Emilio Merone: The PIVODIO Interview

Nominated as one of the top Piano Composer and Producers of the year 2023 by SME UK Enterprise Awards, Emilio Merone has studied classical piano, jazz, and modern music. His training has led him to compose soundtracks for short films, multiple TV shows, documentaries, as well commercials for brands like Lexus and Lego. Emilio also has 36 albums to his name and tours with musicians such as Antonio Sanchez, Scott Colley, Sarah Jane Morris, and more. Check out Emilio’s full profile on PIVODIO.

Musicians always need to find revenue streams. How did you get your start composing soundtracks for film & TV?

I started making tracks for some royalty-free libraries just for fun, and then when I saw that I could earn money “passively,” I began to get more and more involved and started understanding the “know-how” of music production.

Gradually, I stumbled upon sync opportunities with some libraries, and from there I realized that my creativity could be limitless in this type of music business. So, I started contacting more and more library and sync music agencies, beginning to create bespoke albums for trailers, TV series, and advertisements.

And now, I have so many contracts and requests from the agencies I work with that, together with a close friend of mine who is a musician, we have established a collective of composer-producers and songwriters (synchromusic.uk) to meet all the ongoing demands.

Being a good musician is a given. What are the other skills that modern musicians in your field need today to make it in the business?

I firmly believe that to succeed in anything – not just music – at a high level that allows for significant earnings, in addition to deeply loving what you do, you must be determined, adaptable, humble, consistent, and professional.

For classical and jazz, how do you find your audience? Is it more about performing live, or getting your music out online? Or some other way?

Classical music and jazz have now become niche music, unfortunately. Classical music demands a sensitivity that is not common to everyone and sometimes even demands musical knowledge to appreciate it. Strictly speaking, jazz is music that is too complicated for today’s minds, accustomed to extremely simple and immediate things. In general, anything that requires too much intellectual, emotional, and cultural involvement doesn’t work today because the global standard has drastically lowered.

So I study classical music on the piano for my cultural enrichment and sell it when specifically requested, composing pieces in various styles, both for solo piano and orchestra (film music is often referred to as the new classical music). I play jazz music in some clubs as a session player and also sell it when requested, covering various styles, from piano and vocal duos to electro-swing.

Aspiring musicians often hit a ceiling for one reason or another on their way to making it their career. What’s the main chokepoint you see in your field? Where do most aspiring musicians fall away on that path, and how can they avoid the common chokepoint on their way to a career?

The lack of recognition, both financially and emotionally. But I reiterate, if you persist and never give up, adapting to the current needs at your own pace, you will ultimately succeed.

Quick hits for you: what song takes you back to your childhood?

“Save a Prayer” by Duran Duran, “Sailing” by Christofer Cross, “Take On Me” by a-ha.

What is the most romantic song of all time?

It’s too personal a question to give a single answer.

Fair enough. What song can you listen to a hundred times in a row and never get sick of it?

Any composition by J. S. Bach.

What song takes you back to a very important moment in your life?

Well, being a composer myself, every time I have strong emotions, I turn them into music. So, I would say that in my case, as in that of many composers, some of my compositions remind me of important moments that I’ve ‘captured’ over time with my notes.

For more of Emilio Merone, check out his website (emiliomerone.com) and connect with him on PIVODIO for advice on your music.

About the Author:

Robert Woo has been in marketing for 15+ years, creating content for tech startups in various industries. He’s also written and performed comedy for decades, with stints at Nickelodeon, NBC, HBO, and more. While he is probably the least musically inclined of the PIVODIO team, he is excited to be part of this note-worthy (pun) company. He also takes a multivitamin every day.