On any given Tuesday, you can find cinematic pop artist LIBERATI cruising the Pacific Coast Highway, top down, in a Jeep truck, blasting Tears for Fears during golden hour on the way to his favorite winery. He calls this the "heartbeat of inspiration." The former collegiate All-American quarterback, an Ohio native turned Malibu local, marries his Midwestern charm with the dreamy summertime magic of the West Coast to create a synth-driven sound that pays homage to his heroes of the 80s with the modern story-telling of bands like The 1975, LANY, and Joan.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello LIBERATI. What first got you into music?
Hello! My uncle was a singer/songwriter who became most known for his family-friendly annual Christmas concerts where I grew up near Pittsburgh, PA. I was enamored by his talent, those annual shows, and his band. I would eventually intern as a teenager at all the different studios his bandmates owned and operated. They all became family to me too and taught me so much about songwriting. production, and the music industry in general. I knew then when I was about 14 that I wanted a life of music, writing and performing.
What do you think your role is in this world?
Fantastic question. I think everyone should revisit this question a few times a year haha. I really enjoy camping and hiking. One phrase you hear and see a lot in that community is “leave your site better than you found it.” I have adopted that for my own life. I want to leave everything I interact with better than how I found it. I think music is one of the ways I’m supposed to do that, but it’s only recently that I’ve suspected that music is only one of several ways I’m supposed to do that. I want to be a light in this world. I feel there’s so much joy to be experienced in a lifetime, and I hope to play a part in facilitating that for as many people as possible.
Your latest track is 'Famous'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
I was walking my dog one night while simultaneously scrolling through Instagram and Tik Tok. I had walked close to a full block when I finally looked up and saw the most gorgeous sunset. I got really sad thinking I could have missed the beauty right in front of me being too concerned with what was going on online. During that scrolling, I saw some former friends who had fallen out of touch in their pursuit of fame. It struck a nerve with me, so I jotted down a few facetious lyrics and titled the idea “Famous.” I then resurrected that old instrumental demo I had recorded last year and tried to marry the two. The vocal melody didn’t come until a couple weeks (and dog walks) later. I wanted the song to wake people up, but didn’t want it to be overtly negative. The whole point is that we have these amazing tools at our disposal, but are we going to use it for good, or simply fame? It’s this interesting blend of protest, happy sing along, and dance vibes – like “We Didn’t Start the Fire” meets “Walking On Broken Glass.”
What is one message you would give to your fans?
THANK YOU and keep your wonder like that of a child. The world opens up for you when you do. If you are as patient as you are ambitious, I believe anything is possible for you.
How do you spend your time?
When I’m not writing, producing, or performing, I’m either out in nature exploring, or working out.
What are you most proud of?
My marriage. I’ve only been married a couple years, but marrying my wife is by far my most proud moment. Commitment isn’t looked at as sexy in our society, but my life has become exponentially better and more joyful since I partnered with my wife.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
The 1975. Their whole vibe is of the caliber of the rock icons of the 70s and 80s. Pure magic.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
Most of them aren’t actually music related, but they certainly help me stay grounded, inspired, and happy, which helps me grow my craft. My current top 5 is...
1. Daily prayer/meditation/gratitude review
2. Being in nature daily (walks, hikes, drives, etc)
3. Working out 4-5 times a week
4. Vocal lessons
5. Weekly artist date - this is where you do something to inspire your art, whether it be watching a music-based doc, listening to records, going to a music store, etc.
Do you think that technology is improving lives?
Like anything, I think there’s good and bad. “Famous” is obviously a commentary on the negative impacts of social media to our society. I think currently that aspect has taken a negative plunge, and who’s to know what history will say about AI and what that’s about to do to our humanity, but there are just as many positives to point to in terms of technology helping us better steward the environment and make huge advances in medicine or things like space exploration. I just hope we are very diligent about how we move forward with the advances at hand, or we could become the thing of Sci-Fi horror films.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m planning on releasing my new album in different parts throughout the rest of the year until I go back on tour in 2024. I’ve released 3 singles so far, and have a few more in the works for the next couple months. I’ve always been a fan of an album over singles, but this release cadence has allowed me to focus on each song individually, which has been nice to give them the spotlights I feel they deserve. It’s like going through a book chapter by chapter with your audience, I’m really excited to see how it all unfolds.