A Story worth Singing About Micheal Castaldo By Natasha Barbieri Micheal Castaldo is not just your their father soon after he was settled. average classical crossover tenor. Despite being a long way from his When we spoke I was struck by his native country Micheal grew up very knowledge of music, culture and his much saturated in the Italian culture. own ancestry. He is someone committed to embracing his entire “Toronto is the sixth largest Italian history and sharing his story in a very speaking city in the world,” he says. authentic way. “I was born in the “There are four ‘little Italy’s’… I was region of Calabria Italy, which is the constantly surrounded by Italian tip of the toe of the Italian peninsula,” neighbors and the Italian radio he says at the beginning of our station was on all the time. There was interview. He describes it as the final TV, tons of publications, festivals and frontier of Italian tourism. “It’s a street fairs.” He remembers speaking poor region so many of the Italian at home and maintaining a Calabrians ended up immigrating to close relationship with his family look for work and a better life. Many back in Italy. “My mother tongue was moved either to northern Italy, still a big part of me based on my northern Europe, Canada, the USA or environment and upbringing.” Australia.” He describes his father as Micheal feels that Canada was the ‘nomad’ of the family, a man who especially embracing of multi-cultural risked the unknown to settle in backgrounds which encouraged him Toronto, Canada and begin a new not only to remain true to his roots life. Micheal and his mother joined but to also consider himself a “proud my music teacher had suggested that Canadian.” Berklee would be a good school for me.” He researched it and found that Music was always a part of Micheal’s although Berklee is traditionally life. “Italians and music go hand in known as a jazz school, they were hand.” He proudly shares some of the expanding their programs and contributions of Italians to the music opening their doors to a variety of world. “The piano was invented in different musicians. For Micheal, it Italy, music notation was invented in was a chance he had to take. Italy, the best violins (Stradivarius) are made in Italy, Opera was invented “When the time came for me to study in Italy and some of the finest for the audition at Berklee, rather composers and conductors, musicians than doing just a few jazz standards I and singers, hail from Italy. So it is a decided to audition with a liturgical big part of the Italian lifestyle. The song I used to sing in church all the first pop music was the ‘Neapolitan’ time.” The piece was ‘Panis song… The influence that Neapolitan Angelicus’ by Cesar Franck. Micheal music has had on contemporary pop knew it would make him stand out music is incredible.” It had a special from the crowd. “I wanted to try influence on Micheal as well. “It was something different for the audition. played in our home all the time and They’d either hate me or love me.” music was constantly surrounding They ended up loving it and he me.” received a scholarship to study at Berklee. Micheal’s musical career began in a very traditional way. “I got my start After graduating, Micheal did his singing in a church choir. The priest research before choosing a place to had singled me out to sing a solo. settle down. “I went to check out all The praise and accolades I got the centers of entertainment and afterward were wonderful.” The music in New York and Nashville, and experience had a profound influence settled on New York.” He’s been there on the course of Micheal’s life. As he ever since. grew older he began playing guitar and singing popular songs. “At that It seems fitting that Micheal, who age, it’s all about getting the girl,” he sang a liturgical piece to audition for a says. After this, he began expanding famous jazz school, would end up his knowledge with piano, trumpet finding his way into the classical and percussion instruction. Micheal crossover genre. He looks up to studied in Canada until his college Andrea Bocelli as the “pioneer of years. “The last year of high school classical crossover as we know it” and also credits Mario Lanza and And if you succeed you succeed Elvis Presley for their role in bringing based completely on yourself and the genre to life. “The major your team, and if you fail it’s also American rock n roll pop singer goes based completely on yourself and to Germany, hears Italian songs and your team.” A daunting thought for records the English version of ‘O many artists but one that resonated Sole Mio’ (known as ‘Now or Never’) well with his personality. “It’s always and ‘Torna A Surriento’ (Surrender) been my spirit to be completely and he makes Italian music popular.” independent and call the shots. He also brings up Roy Orbison, Whether I am successful or not, the another rock n roll singer of the buck stops with me - doing as I 1950’s-60’s, for his “vibrato and wished.” Micheal will be the first to operatic styling in his singing style.” admit that he pursued label interest. For him, a defining moment in the “Absolutely, every musician does,” he genre was the release of ‘Con Te says honestly. “But sometimes it Partiro.’ “It’s a song that you feel might be your music, your story or you’ve heard before - it has that that particular time of what’s going vintage sound. People finally realized on in the world that labels don’t see it was a new song. It was a moderate you as something they want to invest hit but became a huge hit when in… so if that doesn’t happen and you recorded with Sarah Brightman.” really love what you do, and you have Again Micheal’s background played a a story to tell, then you have to do it major role in becoming the singer he on your own.” is today. “Unofficially, Italian is the language of classical crossover... Micheal credits his career to his When the time came for me to figure family. “The success I have is out my next move, based on my because I come from a business training and the language, it was family. Being organized and knowing pretty obvious I should pursue how to create a service or a product, recording and writing in the classical how to present it and sell it and crossover genre.” Six albums and hopefully create a revenue stream to several singles later, Micheal’s sustain yourself, kind of comes instincts have clearly proven correct. naturally to me.” He admits of course that since his family was not from a Micheal has built a loyal following music business background he has and made a career for himself without made his share of mistakes. But the the help of a record label. What are important thing is that he kept going. the advantages to indie artist status? “I never gave up. I had to live and “The short answer is that as an indie learn as I was making my way.” artist you are in complete control. While he believes in the importance of honing musical skills, he claims you cut through the noise? How do that “Most of the education happens you cut through the professionals and after you graduate and go into the those on the other side who are just real world and figure out if your skills emerging? How do you cut through are marketable or not. As an artist all that and find your audience? I’m you learn if you have a point of view, constantly learning that all the time.” a story to tell, and if that story is If there’s one thing Micheal knows, engaging, is it compelling enough to it’s how to learn from his mistakes get people to come and listen to you and keep moving forward. As the perform.” music business continues to change he is ready to evolve with it. That For Micheal, finding his story has includes switching his focus from been a journey. “I was constantly full-length albums to digitally exploring, trying to define what my released singles. He is realistic about story was. It wasn’t ‘Ok, this is my the buyer’s reluctance to purchase an story,’ it was a constant progression entire album. His plan involves of going deeper, and accepting and releasing a single every 4-8 weeks, embracing my roots and being true “to keep my story alive, stay and being honest to that.” He doesn’t productive, engage my audience and feel like he’s ‘arrived’ either. “I’m fans, and give them something new to always developing and making look forward to. That’s our goal for progress on how to tell my story 2015. On July 17th we will release a through my music. I have to say that High-Resolution Audio of our #1 because of social media I’m having Amazon charting single, “PRAY'R.” success because my story and music currently resonate with many fans Micheal’s latest release on May 5th more than ever before. So, it’s was “Everything Happens for a encouraging that I’m on the right Reason / Una Ragione.” His plan is to track, that my story is compelling, and release a limited edition album once that people are willing to part with his 10th single is released.