Interview with Stephen Melillo from the United States

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Stephen Melillo

Stephen Melillo, a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, won "Best Cinematic Soundtrack" at the New Age Radio Music Awards and the LIT Songwriting-Audio-Music-Book Narration & Score Award. His career boasts numerous international awards and over 1,360 compositions, including four symphonies and 45 hours of music for Ensembles of the 3rd Millennium™.

1Please provide us with a brief bio of yourself and your background.

In 2024, I, Stephen Melillo, received a third Pulitzer Prize in Music nomination for "Holodomor," won "Best Cinematic Soundtrack" at the New Age Radio Music Awards, and earned the LIT Songwriting-Audio-Music-Book Narration & Score Award for "Excerpts from the Ahab & Death to Moby Dick Love Stories."

My career is distinguished by numerous international music awards and a vast portfolio of over 1,360 compositions, including four symphonies, several concerti, and more than 45 hours of music for Ensembles of the 3rd Millennium™. My Symphony IIII: Lightfall was nominated for prestigious music awards, showcasing my dedication to the craft.

In 2009, I won an award for my 2005 Visualized Concert, Kakehashi: That We Might Live, which was also nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music. In 2019, I received accolades for my work on the feature film One Little Finger, produced by Rupam Sarmah, and for my contributions to Reckoning of Darkness, produced by Christopher Kulikowski. My 15 feature film scores include the Academy Award-nominated.

Through STORMWORKS, my self-publishing entity, I have achieved widespread recognition with thousands of worldwide renderings purely through word-of-mouth. I have 53 albums and nine books available on various streaming services, along with novels such as Only for Now, Nogard & Dragon, Ahab, a Love Story, and its sequel, Death to Moby Dick, a Love Story. Additionally, I serve as an Honorary Board Member of the Kampot Cultural Development Institute of Cambodia (KCDI).

2Congratulations! As the winner of the LIT Music Awards, what does receiving recognition at this level mean to you and your career trajectory?
Recognition is always a form of "vindication". It means that your work is not only noticed but appreciated on a worldwide level by peers and experts.
3What do you believe distinguishes your music or your work as a musician?
My work is pervasive, everything from early games to symphonies. It serves one purpose: to inspire all who listen and play it to realize that we are all Brothers and Sisters in the same Storm, and the same return to Light.
4Who are some of your biggest influences, and how have they shaped your talents?
Bach, Mozart, Mahler, Korngold, Jerry Goldsmith, Duke Ellington... to name only a very small few. They taught me to "hear" the world that I see.
5Can you share any memorable experiences that have shaped your career?

There are way too many! Sharing just one, I discovered Gustav Mahler’s Music at age 16.  I sat in a car by the water's edge and listened to one 20-minute excerpt from the 10th Symphony 100 times in succession.  Each time, the Music was “new,” the plunge into the Soul, deeper.

In 2005, 30 years later and en route to Japan to record the Chapter 5:8 World History-making CD Set, “Writings on the Wall,” I did the calculation and yes, I had listened to Mahler for 33.333 uninterrupted hours.  It was a chilling moment to discover that fact a Lifetime later while on a plane over the Pacific.

6What message or emotion do you hope listeners interpret from your music?
That we are all Brothers & Sisters on a Great Adventure.
7How do you feel your work contributes to the current music landscape?
In a world where music often serves as a soundtrack to our lives, I aim to create masterpieces that not only entertain but also provoke thought and evoke genuine emotion. My music bridges diverse genres and influences, pushing boundaries, inspire, and empower.
8What do you consider to be the most significant accomplishment in your music industry career so far?
When at the premiere of Kakehashi: That We Might Live, at the annual gathering of ex-POWs from WWII in the Pacific, many of the Veterans stood, with tears in their eyes, from their Wheelchairs, to offer an applause of the Heart.
9In what ways do you think the music industry has changed in recent years, and how have you adapted to those changes?
CDs are a thing of the past, and I’m not sure I’ve fully adapted. While I’ve always been at the forefront of technological advancements, even pioneering innovations in Music Education, the way people are changing due to technology feels increasingly isolating.
10How do you strive to push boundaries with your music?
The use of new instruments, new processes, new delivery methods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQJ-irP5IAY
11How do you handle criticism or negative feedback, and how does it influence your artistic growth?
It depends on who is offering the criticism and their intention.
12Can you tell us about any collaborations or notable partnerships that have influenced your winning work?
My latest work is entirely my own creation, originating from the novels I wrote. These novels were then transformed into audiobooks, which I subsequently scored with music and dramatic elements.
13How do you stay connected with your audience and fans?
I used to connect with my audience through magazines, but now I focus on Facebook and LinkedIn. LinkedIn generates more impressions for me, though I'm still navigating Facebook's algorithms.
14Can you discuss about any upcoming projects?
I will be scoring a film and writing my 5th Symphony.
15In what ways do you think the music industry can better support emerging artists and foster diversity and inclusivity?
I think that the current artists of today are doing a fantastic job!
16What advice would you give to those who are in the same industry and/or are interested in your work?
If you can't live without pursuing it, go for it—but be prepared for more downs than ups.
17Are there any other media platforms you would like to share to allow the audience to reach you?
18Will you invite and advise more musicians to participate in the LIT Music Awards? If yes, how do you think this will impact their career in the long run?
Yes! It's truly been an honor to be part of LIT's illustrious winners and I dearly hope recognition will provide vindication and the motivation to keep moving forward.

Winning Entry

"Hatënotha’, an Epitaph of Love and the American Indian” | 2024

LMA-hatenotha

Stephen Melillo

Stephen Melillo, a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, won "Best Cinematic Soundtrack" at the New Age Radio Music Awards and the LIT Songwriting-Audio-Music-Book Narration & Score Award. His career boasts numerous international awards and over 1,360 compositions, including four symphonies and 45 hours of music for Ensembles of the 3rd Millennium™.


Read more about this interview with Emma Constance from the United States, the Platinum Winner of the 2024 LIT Music Awards.

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