The Art of Independence: Marc Scibilia on Music, Business, and Staying True

Marc Scibilia kicks off the US leg of his World Tour this week in Austin, marking another milestone in a career defined by resilience, authenticity, and a deep connection to life’s most profound moments. From his early days breaking into the industry with his song “How Bad We Need Each Other” to his viral success with “More to This”, Marc Scibilia has consistently created music that resonates on a personal and universal level. His distinctive sound—a blend of folk, country, and anthemic pop—has earned him sync placements in major commercials, chart-topping singles, and collaborations with some of the industry’s biggest names. Yet, despite the accolades, his artistic path has been shaped not by chasing trends but by a commitment to staying true to himself.

In this interview, Marc reflects on the defining moments of his career, the struggles and triumphs of being an independent artist, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. From navigating the financial challenges of the music industry to the importance of creative collaboration, he shares his hard-won insights with honesty and humor. As he embarks on his first world headline tour, he remains focused on what truly matters: creating music that speaks to the human experience and fostering genuine connections with his audience.

LEG: In many of your Instagram posts you’re seen playing multiple instruments at once. What was the first instrument you learned how to play and how did you learn to play so many different instruments simultaneously?

I learned to play piano and drums when I was 4 years old. I didn't really play guitar till I was 22 but I fell in love with it because you could take it anywhere. The live looping thing developed over covid because I couldn’t have people in the studio but I wanted to have a way to create quickly. I posted a video that went crazy viral then it kinda became my “thing”.

LEG: Your journey as an independent artist has been unique—what key moments or decisions shaped your career the most?

Once I decided I wasn’t looking for outside affirmation from the music business and I was just going to do my thing and let people find me who were interested, everything changed. It took about a year of this mindset, and it was a lonely one, but that’s when things really started to move (that was of course after 18 years of doing it traditionally and beating my head against a wall) .

LEG: You’ve had your music featured in major commercials and films—how did those opportunities come about, and what advice do you have for artists trying to get sync placements?

I used to get briefs from shows and commercials asking for songs that sound like, x, y, z and I would write to accommodate and I had some success doing that. Now I don’t really do that. I just make my songs as good as they can be and it can take a bit longer but I'm noticing I'm getting calls from directors directly and people who are really making the commercials or the movies or whatever. I would say just do your thing as good as you can and let people come to you.

LEG: What has been the biggest challenge in navigating the music industry as an independent artist, and how did you overcome it?

It's massively expensive to do what I'm doing. You spend every dollar you make to continue to get the music out there. You have to wait a long time for the upside but I'm getting more comfortable with it.

LEG: You’ve collaborated with some incredible musicians—how do you approach collaboration, and what makes a great creative partnership?

When I'm collaborating with another artist I am trying to listen more than anything else. I'm not trying to assert my talents or skills because I don't know what ones need to be asserted. So it’s really a listening game and then once you see the opening, you see what they might need some help in, then I pour in everything I got.

LEG: Streaming and social media have changed how artists connect with their audience—what strategies have worked best for you in building a loyal fanbase?

I try to respond to everyone who writes to me on socials. I’m sure I miss messages from time to time but I do my best. It doesn’t take long but it means a lot to people when you hear their stories and honestly it means a lot to me to hear the stories too.

LEG: How do you balance the business side of being an artist with the creative side, and what’s one business decision that made a big impact on your career?

To me they can work together. You want to cross the T’s and dot the I’s and make sure you’re set up for success but at the end of the day when I walk on stage and sing, for instance, my song about dying and there are tears streaming down peoples faces and they are singing every word. I don’t give a shit about business in that moment. It’s gone, it doesn’t exist. It’s all about the human experience.

LEG: Looking back at your earlier releases, how has your songwriting and production style evolved over time?

I’m sure it’s evolved. I’ve gotten better at knowing what shouldn’t be in songs. Simplicity seems to keep emerging as a core value but at the end of the day I’ve just been doing my thing and some things I did 15 years ago that no one heard are just as good as something I did yesterday.

LEG: What’s a major failure or setback you’ve faced in your career, and what did you learn from it?

Losing my first record deal at capitol felt like a punch in the gut at the time but that was the first instance of realizing I can’t rely on an industry that has so many moving parts that have nothing to do with me, to sustain my life and creativity. When you have a record deal… People that work in those companies that believe in you, lose their jobs, they find other artists that have more going on than you, they lose focus. The only person that won’t lose focus on your art is you and that's kinda how I approach it all now. I appreciate when people come alongside me and I need them to but at the end of the day it’s my responsibility.

LEG: You’ve mentioned in interviews that you’re inspired by real-life experiences. Can you share a specific story or moment that significantly influenced your latest album or track?

My 5 year old daughter started asking me about death last year when I would put her to bed. Night after night it really started to weigh on me. I had worked out what I believed over the course of my 37 years, but something about explaining that to a child, and my child who would one day say goodbye to me, made it much more vulnerable and human even less dogmatically bulletproof. There was a sadness but also a beauty explaining what even the most certain religious person or ardent atheist eventually surrenders to, the mystery of death.

On my way to the studio one morning a song poured out of me in 15 minutes that touched people all around the world. It was a life changing experience.

LEG: You’ve toured extensively and now you're setting off on your first World Headline Tour! What are some key lessons you’ve learned from life on the road previously that other artists should know?

Bring friends. Drink water. Make your hotel bed, even if you’re checking out.