Interview-Ann Marie Pincivero

Ann Marie Pincivero: Using art to promote good vibrations

Written By Jillian Toman

Ann Marie Pincivero has an uncanny way of drawing you into her positive, light-hearted philosophies on life, in particular those gravitating towards the law of attraction. You see it in her writings, for which she has been widely acclaimed; you feel it in her music, like her latest 12-track album, Magnetic, full of original songs exuding inspiration and gratitude.

So it’s not hard to see how the Guelph-based singer/songwriter/guitarist is using the new album to make her mark on the international music scene – a considerable departure for a woman who once needed a mountain of courage to perform her own work in front of others.

“I was a painfully shy child,” she recalls. “It took so much of me to share my work or perform. But the need to write and paint was far greater. When I first started singing I felt really vulnerable, and it’s that kind of honesty that people respond to.”

Not that Pincivero was a stranger to an audience: a University of Toronto graduate in English, Drama and Arts, she had experience in both theatre and film. A born writer and singer whose poetry had been published in various circles, Pincivero’s love of music and writing finally intertwined when a friend taught her to play basic guitar chords a few years ago. She began putting chord progressions together, and the lyrics poured out.

“If you want to be successful, you have to put away your fears,” she says. “It’s all about having confidence in yourself, and I know that the person I am now is where the songs are coming from.”

With over 300 original works in her songbook to date, Pincivero accredits her earlier shyness to some much-needed reflection time. And reflection continues to be a theme in Pincivero’s work, as seen in Magnetic’s feature track, “Gratitude,” where she expresses thanks that her life path has led her to where she is today.

“I am so grateful for my travels around Europe and for the people I have met in my life,” she says.

Pincivero’s other musical achievements include an 11-hour performance during a November 2006 musical concert which, at 201 hours long, broke the Guinness world record for the longest concert of continuous original music.

She has also appeared at the River Run Centre numerous times, as well as at other local venues. She is particularly grateful for her band, which features Kevin Brown on guitar, keyboards and accordion, Kent Macmillan on guitar, Peter Turpin on bass, Dylan Dawson on drums and Amber Mclean on backing vocals.

Magnetic was recorded at Erinwood Studios and produced by Kevin Brown. While the songs began as acoustic pieces, skilful sound engineer and multi-talented musician Brown transformed them into pop songs in the studio with his brilliant instrumentation and mixing. Defined as a pop-indie CD, Magnetic is an eclectic collection of 12 songs with diverse influences ranging from rock to folk to hip hop.

“It is something that everyone can relate to my music because of it’s uplifting and relatable nature,” says Pincivero adding that her songs focus on love themes void of heartbreak and disappointment and convey a quite opposite message.

“I’m working on breaking the myth of despair that seems to inspire great artistry,” she says. “I think we need more love-filled songs and the joy of going after your dreams.”

Pincivero is utilizing the Guelph arts community to reach people internationally, with regular performances at the Keith Thompson Songwriter’s Cafe, and numerous feature performances at Manhattan’s Music Club singing her original songs and playing the guitar.

With a background in Marketing Pincivero is aware of the importance of getting your name out there through especially through the internet by establishing a world-wide fan base. She also knows these accomplishments are about more than thankfulness. They’re the keys to her survival as an artist, something she remains keenly aware of as her career continues to blossom.

“I’m too practical of a person to starve,” she says. “Eventually I would love to paint all day and write and perform my own music, but for the time being that simply isn’t possible.”

Check out Ann Marie Pincivero’s My Space Page at myspace.com/annmariepincivero.