When I first moved to New York City in 2015 to make my fortune as a singer-songwriter, Anthony D’Amato was already crushing it. Fresh off his New West Records debut The Shipwreck From the Shore, Anthony’s career was taking off in a way many young artists dream of. He was kind enough to meet me for coffee, and Jersey kid to Jersey kid, gave me some invaluable advice on how to turn your dream into your job. I never forgot the generosity of that moment and it was such a joy to bookend that conversation seven years later with an in-depth interview with Anthony here on Basic Folk.
LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • STITCHER • AMAZON • MP3
Anthony’s new album, At First There Was Nothing, is his first in six years, and showcases much of what makes him special as an artist — neat wordplay, a visual language of the American West bolstered by his skills as a photographer, and some signature production touches that have been consistent across all of his albums. Don’t worry, I was sure to investigate those. The album was produced by indie folk star Joshua James.
Listen all the way through to the end if you want to hear me get into a fight on-air with my friend Anthony. There would be no folk music without bloodshed.
Photo Credit: Vivian Wang
