Singer-songwriter Anthony Presti grew up in Seattle during a thriving grunge scene. In his teens, he moved to Northern California where a punk scene was on the rise. He played in a hardcore band for over ten years and after several tours and albums they broke up. Anthony Presti found himself alone with the old acoustic guitar his aunt gifted him when he first learned to play. He moved to San Francisco and a solo career started to blossom.
Anthony Presti’s vagabond life is evident in his music. He flirts with multiple genres tied together by thoughtful lyrics and catchy hooks and draws inspiration from the places he’s lived and traveled and the people who raised him. From times he spent in Seattle watching grunge music videos on MTV in a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers shirt, to mosh pits at punk rock shows in small clubs of Sonoma County, to the memories of listening to Johnny Cash with his grandfather and cruising around in his aunt’s VW Van listening to the Grateful Dead and Guns N’ Roses; his musical sound naturally has a wide range of influence.
Anthony Presti has incorporated a live looping style blending acoustic guitar with electric guitar and bass, developing into a captivating one man band. He’s opened for GRAMMY-nominated singer Gretchen Peters and national acts like The Deer and Little Tybee. He’s played several west coast tours and headlined Santa Rosa’s Live at Julliard Park Festival Series. He’s also released three studio albums including, Different Places, recorded at San Francisco’s legendary Hyde Street Studios. His last release was a self-produced EP titled La Honda, a tribute to his family cabins in the Santa Cruz mountains.
With Lemon Moon EP out now, we took some time to hear from Anthony Presti. Read below to learn more about Anthony Presti, the story behind Lemon Moon EP, and what’s to come.
Hi Anthony Presti! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
I went back and forth between having an alias or going with my name, and I went with the latter. I have a side project under the name, Indelible Sphynx, that’s more experimental, electronic music which you can find on SoundCloud. I got that name from a professor that I had in college. I’m still not sure if he called me that as a compliment or a diss, but it always intrigued me.
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I was born in the Bay Area and moved to Seattle when I was pretty young. My parents split up and I bounced around a lot, living a sort of vagabond life as a kid. It was a strange juxtaposition – living in small apartments with my dad and big houses with my mom. I have the perspective of two very different classes – lower and upper. I’m grateful for it, and it’s definitely defined who I am. I’m not afraid of struggle and appreciate everything that I work for.
After a brief stint in Arizona, I moved to northern California and spent my teens and early twenties up there. I did some backpacking around Europe and realized I needed more culture in my life, so I moved to San Francisco about thirteen years ago.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I always loved music from a young age. My sister and I would have dance parties to Janet and Michael Jackson (Janet was my first concert). My uncle’s played guitar and I’d go to their band practices, messing around on drums or anything they’d let me play. As I got older, I started getting into grunge and hard rock but still held on to the folk and blues sentiments. I was given a hand-me-down acoustic guitar but it hurt my fingers, so around age thirteen I got my first electric guitar. I later joined a band, covering Nirvana and other ’90s bands. When we broke up I got back into playing acoustic guitar and slowly evolved into a singer-songwriter.
How would you describe your sound?
Because of all my different influences as a child, my sound is a sort of melting pot of everything. I try not to stick with one genre because I don’t just listen to one style of music. My structures are heavily influenced by grunge, with very rhythmic arrangements, but I have a lot of pop sentiments in my chorus’s. I also have some country/folk songs. On the Lemon Moon EP, I dabbled with midi, creating my own drums and bass lines.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I work as a bartender/bar manager. That’s a profession where I’m always evolving my craft. Having a pallet and understanding of creating cocktails is fun and challenging. It’s a lot like music, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and releasing a product that you hope people like. I also a sports junky, baseball being my favorite. I love going to games, especially here in San Francisco. And, I got to a ton of concerts.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
My influences are all over the place. Currently, I’m really into Little Stranger and that sort of indie rock-hip hop scene. I love roots reggae, Streel Pulse and Third World, along with the new age explosion of reggae with bands like Sublime and Slightly Stoopid paving the way. I’d be remised if I didn’t mention Nirvana or Soundgarden. I also love singer-songwriters like Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson and listen to a ton of jazz, although I don’t play it. I was also exposed to a lot of Southern Rock through one of my mom’s boyfriends who was from Tennessee, hence the country tunes. Bands like Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule made an impact on me.
I’ve always been fascinated by where/when albums were created, like the haunted mansion in L.A. that the Chili Peppers recorded Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic, or the beach pad where Incubus recorded Morning View. Usually when I record, the environment becomes part of the album. Clarity in Hindsight was recorded on a farm in Cotati at Prairie Sun Studios, Existentialism at John Vander Slice’s all analogue Tiny Telephone Studios, Different Places in the Tenderloin of SF at Hyde Street Studios and La Honda at my family cabins in Santa Cruz. Location is a huge part of my life. I’ve traveled all around the world and believe I’ve adopted parts of my personality from that. I’d love to eventually record in San Diego and Portland, Oregon.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I really just feel blessed that I’ve carved out a role in my life to play music in a somewhat successful fashion. Pursuing music as a career is extremely difficult. When I was in a rock band, we opened for Alien Ant Farm and Dredge at the height of their careers. I’ve played sold out shows and a couple festivals but my proudest moments are always when someone comes up to me and says my music touches them. That’s why we create music, to connect with an audience. And at this stage of my career, I really love recording and producing music. My latest single, “Simple Things,” with Blue Radio was one of the most fun and rewarding experiences that I’ve had in the studio. I’m really proud of that song.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
Resilience. The music industry can chew you up and spit you out, especially now with the exposure of so many artists. The industry is oversaturated, which is a blessing and a curse. And with social media, anyone can express their opinion. I’ve learned that you won’t please everyone and that really it comes down to self-satisfaction and to always keep evolving.
Now onto your release, Lemon Moon EP. What inspired this EP?
I self-recorded most of it at a cottage in Sebastopol called Lemon Moon. That inspired the name. I had written the songs over the last few years and it was really fun to see them evolve.
What is the overall theme of Lemon Moon EP?
I’m not sure there’s a theme, but it was cool to see my techniques of recording drum beats and creating bass lines through midi solidify. I experimented a bit on my La Honda EP, but was much more confident this time around. I still have a lot to learn and I’m excited to continue on this route.
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for Lemon Moon EP?
I worked with Frisk Creative again, who did the cover art for La Honda and Clarity in Hindsight. Erik always does an amazing job. I knew that I wanted a wolf howling at a lemon shaped moon. The cottage I recorded at was very rural, and I think I may have heard a pack of wolves howling one night I was there.
What was the creative process like when making Lemon Moon EP?
So fun. I set up shop at the Lemon Moon cottage and recorded over three days. I had some structure for some songs but everything was very organic. “Never Gonna Be Famous” was the first song that I recorded and it’s one of my favorites. It really captures the excitement and energy of the recording process. “Ghosts Inside My Head” was very raw. I recorded with two mics in a room. I later added electric guitars while the OutsideLands Festival was happening right outside my house. I had a bit of fomo, and it inspired me to pick up a guitar and see what I could add to the track. Most everything was done first take. I also worked with a slew of amazing engineers. Ryan Hayes, out of Austin, Texas, mixed both of those songs. I recorded “Simple Things,” at White Whale Recording in Santa Rosa and had it mixed by Jay Pellicci in Oakland. Then, I had “When You’re Down,” mixed by Stuart Markham, the engineer at White Whale. That song started with acoustic guitar and vocals and really evolved into one of my favorite tracks, with Jocelyn Levy adding vocals and Dan Dectis on the keys/sax. I also worked with Aubrey Whitfield, a London based engineer, on “Her Eyes,” who gave it a really cool pop vibe.
How long did it take to complete Lemon Moon EP?
The production took about a year because I worked with so many people. It’s almost like a compilation for me but was really fun picking the right person for each track.
Is there a specific song on Lemon Moon EP that speaks to you the most? If so, why?
I really love them all for different reasons. “Simple Things,” I wrote during the pandemic and after playing so many version of it, I really think this is the best. I love the lyrics for “Never Gonna Be Famous,” and “Ghosts Inside My Head” is a really vulnerable song for me.
What message or messages do you hope fans take away from Lemon Moon EP and your music in general?
I hope they can appreciate the multi-genre approach. Most of my fans are fans for that reason, but I really think there’s a nice flow to this EP. It starts with an upbeat folk tune and explores a wide spectrum of genres until ending with a rock song.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I have some really great gigs lined up this spring/summer in support of the EP. I’m really excited to get it out into the world. I have some loose ideas for new songs, but this last EP proved that I can take my time and still get things done, so I’m not in any hurry to start production on new songs or another album.
Where can we follow you on social media?
IG: @anthonyprestimusic
FB: @aprestimusic
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
