The voice remains the most dynamic instrument of all. Emotions echo through even its subtlest inflections and nuances. Atozzio wields his impressive range with the control of a master musician, manipulating the highs and lows with confidence and projecting just the right amount of Jacksonville grit. After penning music behind-the-scenes for everyone from Mario to Chris Brown,the Florida-born and Atlanta-based force of nature amplifies the full scope of his talents on his solo debut for MUSE GROUP.
โMy voice is the lead instrument,โ he affirms. โI conduct all of the harmonies and background vocals and leave space for it to breathe. You can vibe to the record without any other instruments. It comes down to the tone and how it sits in certain pockets. I also speak and sing differently, because Iโm from Jacksonville.โ
Mom shipped out to Iraq to serve in the U.S. military during Operation Desert Storm, and Atozzio initially absorbed music through his grandma who played gospel constantly. When his mother returned, she introduced him to R&B and the likes of Lenny Williams and Prince (โAdoreโ remains a personal favorite). He honed his talents in childrenโs choir at church and during elementary school plays. In high school, he joined various youth choirs. Through a serendipitous turn of events, he met the legendary Isaac Hayes.
โIsaac asked me what I wanted to be, and I said, โI want to be a singer, songwriter, and producer,โโ recalls Atozzio. โHe said, โIf you donโt believe you have the abilities to be everything you want to be, youโll never be it.โ That stuck with me for all of these years. I knew I just had to believe.โ
Through MySpace, he connected with producer and songwriter Christopher โDeepโ Henderson [Jamie Foxx, T-Pain]. Henderson recognized his talent and became a mentor, opening the door for Atozzioโs career as a songwriter and producer. He notably wrote โKryptoniteโ [feat. Rich Boy] for Marioโs Go, โOfficially Overโ for New Kids On The Blockโs Billboard Top 200 #2 comeback album The Block, and โSing Like Meโ for Chris Brownโs chart-topping gold-certified Graffiti. Plus, his discography expanded to include Jay Seanโs international banger โIโm All Yoursโ [feat. Pitbull], cracking the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching double-platinum status in Australia. He powered โLove Me Some Youโ and โK.I.S.S.โ for Mรฝa as well. Plus, he collaborated with Lady Gaga, Enrique Iglesias, and Brandy in the studio. Simultaneously, he cooked up a simmering style of his own as a solo artist, leaning into nineties R&B on early independent releases like โSituationship.โ
โWomen are still playing all of the great music from when I was a kid,โ he says. โWe all love that sound. Itโs missing right now, so Iโm trying to give you the vintage R&B you want that nobody else is willing to give. Iโm putting my own spin on it.โ
He does just that on the 2022 single โCure.โ His fiery falsetto resounds over a laidback bass line and airy cymbals. It builds towards a climactic chorus ignited by vocal fireworks.
โItโs real shit,โ he explains. โEvery time Iโve leveled up in life, it was because of the words of a woman. โCureโ is me being vulnerable. At the time, I was in a relationship where I was considering marriage. We were having a moment and an issue. I was addicted to her. This was the first woman I couldnโt let go of. She was the cause of my pain and the cure at the same time.โ
Signed to legendary music executive Vince Herbertโs MUSE GROUP now, Atozzioโs primed to connect worldwide, because heโs real.
โWhen you listen to this, I hope you relate,โ he leaves off. โThis is all honest. Iโm from the hood, but Iโm vulnerable, fly, and a grown man. I want men to be comfortable enough to be vulnerable. This is real energy, real feelings, and real music.โ