Steve Maggiora is an Orange County musician, producer, and engineer known for his work on keys and vocals in the band Robert Jon & The Wreck, as well as his self-titled solo project. Steve is also a renowned session musician who works closely with multi-platinum record producer Warren Huart, Grammy-winning engineer Phil Allen, The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts, and more.
How did you get your start in music?
SM: My dad plays in a band in Northern California, and I grew up going to his gigs. I’ve always looked up to him musically, and admired the camaraderie of he and his band mates, as well as his musical talent and showmanship. I started taking piano lessons at age five from my great aunt and then formal piano lessons at age eight. I took violin in fourth grade (which didn’t last long) and trumpet in fifth, which I continued with into high school. As a kid, my piano teacher had me create a monthly composition. So from early on I felt much more passionate about creating than practicing.
In high school I played second keys with my church’s worship band, which meant I was in charge of coming up with string lines, horn lines, and organ patches on the spot… It was my job to fill in the holes, so to speak. The directors of the church’s high school choir would write an original musical every three to four years and then take the group on tour, which was really cool. We went up the coast to Canada and did the Southwest circuit, performing in churches and community centers. We even toured the UK. The choir director would make backing tracks for the shows, and play live piano to accompany the shows. He really inspired me, and that’s where I fell in love with music production as a whole. In college I met The Young Americans performing group. They hired me to produce some tracks for their annual Christmas show, and I went on to do music for over seventy shows with them over the next six years.
I didn’t really start performing as a solo musician or playing in bands until about 2010. My experience was mostly working with artists, recording friends, and doing music production work.
What are the main differences between gigging and studio/session work?
SM: With live music, there’s always an air of “this can all fall apart at any second” which is really exciting. Playing in a band never gets old, but playing the same songs over and over again for the same people can sometimes lead you out into left field musically, so to speak. That’s why going on tour is so great; you have to figure out what works, mostly on the spot, gauging from an audience’s reactions. The songs always end up in a slightly different place after you’ve played them a hundred times, and growth is a good thing! We’ve come a long way over the years with Robert Jon & The Wreck, and we’re able to push each other musically, which I really love. In the beginning we didn’t improvise as much in our live shows, but nowadays we really take our time to let the songs breathe and just kind of see where it goes. It’s been a really cool art to hone.
With session work, and music production in general, you’re hopefully doing something new everyday. As a result, you’re able to look at each project much more objectively, and once its done, it’s done. Sometimes I’ll be given charts and sheet music, or I’ll be asked to play a specific part with lots of preparation… but a lot of the time, especially when I’m working remotely, I’ll just get a rough or in-progress mp3 file and very little direction. It’s a blank canvas, which is fun and challenging at the same time. Sometimes I’ll just be given a vocal track, or sometimes no vocal, and sometimes I don’t even hear a spot for keys on the track at all, so I’ll just add a pad or something light. The process forces you to really listen and try to understand each song. You’ve got to add your part, quickly, without getting in the way or overstepping your bounds. It’s always different, and you never know what you’re going to get, which I enjoy.
What are your thoughts on the local Orange County music scene?
SM: There are a lot of great bands and great venues out there… I just wish there were more venues that targeted up-and-comers and gave them a reliable platform. I think the OC Music Awards were awesome for the scene. Right after the holidays, while everyone was still broke from buying gifts or partying on New Years, they would have their showcase series every Tuesday at a different local venue. It was always a free show that brought a lot of people together, and it also brought a lot of bands together that otherwise might not have met or had a reason to play together. I know it was really great for Robert Jon & The Wreck when we were starting out. Without the showcase series, we probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play shows with so many bands from multiple genres all on the same night. The sounds were different but the energy was the same, and it was great to be part of something more. It definitely felt like a community.
There’s been a weird lull in the last few years, from what I’ve seen, both venue-wise and band-wise, but the scene is making a comeback. A few venues are really making a positive impact on the local scene, showcasing local bands and providing a hub for good music. As far as bands go, everybody’s got lives to live, and music isn’t an easy way to make a living. I’ve seen a lot of bands break up that the Wreck has played with and shared a fan base with over the years. All sorts of things happen in people’s personal lives. People get older; they have kids and new responsibilities. All those things are legitimately more important than gigging for twenty bucks every night.
While it sucks to see some great bands taking their bow, it’s great to see new bands and fresh faces popping up, filling their shoes, and kicking ass doing so.
What advice do you have for new bands starting out?
SM: In the end, you’ve got to keep writing and keep playing. It doesn’t matter what bands you were in before, or how many projects you’ve been part of. When you start a new project, you start all over again at the beginning. I realized this personally from doing my own solo music; I’m not going to draw people necessarily. I can play with Robert Jon & The Wreck to a packed house, and the night is phenomenal because we’ve been around for six years and people know us. But even though I’m a founding member of The Wreck, my solo project is so new that nobody knows about it yet. If someone wants to see me play, they’ll come to a Wreck show because they know what they’re going to get, and it’s established. That’s just the way it is – you have to pay your dues.
Also, merch is really important. If people are buying your music and T-shirts and taking it home with them, you’re doing something right. Now your CD is in their car, and your shirt is on their back. People share what they like with others. That goes way further than getting your preferred guarantee in the long run.
Just don’t give up. You’ve got to keep playing, record your music, and put it out. Tour on it, play shows, don’t overthink it, and keep going. The more you play and the more you solidify your style, the more success will come.
Follow Steve Maggiora @SteveTheWreck or http://stevemaggiora.bandcamp.com and Robert Jon & The Wreck @RobertJonAndTheWreck
