065: AJ Nocito
Good morning! This is Play It Like It’s Music. I’m Trevor, thanks for listening.
On Wednesday, November 18th of 2020 music is not content. It’s connection.
It's just as hard to find musical partners as it is to find romantic partners. Some people can make it look easy, but finding someone to share the real burdens, who really understands the world the way you do and is brave enough to commit to a project - that part is never easy.
[photo by @shvwnfvckingcooper]
AJ Nocito is a man on a mission,
and his energy will infect any room he walks into. I've seen him in quite a few contexts: percussionist at The Get Down, road manager on a tour we were both on and also front man of the hardcore metal band Christopher Walkin On Sunshine. Strap in, this dude is a live wire. A thrilling man to have in your life.
Today we're going to hear the tale of a band in the making and in the breaking: sleeping on the floor with all the gear and just willing the music into being.
The story will take some turns because life does: there are a couple of different bands that weave in and out, as well as a heartbreaking tragedy that will stop you in your tracks. AJ has survived a major musician's nightmare, and he's here to tell us about it. There is redemption within.
Ok, so
Not a lot of metalheads listen to my show and I get it,
but sound is sound and spirit is spirit. The various facets of the metal and punk scenes which I've visited are some of the most inspiring and committed anywhere, and I confess to some envy alongside my admiration from the 'conservatory' perch I was brought up in. The energy is unmatched. I'm proud to have the few friends I do in there, and AJ is a brother of mine for life.
"I'm gonna start hearing things that my hands can't do."
[photo by @linkreturns]
[photo by Sasha Bianca]
Quick ask: if you believe this show deserves a wider audience, please tell a friend:
It’s an honor to have him on the show.
Press PLAY above to hear my conversation with AJ Nocito.
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Thanks for listening to Play It Like It’s Music. Thanks so much to AJ for spending some very generous time with us. You can find him and follow him on IG and chase him around. Also: buy their demo on bandcamp.
I can’t believe we’ve gotten to 65 shows! If you believe this show deserves a wider audience, please tell a friend:
Follow me on twitter @trevorexter and talk to me on there if you have thoughts about the show.
We're all contending with a mutating professional landscape, jacked revenue streams, a catastrophic global pandemic and plenty of other noise out there.
But you gotta keep playing:
We don't draw any lines here between scenes or styles.
As always, thank you for listening and remember to play it like its music.
You can check out my music on bandcamp and other places. It’s all at my website, trevorexter.com. Sign the mailing list on substack to get this show sent right to you the very moment it comes out.
Music is a beautiful thing and it makes the world go round.
Big love to your ears.
Trevor
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