I had the pleasure of meeting Mia Zanotti this past fall, and quickly learned how genuine and down to earth she is. Her professionalism, talent, and style are on point. Generally speaking, life can be challenging at times and it was rather refreshing to meet someone like her.
Dormont Days was an outdoors event and it was freezing that night, but let me tell you the frigid cold did not stop Mia from hitting the high notes effortlessly.
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Photo Credit: Amy Cap Photography
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1) Mia, I had the pleasure of meeting you before my set w/ the Evan Dean Band this past fall at Dormont Days. We briefly talked about how we both came from musical families. Can you tell our readers where you got your inspiration and passion to perform? What was it like to perform with your mom and your uncle?
It was so great meeting you and the Evan Dean Band at the Dormont Days.. you all are so kind, supportive, and talented. My mom and I even stayed to listen to your whole set... and we absolutely loved it! I enjoyed talking with you Natalie... you are very personable, sweet, and encouraging. Such a genuine soul!
Performing is definitely what I love to do the most. My inspiration and passion to perform came from my family, starting with my grandparents... my grandmother "Judith A Bailey" who was the big band singer with my grandfather "John Zanotti" who played the saxophone in the big band as well! Passing that passion and love for music onto my Uncle "Jay Zanotti" who plays guitar and many other instruments and my Mom "Lorey Zanotti" who plays keyboard! My mom and Uncle were in a band together for 38 years.... and I would always go to their rehearsals when I was very little and sometimes even jump up on stage to sing back up on their original songs. So, growing up in a musical family that was always performing was just in my blood... At about 8 years old I started as a lead singer at local Christmas shows at the beautiful Casino Theater in Vandergrift and about age 12 I was performing at the Addison House in Leechburg as well as other local venues. When I turned 13 I was fronting my own band that consisted of my mom, uncle, and Jeff Knabb (on bass) Mark Anderson (on drums) and Dave Langett (on sax). I only performed original music that my mom and I wrote. Opening up for Devan Alman, Ana Popovich, Jillette Johnson, Satellite all over the city of Pittsburgh. Performing with my family was something that has helped me and formed me into the human being I am today. They taught me dedication, hard work, and the freedom of expressing my art and creating a musical career and path. Not everyone gets to say they are in a band with their mom ya know? And I feel like an audience can just tell when there's family on stage together even just from the way the harmonies would blend or the dynamic and energy that is on the stage, it's a special feeling that I really can't explain. If it wasn't for my family or for the talented musician friends and other family members that have supported and inspired me to not only pursue music but to perform live... I would not be where I am today and I am forever thankful and Blessed for all that they have done for me and continue to do for me.
2) Congratulations for appearing on season 8 of NBC’s popular television show “The Voice” as well as making it to the top 12! Can you explain what it’s like to get an opportunity like that? What were some of your challenges while being on the show? As well as positive points while competing?
Thank you! To get an opportunity to be on "The Voice" was an opportunity I honestly never dreamed of but something that I am beyond thankful that I chose to do. I have only ever told the story once in a podcast with Eric McKenna about exactly how that process happened for me and all of the untold stories of my journey on the show. Being chosen to be on "The Voice" was such a blessing for me and as I grew to understand the meaning behind all of it.. I cherished every moment from the beginning to the middle to the end! I truly did not treat it like it was a TV show or even a competition for that matter. Music is not a competition and it never will be... Life isn't even a competition... the main concern/challenge for me being on the show was having to sing cover songs... I never performed a cover song for the past 4 years in my band so having to learn, sing, and perform all cover songs was not something that really ever excited me. But I pushed through the challenge and knew that I love to sing the blues... so I went with my soul and I chose very legendary songs and artists to represent. The people I met, the other artists, the cast and crew were all so very kind... I mean each and every one of them touched my heart and became like big brothers and sisters throughout the show and even after. The hardest thing for me was to witness other artists going home when the entire time I'm thinking and feeling every single one of them deserve to win. I have never in my life met so many talented, unique, artsy, bold individuals... and that was a blessing in itself. Working with Pharrell Williams absolutely changed my life. He always encouraged me to dig deeper into who I am as an artist and to never change... After I got voted off he called me back to his studio to work with him one on one and we wrote an original song called "Child" and in that song you will be able to feel and hear the challenges I went through on the show and how it really was such a blessing to even be picked for "The Voice" and my cup runneth over. The Voice changed my life and I am forever thankful.
3) You kicked the New Year off with premiering “The One” with Dead Man Switch (DMS). You posted that you will be releasing more collaborations with DMS as well as your own original album!!!! Will you be willing to talk about how the collaboration came about with you and DMS? Also, could you talk more about the future releases of collaborations with DMS as well the release of your new album? How is “The One” doing? Where can your fans buy your music (yours and your collaborations)?
These past few months have been extremely life changing for me. A Honey Bear gas station a few miles from my house and the owner "Denise" who works there connected me with Dead Man Switch. She has been supporting DMS forever and she would always talk about how cool it would be if we collaborated together. As time passed and life happened... the right time, the right moment, and the right day... it finally occurred and wow did it change my life. Dead Man Switch consists of RJ Bertera, Kyle Horrell, and Johnny Ringo. Little did I know.. they would consist of my team, my writers, producers, and my family. After meeting with RJ just one time a mile from the honey bear at his Holiday House Studio (aka paradise) I knew God was working. I told him my story and journey from before the The Voice, to after, and to now which is extremely crazy to hear and to understand... his response and game plan was to release all of the musical pain, and life struggles, and happy success into a full album for me. With the help of RJ, Kyle, and my mom... we got together at the Holiday House every Sunday for the past 6 months and created multiple collaborations “The One" and "On The Knife" being two of them that are out now with music videos! And throughout that period of hustle we created a ten-song album for me. This album consists of not only everything I have been through the past 4 years of my life but exactly what I am currently living through as well... To find people who allow you to just be yourself and help express that is something you don't just find every day. They are beyond talented with capturing my thoughts and feelings and being able to translate it into lyrics, a melody, and music. I have never been so excited to release music... after being creative for the past 3 years in LA writing and recording over 30 songs and not being allowed to release them has weighed heavy on my heart... so I had to really break lose from all of that and create some evidence that I will not stop, I will continue creating, and I trust that God has this all figured out. My album "Evidence" dropping on July 4th 2020 has very diverse sounds and meaning behind each song... but all still showcases my message and my story. I want to thank RJ Bertera, Kyle Horrell, Sean Cannister, Johnny Ringo, and my mom for helping me make my dreams come true. March 17th my first single "Danger" will be released with a music video by Daniel Kelly.. So be on the lookout for that!
4) What other exciting things do you have planned for this year?
Some other exciting things I have going on this year... well... I’m in a horror film called "Occurence at Mills Creek" by Don Swanson featuring Betsy Lynn George of Billy Ido's "Cradle of Love". I have been working with Don Swanson and his team since February of 2019. I wrote and recorded three songs with my mom and Uncle several years ago that I thought would truly fit with the film.. and Don ended up really loving them and featured me in several scenes performing my songs. We shot the first scene in my hometown at the "Hyde Park Tavern" and the first song was "Somebody's Fallin" which has a very dark, sensitive, moody feel to it. The second song "The Way I Used To Know" Don filmed a music video for it at the "Hyde Park Tavern" which has been submitted to several film festivals and already won several awards! The music video for that will be coming out at the end of March! May 2020 we will be doing one more music video for the film in Hyde Park... It’s a song I wrote when I was about 14 called "Hurt". This entire process and relationship has been such a life changer for me as well.. It's been a blessing to work with the cast and crew of OMC.. they are professional, creative, and so talented. I cannot wait for the short film to be released this Summer!
I also have a few shows this April with the cultural trust "Ronda Zegarelli" downtown Pittsburgh! Wednesday April 22nd at the Carnegie Museum for the Ecolution Fashion show and Friday April 24th at Market Square for Earth Day! With special guest "Zacharry Rutter" who created Spread Love Army will be painting live art to my set... I even got to be a part of the 50th anniversary Earth Day cover song "Candles in The Rain” recorded at "The Church Studio" with many other local talented artists (Including Clinton Clegg from Commonheart) produced by the legendary “Rick Witowski” that will be released as a celebration for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day!
I have also been working with a very talented musician Cole Insko on another oringal project of music he wrote, composed, and produced. I performed with him at a show that he was playing drums at and we got to talking about just creating real music... so we got together and began brainstorming and just collaborating and ended up working on a 4 song EP together that definitely has a different, edgy, musical, fun vibe to... but it rides the same wave of musical adventures I’m on this year! It's been an honor and a blast working with Cole and more details to come on that project which will hopefully be released this summer as well!
5) I love how classy, genuine, and spiritual you are! If there is one piece of advice you could give anyone on any given day what would it be and why?
Wow.. Classy, Genuine, & Spiritual... thank you for that kind compliment... I really truly appreciate that and strive to embody all three of those words every single day. I always give the advice of 1. Stay true to your soul 2. Trust God & Do Good 3. Be a light in the world.
We live one life on this earth... and we should always be the truest versions of ourselves at every moment... and to express that in every way possible. We all have a gift from God to offer the world ... and we must trust his timing and promises. It’s not what you get it’s what you give in return... add value to every opportunity and make a difference! Believe me I struggle with many things every single day of my life but you have to push through, say what you need to say, be kind, and be honest with yourself and everyone else.
I want to thank all of the beautiful souls that have supported me throughout my entire musical journey ... and for hanging in there with me. I could cry thinking about all of the awesome people I have met already and that I will continue to meet... and know that you all hold a very special place in my heart... I am looking forward to what is to come in the rest of 2020... thank you so much!
-Mia Z
For more information on Mia Zanotti please check out the following Social Media Links:
https://www.instagram.com/miazanotti/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/miazanotti
https://www.facebook.com/themiazanotti/
Natalie is the author of The Many Colors of Natalie, a book of poetry. She holds an associates degree in Specialized Technology Le Cornon Bleu Pastry Arts and in her spare time is an artist and percussionist.
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