Movers and Shakers Interview with Scott DeCarlo

Published by: Dillon Kivo

Tell us your name and a little about yourself.

Scott DeCarlo, I am a singer and a songwriter who lives in Nashville. Born and raised in New Jersey, where I was a police officer for several years before moving full time to Tennessee.

I’ve been writing songs and giving live performances for a bunch of years. My primary focus was artistry and in the last few years, the focus has become equal writing/artistry.

What were the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them?

As an artist, balancing my private life with the artist life has always proven to be difficult. The most difficult challenge as a songwriter is making sure NOT to chase the styles on the radio and remaining true to your own sound and yourself.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

Figure out as early as possible in life who you are and what you want out of your desires as an artist or whatever you choose to be and stay with your true calling. Do not allow anyone to dissuade you from your deep desires goals and dreams EVER! Don’t just take, make certain you help others along the way.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

Who are your biggest influences and people you admire and why?

Most influential would have to be my mother. She basically raised 3 boys on her own when my parents divorced. Her resolve to get through anything and to persevere was aw-inspiring. I guess that’s why I advocate the underdog so consistently, and will not give up on my own pursuit of success. Artists I admire are so many. Think of the ones that we’re told “no” over and over again and they just kept at it. They are the ones who inspire me to keep moving steadfastly toward success.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?

Every person we spend time with has a hand in our successes and our setbacks. There have been so many club owners, booking agents, musicians, lovers and haters that have shaped me as the person and artist I am. They’ve helped me hone in on the writing and emotion of being a writer or a better person. It would be difficult to mention one name without a dozen more. However, I am grateful for all of them. Each and every experience has led me to this moment, and speaking with “YOU,” will lead me to the next.

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

Success is a feeling on the journey, not a destination and we should all remind ourselves of that feeling every day. My greatest success in life was when I realized that everything I needed was already inside of me. Nothing anyone could say or do can change that. My appreciation of life and others, my confidence, my ability to be kind without seeking reward, my ability to accept failures as lessons to learn from and to accept when I’m wrong. My unwavering quest for more knowledge and advancement. We all possess the innate power to be successful and if we keep adjusting the harness or tuning our instruments, eventually we can all get there.