Today we’d like to introduce you to Bradley Pallone.
Bradley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Since picking up a guitar for the first time at 12 years old, I can remember immersing myself in all of the music I could find. At that time, CDs had reached a peak of popularity. I had owned as many albums as any caffeinated, hormone-fueled kid in the early 2000s could fit in his bedroom, decorated with overlapping band posters and a plethora of Nintendo Gamecube discs scattered on the floor.
After taking guitar lessons and forming bands with friends, I started playing small scale local shows at churches. Though these projects were relatively short-lived, these experiences would lead me into the world of local music in the outskirts of Atlanta. Through networking, I managed to briefly become a part-time promoter for a church venue in Marietta in 2010. Years later, I have dedicated myself to various projects, such as; in-studio writing, vocal, and guitar features; aspiring to gain as much experience in the music industry as possible. Since I began writing my own music in my early years, the desire to immerse myself in the world of music by working with artists on-stage and behind the curtain has only intensified.
My sneak peeks into the limelight arrived when I worked on staff for the Masquerade, a popular concert venue in downtown Atlanta. The spotlight expanded when an opportunity to work behind the scenes for arena shows as an independent contractor and stage hand. I was able to gain more knowledge in all the details that come together to make large concerts run smoothly.
At the present time, I play shows under the moniker of “Battle of Heart and Mind,” which also stands as a soon-to-be full band project. My goal with this project is to hone my skills as a singer-songwriter and build off of that basis to create a more fleshed out, emo-fueled rock sound. I am also the vocalist of a progressive rock band called Cascadent.
My passion for music also inspired me to work towards the establishment of a multi-faceted artist relations company entitled heARTform Promotions with my “co-pilot” and fellow music enthusiast, Lindsay Moscarello. Our mission is geared towards the enrichment and strengthening of an artist’s online presence through photography, videography and social media marketing. Our most recent content includes videos from concerts, giving our followers the opportunity to relive beloved live music memories.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been the easiest journey. Many of my missteps in my career are typically due to personal issues that I’m sure many can relate to. Relationships, mental health concerns, and the responsibilities of adulthood are all factors that come into play with any aspiration, dream and the execution of that dream. However, I would encourage people that no matter how late of a start it may be, to seize that opportunity. I try to predicate my life on positivity. I want creativity, passion, and encouragement to be a business model. Hardships are inevitable but that does not have to be where your story ends. I think the fact that many of us are still here despite life’s harsh realities is a testament to our strength. Not just personally, but in my career. I try to use every hardship as a motivator to propel me forward.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My job as a musician and a content creator is to entertain people, but also hold their attention. I think that’s part of it anyway. It can feel sort of contradictory to be an introverted person such as myself playing to a room full of people or connecting with strangers online. It’s another side to myself that I get to experience. It’s like sitting myself in a chair across from me and having a therapy session. A plus side to being a musician is the potential self-reflection of a listener. Perhaps certain people can relate to my own internal turmoil.
Music is described as some type of universal language to some people. We understand each other more than we realize. There is a sense of community that occurs when a group of drunk strangers gets together to sing about a breakup, abuse, death or whatever it may be. It’s a beautiful thing to me and I want to bring more of that sense of community to artists that do not have a great following. There is a lack of connection when playing to a nearly empty room and I want to change that. My company Heartform Promotions is an attempt to help artists with their online presence and their content output. The difference is, we are not a record label and we are not limited to just artists. We want to help any company or brand. My favorite endeavor as a company was when we traveled down to Tallahassee to network at a dive-bar show. We mingled with a couple of bands that night and found ourselves establishing great relationships and potential clientele. We are just getting started and I’m eager to see the future unfold.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The music industry has changed so much in the last 10 years but the love for music remains the same. You look at how social media has changed since the Myspace era and think “how can I, as an artist, get people to sift through the noise to find me?” in this climate. I think every few years you have to reexamine your methodology and I don’t just mean professionally. It starts with yourself. I am always learning new things. I will always be open to new ideas and learn and grow from my environment. There may be times where I feel it necessary to stay the course but other times prepare myself for a possible rebrand. I see my music and my business grew to larger numbers in the next few years. A word that resonates with me is authenticity. People can sense when your work transitions from genuine and honest to artificial. I want to maintain a strong sense of integrity amidst any changes in the formula. As long as I do not lose sight of my vision, my purpose and my values then no matter what the aesthetic, the essence of my work remains intact.
Contact Info:
- Website: in development
- Email: heartformpromotions@gmail.com
- Instagram: heartformpromo
- Facebook: heartformpromotions
- Twitter: heartformpromo
Image Credit:
Cocoabreak Studios, Lindsay Moscarello, Sean O’Shea, Jomar McCray, Sally Boice
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