you lay your innermost thoughts bare in the music. We would be nothing without the fans or the listeners, and it is an energy you receive back from the audience when they connect to your music!
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you?
Working with my producer Bob McGilpin is always a pleasure as he is open to the creation of a song from the lyrics, to the sounds of the music, but most importantly, the visual imagery and the emotion behind the song. The message and story in the song usually determines the sounds I like to create, and determines the instrumentation and style in the mood and delivery. I have written dark lyrics that fool the listener with up tempo sounds in the music, songs with humor, as well as metaphorical lyrics in highly personal songs. The composition embodies all those messages and emotions in the story, and at times are written from another point of view of a character to show different perspectives in human character and experiences.
Okay, this a fun question. When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing?
Music and performing is about the only thing I enjoy in this troubled world. It keeps me connected and lets me be creative in a fast paced society. I also enjoy reading and watching musical documentaries of entertainers, and enjoy video editing, art, and love animals.
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
I have much respect for my musical peers that are independent artists carving out their creative paths with their original works. I am proud to be a Grammy member and have met world class musicians at events, and admire the perseverance, dedication, and talents these artists possess to be innovative and have their music heard. There is no compromise to how they create their music to make an impact on the music industry, and they dare to dream and make those dreams reality!
Can you tell us what song you've written that is the most emotional and describe the meaning behind it?
COLOR BLIND my latest single release, questions why we label people and what they look like, and why we hate or discriminate. It challenges the listener to see people for their hearts and minds, and question themselves what color is their character. Do they have love, hate, greed, kindness, or peace? It is written in metaphors specifically to open the conversation of accepting diversity on a deeper level.
COLOR BLIND - Annemarie Picerno - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
Another single soon to be released is JUST BE KIND, which explores our response to the tragedies in the world, and how we might shift how we treat people to impact positive change. I would say the past year has been a tough one for many people with the pandemic and politics, and the song explores the turmoil with a hope to return to basic acts of kindness to stop the cycle or focus on the negative. It is a dark, powerful song with a lot of emotion and Bob McGilpin and myself worked together to arrange unique sounds and instrumentals throughout the song which mix celtic, country, pop, and rock in a spiritual fusion. It was an experimental composition written first on keyboard and starts simplistic on piano then builds to a rock symphony of sorts. I am in the process of developing the video to relay the message of the song, soon to be released.
Fans can visit www.annemariepicerno.com to hear my music and keep up with my latest projects.
Tell us where fans can access your music.
Stream it on Spotify!