Emerging indie pop artist Marc Del Giudice is staying strong with creating a space in the music scene and continues to shed passion with beautiful, introspective songs. He is known for a unique sound that blends both soul-baring and sonically rich tunes that resonate on a deeper level for listeners. With notable songs like "Victim in the Dark," "Daylight Hours," and "No Pressure," Marc's dedication shines through with his capability to create music that hits us with heartfelt lyricism while also blending real-life storytelling so effortlessly. I recently had the chance to speak with Marc about his music journey, the inspiration behind his latest single, and what fans can expect next from the singer. Here's what he had to say.
MSM: When did your musical journey begin, and how has it shaped you into the artist you are today?
Marc: It started, I think, like everyone else. It starts when you're like a little kid. When you start to realize the way you respond to music is different compared to everyone else that listens, or I feel that a lot of people, when their kids hear music, but there are some kids that listen to music. It starts from an early age, and I gravitated towards it a lot, and then it just kind of grew. Then I had the desire to do it, like writing songs and start playing shows, and you just develop through that. Through your influences, through the way you approach it, the way you grow through it, and the way you just see the world.
MSM: How would you describe your sound, and would you say it has evolved since you started creating music?
Marc: I think your sound needs to evolve. It's like healthy growth for an artist. It changed when I was 19 and 20; you know, you start with 2 guitars, drums, and a bass. It's rock; you might want to call it punk rock or call it a certain genre. It's just more about the influences and the type of music you get into. The more you grow as an artist, the more your palette evolves when you listen to music. So you're listening to music differently, but it makes you feel the same way. If something really inspires you, that will seep into your craft. Yeah, you definitely need to grow and evolve. Not change, like, "Oh, we're doing this genre now." I mean, as you start to craft, you also learn more and get influenced and inspired by different things. So that's what causes the evolution and change in your writing, also the change in your perspective. If that's happening in a healthy way that propels you further, then you're doing it right.
MSM: Do you have a particular genre that you would consider your music to fall in? I know I saw you were under Indie Pop, but was curious from your own perspective.
Marc: Yeah, it's indie pop; it's definitely indie pop, but also I remember I got a write-up on my songs that came out, and one guy described it as indie soul pop. I was like, "I really like that!" I said, "Yeah, that really makes sense." So I've attached myself to that. I really like it, it's smooth. So I would say indie soul pop.
MSM: Are your songs mostly rooted in personal experiences, or do you find yourself writing from other perspectives too?
Marc: I think writing from different perspectives is actually from your personal experiences too. There are a lot of songs where the character is someone completely different; it's like a specific thing. If you're putting yourself in someone else's shoes and writing from their perspective, that can also come from your own personal experiences, too. Your subconscious writes in that theme. So, yeah, you're writing about someone else, but it's also coming from a place that you understand as well.
MSM: Can you tell us the story or inspiration behind your newest song "Victim in the Dark?"
Marc: What I like to do in my writing and songs is that I want the listener to relate in their way. I like when songwriters explain what the song was about to them. Like "Victim in the Dark," and well, most of these songs right now are like existential crises and feeling the weight of everything during these times. The thing with those songs and "Victim in the Dark" is they are not so specific; they are one-dimensional. So Victim in the Dark is that moment where you wake up in the middle of the night, like 3am or 4am, and the weight is heavier for some reason. I guess because it's quiet and there are no outside distractions, like no one's texting you or you have no one to talk to, I guess. The quietness is so loud that you feel the weight of everything, and it feels dangerous, and you don't feel safe. Then you go back to sleep, and you wake up later when the sun's out, and you're like, "Ok, I feel better, but what was that? I don't want to feel that again." So, yeah, "Victim in the Dark" is a song about being alone and sitting with that feeling. Allowing you to really feel it and also deal with it. Sitting with it and coming to terms with it.
MSM: Were there any lyrics or lines that came to you immediately, or did it take time to find the right words during the songwriting process?
Marc: It was a mix of both. Once I got the title and the main focus of the song, I kind of knew where to go. There were lines that came to me while I was just strumming; then you can build on those lines. Those lines that are like a lightning bolt just hit you, and then you just take that and expand it. When I started to write it down, I knew I had the hook and the center of it. Which is always nice, and you just expand on that. You write lyrics that honor and connect with that feeling, so yeah, it was a mix of both. I tell people that the writing process in every song is different, but it always feels the same when you finish it and that's what I really like.
MSM: What do you hope listeners take away from this song when they hear it for the first time?
Marc: I just want them to feel excited and inspired and understood. I feel like these past couple of years since Covid—I say B.C. (before Covid)—there is a lot of weight that you can feel with the temperature of everything these days. People in their 20s and 30s are feeling things differently and connecting to different things. I hear a lot of sad music out there, and everyone loves sad music, and everyone connects to that, but I came up from a time where I describe my music as dreamy and dynamic. So I want them to feel a little more energized and feel inspired and not just go through the mundane schedule of life. Also, just feeling inspired about something and wanting them to find something to feel good about, get out there and do whatever you have to do to make yourself better. I guess it's about personal growth, my music, and songs.
MSM: What can fans expect next? Do you have any upcoming projects, EPs, or live performances that you can share for fans?
Marc: It's an ongoing thing. You can always expect new music coming out. I'm always playing shows; I love playing shows. Besides finishing a song that I like, I think after that it's live shows for me; that's my favorite thing. So I'm always playing live. I have a show July 19 at Big and Tall Fest at The Williams Center, and I'm really excited about that. I have these pop-up shows in June, and I'm showing up for these short set lists, but that's like a full set. So, you can expect a bunch of shows coming up. It's July 19 in Rutherford, New Jersey. Yeah, I'm working on new songs and putting them out there. I'm also thinking of maybe doing a short live EP; like I said, the shows are a big part of it. It's just an ongoing thing that I really like doing.
MSM: What's something you've learned about yourself through making music and do you have a message you'd like to share with your fans?
Marc: Yeah, the thing is, besides learning things from my dad, my mom, and my family, I think that I've learned everything from music. You can call it a red flag or a green flag. I think it's both where I learned everything from them. I've learned how to talk to people and make friends. I've made the best friends in my life. Even the ones that I don't really talk to anymore that I've kind of lost contact with. I'm still grateful that it brings me perspective, and it's like a lifeline for me. I've learned everything from it. How to deal with what's going on out there. It keeps me inspired, and it makes me better. It's a thing that I really appreciate, so I always try to honor it and not do anything that's going to make it go away because it's so important and keeps me sharp. I think the biggest thing I've learned is growing through it. You grow as a person through it if you're doing it in a healthy way, and I started to learn that it's more about growth and not about goals.
