Meet Ramiro Marziani | Guitarist, Composer and Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ramiro Marziani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ramiro, what is the most important factor behind your success?
It all comes down to preparation. I think of brand as everything you represent and the process behind it. When you choose a path, in my case a studio and touring guitarist, you become an artist in defining yourself so that you can be seen in the music industry. For me it comes down to always being ready for any situation and staying sharp on the most fundamental musical skills. Not only technique, but spacial awareness and sensitivity to sound and time.

There’s an aesthetic element that is very important and one that I continue to crystallize in my mind. Your image also sets you apart as a guitarist who specializes in specific playing styles. Anything from a social media post, what you wear, what guitar you play…all of that contains an attitude towards what you do.

That said, I would say my success in all areas of music is being ready for the gig, and being prepared beyond surprises on the musical side. When the time comes to perform, I can be present in the moment and dedicate all my energy to it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a composer and writer of music, everything is based around melody and improvisation for me. As deep as I have dedicated time to delve into the world of harmony, or the sounds that get created when more than one note is played at once, melody has a horizontal nature to its development. I enjoy a linear approach to music where surprises happen as instruments and sounds come together, while they follow their own individual line or path.

I’ve lived, travelled and played with musicians from all over the world. The guitar, the instrument I perform with, has led me to discover music from all over as it is present in many cultures. If there is a melody to drive a composition, I draw inspiration for rhythms from everything I hear. I pick and choose the right context and groove for every tune. Sometimes I define my music as Jazz & South-American folk with Rock n’ Roll sugar. In that sense, I really believe the music I play is rooted in tradition but cannot be found elsewhere.

I have 2 full albums, an EP and a few singles available to hear in streaming platforms and Youtube. In the last year, I released a guitar led meditation album titled Cielito Blue and my latest project is a 3-song EP titled Sep ’20 : From A Living Room in Brooklyn, a set of some of my newest songs recorded live with my trio from a homemade studio, during quarantine. It’s been a lot of work with many challenges: bringing musicians together, explaining my vision to others, marketing & band leading, and maintaining a consistent approach to music making. As long as work is put in to keep the passion alive, challenges are part of the process and a positive aspect. Music is a social activity and for me, I am a composer who plays the guitar, and I seek live music as the ultimate setting for expression.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in NYC, but I’ve also travelled to LA a few times to perform and visit. People who visit me in NY ask about live music, so I take them to West Village/Greenwich Village to listen to jazz. New York is also a city for rooftops and views.

I spend a lot of time in Brooklyn and Queens as well. In New York, visiting different neighborhoods just to meet the people and the artistic scene is likely the most immersive experience. Fun topical places to visit are Nowadays in Brooklyn, Terraza 7 in Queens, 55 bar in Manhattan…and my own rooftop for inspiration, haha.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Maxi Abraham, a great friend and musical colleague, who recommended that Shoutout reach out to me. Also big thanks to Claudio Ragazzi, who has helped me a great deal in continuing to grow my career in the US.

The musicians who have chosen to play in my bands and the music I write. There’s too much recorded music and many musician friends to list. I admire all of them and they have brought my music and career to the next level.

Website: https://www.marzianimusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marzianimusic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramiro-marziani-780159a2/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVEej0-i3SuHHCCDGSnofmg/featured

Image Credits
Photos by Valeria Peñaranda, Peter Leng Xiong, and Matías Vera Pinto.