Annemarie Picerno
Updated: May 21, 2021
Annemarie Picerno is a Grammy member, Americana Music Association member, and Indie Collaborative Artist. She is a Josie Music Award Winner for her hit song "Bonfire" along with being presented in 2019 and 2020 The Gran Royale Music Award, Holland Red Carpet 2020 Female Entertainer of Year, and a 2019 LDM Radio Music Award. She has performed in theater, bands in every musical genre, comedy shows, film, radio, and television and is a popular radio host on several specialty-featured radio stations. Her music videos are seen by millions on Bongo Boy TV and also on Rebel TV Productions, Roku, and Apple Tv channels. Select releases of her hit songs can be found on the popular Bongo Boy Records albums. She has topped numerous Top 40 indie radio charts with her powerful voice and harmonies in country, rock, pop, blues, and American Roots.
For her latest single, "JUST BE KIND," Annemarie Picerno has teamed up with renowned Nashville producer Bob McGilpin who has produced 13 of Annemarie's radio releases. Her music video COLOR BLIND released to television to much acclaim for her powerful message relayed in various characters portrayed and stunning visuals. Bob McGilpin's first release was 1978's "Superstar" on Butterfly records which became a Billboard hit along with "Sexy Thing" and "When You Feel Love." He had multiple major label record deals with Casablanca, RCA, and Butterfly/MCA and landed three #1 hits on the coveted Billboard Dance Charts. Together, Annemarie and Bob make a great team in their multi-genre musical collaborations.
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, Unique, and Emotional And no one song is alike! I am a mixed genre artist, mixing country, rock, blues, and pop. www.annemariepicerno.com
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else?) Tell us why.
I like writing and singing music that evokes emotion and tells a story. It might make you laugh, cry, or be written in metaphors, but the meanings are usually deeper than what meets the ear. I enjoy recording in the studio and using my voice to make the listener feel the imagery. Music has movement and shape and how you deliver vocally is important. When I perform live, I like to give the listener the whole package, using my theater, dance and acting background depending on the song. The entire process of being an artist, from writing, recording, promoting, performing and creating a certain style can be fun, exhilarating , and exhausting at the same time. However, creating what I want to sing and perform is very satisfying as an artist.
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you?
I make sure I am rested the day before and go in to my producer Bob McGilpin's studio comfortably dressed and with an open mind. Although I have a melody and vocal ideas already written, I also engage in creative ideas with Bob on the sounds and style of my music with the arrangement. A rough take may yield great vocals, or on playback, I hear what I may want to change. I am pretty picky about how the vocals and music come together as a full composition, and I believe the music is equally important to be heard. The storytelling part of the song may also have effects that enhance the imagery, and I always like Bob to show off his musical finesse with a great guitar solo. After the basic layout of the song is produced, I go back in and add the harmonies and other rounds of melodies in the pockets. We get a lot accomplished in a few hours time, and then the later mastering of the final mix is discussed in what parts we want to come out in the overall sound and where. We always have fun in the creation of the song!
Okay, this a fun question. When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing?
I get out in the Nashville music scene and join some of my favorite bands on stage. Performing live is fun as you can let loose and engage with an audience. My favorite place is Music City Bar and Grill on Music Valley Drive, owned by Rodney Collins, and he has some of the best bands in Nashville along with one of my favorite bands, Ronnie Lutrick and Friends. Country legends pop in all the time, and it's a fun and friendly place! On the side, I also help a lot of artists along with Bongo Boy Records on music releases, and enjoy video editing and making content for TV and Roku channels and promo videos for bands. I also run a page on Facebook called Luna The Music City Dog, which is all about Luna a large 130 pound dog that loves the people and sitting on stage with the bands. I do all these things to take a break from my own music production, but still use my skills to teach and help others in entertainment.
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
My producer Bob McGilpin has produced at least 13 singles for me and his first release was 1978's "Superstar" on Butterfly records which became a Billboard hit along with "Sexy Thing" and "When You Feel Love." He had multiple major label record deals with Casablanca, RCA, and Butterfly/MCA and landed three #1 hits on the coveted Billboard Dance Charts. I am blessed to have him work with me on my music and we have a great musical working relationship. He takes my music ideas and badly recorded home demos and turns them in to charting indie radio hits, as well as worthy to be accepted on the ballot for consideration for the Grammy's. I owe much of my music success to him for his wonderful recordings and arrangements.
Monique Grimme at Bongo Boy Records, an independent label and promotion company has also been a great support for me as an independent artist and has helped me get my music heard. She has been a force for independent artists and indies making waves on the Grammy scene with her promotional campaigns. There are many more artist friends that possess such great talents, and the best are also kind and giving as we all help and support each other. Many I have met through organizations like The Indie Collaborative and The Josie Music Awards, 2 great music organizations to meet like minded and professional artists. I admire those that work hard, possess talent, and are not afraid to share their experience and knowledge!
Can you tell us what song you've written that is the most emotional and describe the meaning behind it?
JUST BE KIND is an emotional song for me as it was inspired from a tragedy. A dear friend of 14 years had committed suicide, and I found out across social media which was devastating. We were very close but I had moved to Nashville and so our main communication was through email his final years. He had lost hope with the world, with all it's anger, division, and lost his belief in any spirituality. I felt his pain, and reflected on how kindness, even the most simple or random act can make someone feel happy, loved, or even give hope. If we could just practice kindness instead of fighting, wouldn't some results be different? after all, a child is born innocent, and only learns hate or discrimination form adults. Others learn kindness and love so I put these emotions in a song with the final message "Just Be Kind"
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
I am producing the music video for JUST BE KIND and in the process, asked my fans to send in video clips of their stories of kindness, and experiences where they received kindness in return. I hope to include some of these in the music video, and have shared many across my social media The response has been positive as well as inspiring, and I think that, after a rough year for many, we all need more hope and kindness in our lives. The song is nominated for the 7th annual Josie Music Awards , the world's largest recognized independent music awards show, to be held September 18, 2021 at The Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and is charting on several radio charts. I am also planning on attending the showcases and events for the next Grammy awards in January 2022. Most of all, I keep making music that entertains and inspires! Visit my website www.annemariepicerno.com
Tell us where fans can access your music.
Stream it on Spotify
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