Today we’d like to introduce you to Scarlet Fiorella. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Scarlet Fiorella started writing songs secretly at the age of 16. After the culture shock of moving from Philadelphia, PA to Dallas, TX, she taught herself guitar and performed every Thursday night at a bar across the street from her apartment. Attending Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts with a focus in stage lighting design, Fiorella says she freaked out during the college application process and withdrew her applications for stage lighting and applied as a music major last minute. She was shocked to receive the news that she had gotten into NYU’s prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music program at Tisch. Shortly after, she opened for indie outfit HOMESHAKE at a sold-out show in Dallas as well as Amber Mark at the House of Blues,
Figuring out the best way to afford a private institution while acknowledging their dislike for Texas, Fiorella and her family moved back to Philadelphia and she spent her freshman year at Community College hoping to transfer as many credits as possible to NYU the following year. Fiorella spent the year waiting tables and making a name for herself in the Philadelphia music scene, moving from DIY house shows to playing venues such as World Cafe Live and The Trocadero. The following year she finally made her way to NYU but was sent home shortly after her first semester due to the COVID pandemic. Fiorella then invested all her energy into crafting her future persona and sound, releasing her most popular single “What I Did” which went viral on Tik Tok gaining her close to 1M views.
Since graduating NYU this past May, Fiorella released her first body of work since 2020 entitled “It’s My Show Now” which includes the jazzy, noir single “Money Tree” and was accompanied by a stunning Old Hollywood-inspired short film and 2000s R&B throwback single “Sideline.” Fiorella is determined to release multiple projects this year and is kicking it off by performing at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 in New York on January 17th.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many struggles. As an independent artist, it’s hard finding the balance of when and where to focus your energy since you’re doing it all. I have to go to work to make money and budget aside enough to not only pay the bills but to pay for my project (people need to talk more about how expensive it is to actively make the music and how little independent artists profit off of their own work), I need to create engaging content to promote my work, I need to find time to network, and on top of that I need to be finding time to actually continue to improve at my craft. It’s also crucial I ignore the grind culture that’s bestowed upon us and find time to take care of myself. But I’m learning to accept that this is always going to be difficult and it’s crucial I learn to embrace that this is the process in order to move forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a performer, singer, songwriter, and producer. I’d say I’m known for my retro vibe, my voice has always evoked a throwback feel. But I also think my songwriting ad production style is very distinct which I feel very proud of. Observing my own work, I’d say there’s a cynicism and a darkness in my writing and production that is mixed with humor and wit. I like to say my music is “a bottle of red wine and speaking your mind,” but it’s also laughing at your own distress. The Fiorella world is very dramatic; everything is blown out of proportion in the best way. I mean, “What I Did” is literally wanting to get out of a relationship so bad that you lie about committing a crime, it’s honestly hilarious. I’m learning not to take myself too seriously while not letting the craft suffer. I think that’s what sets me apart, I have my own little world that I think is getting clearer and clearer by each release. It’s very theatrical and cinematic, I’m hoping people get more and more lost in it the better I get.
What does success mean to you?
For me personally, my definition of success is that I had a goal to create things and have busted my ass to do it over and over again despite the challenges. Even though I am still working towards accepting my own definition of success, I try to tell myself every day that I should be proud that I continue to make music and whatever happens with it is icing on the cake.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletfiorellaa/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@scarletcimillo/
- Other: https://ffm.to/b8pdql2
Image Credits
Shane Reynolds Rec Philly
