“Sempre Avanti” means “always moving forward” in Italian. This phrase and title of my debut album serves an homage to my greater ancestry from Italy and my late grandpa Ted, who always told me profound and impactful aphorisms (I called them “Tedisms”) during my youth. He always used to say hard ass things to me and my dad like “the only help you need is at the end of your own arm” and “if you burn your ass, sit on the blister.” It’s phrases and teachings like these from mentors and family members that I’d heavily attribute a lot of the progressive and resilient attitudes towards the challenges of this world I’ve fostered over the years to. Whether what I’m facing is difficult or easy, I try to be like my grandpa by waking up and “telling myself I’m going to have good day, so I do.” 

Even though the lives we live are not always walks in the park, and others might claim living optimistically and with a peaceful, positive mindset is “easier said than done,” I’d like to think it’s a lot simpler than that. Tell yourself you’ll have a good day and find a way to make it happen. The mind is a powerful thing, and remaining resolute and committed mentally and verbally to being and feeling objectively better, or at least good, sometimes even great, every. single. day. is a concept that’s been invaluable for me personally.

Woven into my lyrics throughout the course of this anthology, I speak to the many thoughts and emotions I’ve felt while toplining and making music across the last decade or so. I’ve been ecstatic, happy, confident, and steadfast. I’ve also been insecure, uncertain, sad, had doubts, and faced hopelessness and depression; gone from broken and fragile to whole and strong again; from feeling completely numb to intensely alive - all the things that I feel make us innately human. I’d ask when listening to this album, to hear the realness and rawness I’ve tried to incorporate into most of the music and let yourself feel whatever feelings the songs might elicit in your own mind as it pertains to your own journey. Feel all the feelings; don’t hold ‘em back. 

The album is arranged carefully and intentionally to flow in a cosine wave-like fashion through the valleys, troughs, and peaks of my experience thus far ultimately culminating in what I believe to be a solid, all encapsulating narrative about my recent life. It spans multiple genres and musical approaches, many different moods, and a whole lot of unique vibes. In these songs, I attempt to convey the love, the good times, the bad, and perhaps impart some wisdom about how we can remain optimistic in times of doubt or find our bearings after we fall. Like the teachings of my family and my approach to life, it attempts to be “always moving forward.”

This is Sempre Avanti by Shockwa.
-Nick sciacqua

Sempre Avanti Track 22 - Always Be There

Sempre Avanti Track 21 - Celebration Cipher

Sempre Avanti Track 20 - Elevated (Planetary)

Sempre Avanti Track 19 - Brain Food

Sempre Avanti Track 18 - Wake Up

Sempre Avanti Track 17 - No Surprise

Sempre Avanti Track 16 - I Think You're Swell

Sempre Avanti Track 15 - Back To You

Sempre Avanti Track 14 - The Ocean

Sempre Avanti Track 13 - Tidal Wave (Full Length)

Sempre Avanti Track 12 - Other Side Of The Blue (Shockwa Remix)

Sempre Avanti Track 11 - Moments

Sempre Avanti Track 10 - Faded

First cover song I ever recorded (~8 years ago?), now remastered thanks to soundcloud premium tech! s/o to Hozier for the original music to cover with my roommates at Cal Poly and dolby ai w/ the clear sky mastering preset to bring this track back to life <3

Cherry Wine

Good vibes and good music. Just a California d00d trying to make some kool jammers to aid your journey
HMU on here or on the socials below for vocals!

Sempre Avanti (my 22 track debut anthology album) dropped on all major platforms at midnight 1/1/23!!!!
Check it out here on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nshockwa/sets/sempre-avanti-1

shockwa

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