By Andrea Barry
For Saratoga TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS— The music industry can be a discouraging one to get into, especially considering its highly competitive nature. This idea, however, is not intimidating to aspiring Saratoga Springs high school rappers, Anthony Scaringe and Justin LaViolette. Rather, it is what drives them.
Scaringe, whose stage name is Zeo and LaViolette, better known as De La Purp, performed onstage together last month at the Putnam Den.
Since the seventh grade, Scaringe has always been intrigued by the music industry. It started off with a simple love for poetry, but as his lines progressed and his passion for music expanded, a realization hit that he could turn his love for music into a career.
“I want to get to the point where music is my main focus,” said Scaringe. “One day I would like to be able to support myself through my work.”
Hard work and dedication is an understatement when describing the young rapper. Three to four of his days per week are spent in the studio and it is very seldom that you will find him without a notebook in hand.
“I’m always writing bars in my phone,” said Scaringe. “I like to write music that makes sense. It’s my way to vent.”
Next year, Scaringe plans to move out west to continue his study of the music industry, create more of his own beats and finally, take classes on music production. His perseverance, love for the industry and undying drive could ultimately be the variable that will one day separate him from the rest.
Justin LaViolette, another student at the high school, also plans on furthering his career with music. Like Scaringe, LaViolette’s love for music was apparent at an early age.
“Growing up, my dad was always in a rock band,” said LaViolette. “I’ve always been musically inclined,” he continued.
It wasn’t until recently, however, that LaViolette realized just how far he wanted to take his passion.
“In the past six to eight months, it’s been a whole new drive,” said LaViolette.
In the studio, alongside Scaringe and others, LaViolette finds it easiest to produce a song when he has the ability to listen to a beat and just write. Although LaViolette is yet to release a solo mix tape, he says it is something to look out for in the near future.
Together, both Scaringe and LaViolette agree the ultimate goal is getting recognized one day for the music they create. While writing a song, their main focus is to evoke some type of emotion from the listener.
The Putnam Den (63A Putnam Street, Saratoga Springs) will be hosting a show tonight that Scaringe will be a part of.
"We usually do rock and roll, but this time we're excited to be doing hip hop," said Bob Millis, who assists The Putnam Den with the scheduling of their shows.
Tonight's show will consist six to eight acts, all of who will be onstage for about twenty minutes. All acts are local and of the hip hop genre. The show is scheduled to begin around 9 p.m.
To hear their music, visit www.soundcloud.com/therealzeo
