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Scibilia excelling at music, life by Joshua Maloni
Marc Scibilia just wanted a sandwich. Little did the singer and accomplished piano player know that his desire for some lunch meat and a couple of slices of whole wheat would send him around the world. Earlier this year, the Grand Island native and current Tennessee resident was out driving when he became hungry. Within minutes, however, more than his stomach was speaking to him. Scibilia felt something inside direct him to stop into Panera Bread. At the same time, Grant Norsworthy, bassist for the band Sonic Flood, was sitting in that very eatery praying to God for a keyboardist to accompany his group overseas. About two weeks later, Sonic Flood was performing across Asia and in Hawaii with Scibilia on piano. “The moment I parked my car, I just had a strange feeling that something cool was going to happen,” Scibilia says. On tour, he was also able to play some of his own songs, which is a rarity. These days, the singer/songwriter’s music career is filled with long hours and some divine intervention. Whereas many performers have a team of producers, mixers and promoters, Scibilia is mainly a one-man show, relying on his ability and faith to lead him toward bigger opportunities. “I forget to eat a lot,” he says, joking. Working most days from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., he says, “It’s constant creative work – but I love it.” At the forefront of his efforts is the creation of a new album. A blend of Christian lyrics and old school piano pop-rock, songs are in their final stages. A pre-sale will start in May with a June target release. “It kept true to what it is we’re trying to say,” Scibilia, 20, says. Acknowledging he drew inspiration from Bob Dylan and Billy Joel, he says the material “has a real progressive feel to it. “I’d like to think (I) pulled from some pretty great musical influences.” Scibilia’s album is in keeping with the style of Christian music emanating from both Nashville and Buffalo. It’s highly accessible, original and the type of music that teen-agers and college students wouldn’t be embarrassed to listen to. “It’s just an extension of who I am and what I like to talk about,” Scibilia says. “I’m living a life that is connected to something bigger than I am, which is really cool.” “I want people to listen to it because it will move them,” he says. A former winner of Kiss 98.5-FM’s “Buffalo Idol” contest, Scibilia’s a more-than-capable singer. Moreover, his piano playing has been highly lauded by local entertainment critics and venue operators. Yet, the artist’s goal is to reach audiences with a message – not just music. “God’s done so many amazing things in my life,” Scibilia says. “My day-to-day has become pretty exciting.” He says his songs are about what makes him tick. “Some people sing about addictions. Some people sing about relationships. Some people sing about sex. Whatever it is, it’s what makes us tick. “I sing about Jesus because he’s taken my life from one place to another. I’ve seen so many amazing things. I just want people to grab hold of that.” Buffalo music producer, manager and overall guru Richard Sargent was a judge the year Scibilia won the Kiss contest. He says the performer has made great strides. “Since then, I have had the pleasure of seeing many shows, and with each he has displayed progress with both the stage performance and with his writing,” Sargent says. “Marc is an excellent writer, performer and, more importantly, an outstanding human being. I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing more from Marc on the national and international music scene.” For more information, or to order Marc’s new album, visit www.myspace.com/marcscibilia or www.marcsmusic.com.
This summer, more than a dozen local musicians will be featured in the “Let There Be Light” festival in Westfield, N.Y. The show will be headlined by national, best-selling artists NewSong, Avalon and Jeff Deyo. Among the local performers, •Marc Scibilia of Grand Island – Marc will perform both Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15. His new album will be released this summer. •Stacy Clark of Grand Island – Stacy will also perform both days. She recently performed as part of the “Music is Art” concert series at the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts. Her next album is scheduled to drop later this year. www.myspace.com/ilovestacyclark or www.stacyclark.net •Tina Marie Williams of West Seneca – Tina will perform on Saturday with Kenmore’s One Foot In Heaven. She hosts a CD release party tonight at The Tralf in Buffalo. Additionally, she will be a part of this summer’s Kingdom Bound Music Festival at Darien Lake. www.tinamariewilliams.com •Relevant Worship of all over (11 members!) – Relevant performs on Saturday. The band will also perform at Kingdom Bound, and will open for Rebecca St. James at Artpark on June 15. www.myspace.com/relevant
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