We’re looking forward to introducing you to Adam Anzio. Check out our conversation below.
Adam, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I write as soon as I get up. I write usually 30 minutes to an hour. I just put down whatever is on my mind, whether it’s music related or not. I focus a lot on mental health, and one way I process what’s going on in my mind, and deal with things from my past is to write them down. I just “bleed out“ on the pad, or keyboard, or phone; and I usually try to make something of it later. I turn it into songs, video ideas, essays, or notes to take to my therapist. I try to get some exercise after that. Usually cycling and weights. I hate running, and a few other exercises, so I ride my bike on these rolling Atlanta Hills, or a stationary bike, until I can get over my hatred of running, whenever that is. That’s about 90 minutes. I’m not always successful in keeping up that routine, as I’m not much of a morning person, and I deal with a lot internally that kills my motivation, but I try to get some of it done, even on my worst days.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure. I’m Adam Anzio, pronounced like On Zee Oh, and I’m a musician, songwriter, performer, and online creator. I play multiple instruments, and occasionally work as a session musician. I work independently, and occasionally with other musicians and creators. I join ensembles, edit photos and videos, and run a YouTube channel called “AnzioTV”, along with a few others. I’ve been playing music since I was a little kid. I mostly get hired to play guitar, bass guitar and drums.
I’ve played with a lot of bands, but my main project is “Adam Anzio”, where I compose everything, and perform as what I sometimes call a one man band ”New Order” or one man “Depeche Mode”. That’s the best I can describe it at the moment. I used to play out with this project with other musicians with me, but I haven’t done that in years. I record all of my own music. The last recording I put out was “The Poisonous EP”, which I recorded in the GarageBand iOS app on my iPhone. I like to stay busy with my creative endeavors, so. Whether it’s creating something for the socials, a clip for YouTube, a few songs, a bit of extra work in a movie, or whatever I feel like doing, I spend as much time on it as I can manage.
As an online creator, I use various platforms to express myself, put my thoughts out there, and show my creative side. I’ll usually base it around musicianship, subcultural aspects of music, and social issues. I tend to have a pretty agnostic, anarchistic, freethinking, and slightly decolonized approach to things; which is about as close as one could get to labeling it, I guess. I’ve been talking about mental health a lot more in the past few years as well, but music is my main focus. I care deeply about music, and have for most of my life.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Pretty much the same person. I never really listened to what “the world” had to say. When it spoke, I just told it to shut up, and kept moving. I’ve been questioning, analyzing and challenging most of what was being told to me over the course of my life. Stigmas, stereotypes, standards, rules, laws, systems; I don’t follow blindly. I try to learn what I can about them, and how they apply to my life, if at all. They same sense of joy, whimsy, and such that is usually stripped away or pushed out from us as we get older never really left. I never felt the need to be a stereotypical adult, or a stereotypical man, or anything like that. It’s not who I am, and I never felt the need to become that to fit in, or otherwise. It all seems so dreadfully boring, pointless and exhausting. What an awful kind existence so many people feel like they have to endure. I can’t, and I won’t. I tend to just do what I like, and don’t care what anyone thinks. I was this was as a child, and I’m still the same way, despite massive amounts of pressure, manipulation, and punishment. My true self keeps me going, and I don’t see the point of letting it go, ever.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I wouldn’t say that they’re healed, and I don’t know if they ever truly will be, despite the work I put in, but about 6 or 7 years ago, I discovered that I endured lifelong narcissistic abuse. After so many years of trying to figure out what’s was so wrong with me, and why so many things were not right, even after being told that I have nothing to worry about, I found out, and even saw that there were actual names for it all. I was focusing on my own symptoms rather than focusing on the symptoms of the problematic people in my life. Through all of that research, I found ways that I can help myself get better. I’ve made some of the toughest, but most rewarding decisions of my entire life, and I’m so happy that I did. It’s said that enduring, surviving, learning about, and healing is one of the hardest things for someone to do mentally. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s been extremely tough for me. However, my focus has improved, I don’t panic anymore, I can gauge people a bit better, and I’ve been able to help other people with their situations with “difficult people”. So much of my life has been the result of Narcissistic Abuse Syndrome, and the symptoms of it all. Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, and so many other things that I handle so much better, now that I know what they are. I don’t know where I’d be without what I know about it now.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. My ever changing moods are pretty much on display, even when I don’t want them to be. I think it’s important to know that people aren’t always one thing all the time. Besides the way I cope with past traumas, which is usually behind closed doors, as not to disturb others, I present just as I am. I don’t feel the need to wear a mask, or even speak differently. As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t try to be accepted, I just am who I am, take it or leave it.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Not sure. I guess I’m used to people being so nasty and two-faced that I just prepare for them to say whatever they want, and for naive people to believe them. People have been doing that to me for most of my life, and I’ve endured so much crap that I don’t expect anyone to say anything positive about me at all. Perhaps the negativity is outweighing other things, as it tends to do. You could be the best, nicest, most helpful, coolest, and most genuine person in existence, and some charming egomaniac can ruin that with a whisper. I’ll be too dead to care what people think of me when I’m gone. I just want to do what I want while I’m here. I can’t help what people say, I won’t stress over why the truth is so lame to them, or why talking directly to me to get to know me is such a hassle.. I’m just going to do my time, then bounce, and they’ll die someday as well. That’s my current attitude anyway. That could all change tomorrow.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.adamanzio.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/adamxanzio
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/adamxanzio
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@AnzioTV
- Other: http://www.adamanzio.bandcamp.com
