Five Fast Facts with Tony Lio: Inside 'Mirage Masquerade' and the Evolution of His Sound
- Stefani M.C. Janelli
- 22 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Tony Lio is a seasoned solo singer-songwriter who has spent more than a decade crafting and performing original music. Blending heavy, alternative-leaning riffs with the melodic sensibilities of indie rock, his sound strikes a balance between raw intensity and thoughtful harmony, showcasing an artist who thrives at the intersection of grit and melody.
SJ: You’ve been playing music for over a decade, specializing in a hybrid style incorporating heavy alternative-inspired riffs with indie harmonic melodies. What inspired this unique style? Are there any specific artists who have influenced your music?
TL: The genesis of my hybrid style came from my parents having two distinctive tastes in music. My father was into straightforward rock, ranging from Led Zeppelin to the Rolling Stones, while my mother was more into pop and new wave, having listened to bands such as R.E.M. and the Police. Being exposed to that melting pot definitely molded my perspective on musical taste as I came to respect all kinds of genres. As I was coming into my own as a musician, I started out as a punk guitarist, but as I started to listen to singer-songwriters such as Chris Cornell, Hozier, James Bay, and Tamino, I began to incorporate melody-based theory into my compositions and expanded my musicianship. Chris Cornell was especially a huge inspiration, not only was he the lead singer and writer of Soundgarden, one of the pioneers of grunge rock, but he also stood out as an artist who could experiment with multiple genres, as he covered artists such as Bob Marley and Prince.
SJ: You just released Mirage Masquerade, the third and final EP in the "Emotion Trilogy." Can you tell us more about what has inspired this trilogy and the story behind it?
TL: Like all things in music, the great projects happened by accident. When I was writing and recording “Chaotic Desire” (2022) it was during a period of unrest that I needed to get out and fast forward to 2023 when I was writing new material I found myself in a a much more hopeful headspace and felt this would be a perfect opportunity to merge the two projects together in cohesion and show the difference in a musician’s mind after a year. When 2025 came around, many things had changed in my life, and I started to find myself writing about the themes of embracing simple desires and dreams; I figured it would be the perfect culmination to how much I’ve grown as not only a musician but as a person. Overall, that’s truly how I view the “Emotion Trilogy” as a whole: how much a person can learn and change in a few years.
SJ: You talk about going out of your comfort zone for this EP. What were some of your previous limitations, and what made you want to take this step? How did it influence your songwriting for this record?
TL: I’m not afraid to say that I was always somewhat hesitant in expressing my thoughts on certain subjects and how people interpret them; as a result, I often tried to keep my lyrics simple with some elusiveness, which, in hindsight, limited some of my writing. When I found myself in a new phase in life, I suddenly found the urge to try and express these thoughts, and as a result, started to write lyrical melodies that were far different than what I had written in the past. When I completed “Moon” (the first song written for the EP), I was impressed with what I had done and decided to keep going in this new direction, which resulted in creating material I’m really proud of.
SJ: You’re credited with lead, rhythm, bass guitar, and lead vocals for this record. Do you collaborate with any other musicians for songwriting, recording, or production?
TL: I often try to collaborate and work with numerous different people in order to give certain songs a distinctive tone. While all the songs were written by me, I’m always willing to listen to the producer’s advice if they believe there’s a way to make the song stronger. For each song on this release I worked with a different producer and a certain set of musicians: “Moon” was produced by Garrett Kruse, a long-time friend who is a self-taught engineer and provided the drums and percussion, the lead guitar was performed by Becky Bex, a talented singer-songwriter who is part of the well known North Jersey hard rock band Callout and the backing vocals were provided by Corynn Seahulster, a singer-actress who I previously collaborated with on the music video for my song “Evangline.”“Ice Rain” was produced by Matt Pelosi, an experienced producer who previously produced my songs “Sweet Romantic” and “Nyx” with Lupe Dragon, a well-respected singer-songwriter, providing the backing vocals, and Naomi Smith laying down a jazz-inspired bass line. “Beautiful Chloe” was produced by Zack Miranowic, another long-time friend who also provided the lead guitar lines (this is also the second time we’ve collaborated, with the first song being the song “Evangline” mentioned before), with Garret Manyoky supplying a strong and precise drum beat. “Better to Sleep” was produced by Christopher Kapschock, who produced my earliest EPs with our previous project being “Chaotic Desires” in 2022, and the backing vocals were performed by Mackie June, a fellow singer-songwriter with whom I collaborate in the side project “Mackie and Lio.” To me, collaborating with many different artists helps not only gives the song its own identity but also allows me to put the spotlight on the many talented individuals I’ve met over the years.
SJ: What has been your favorite part of the writing and recording process for this record?
TL: My favorite part of the writing process is when I finally crack the code of laying out the melody that will give the song its identity while my favorite part of the recording process is when the last instrument is recorded and you hear the song in a raw mix; that feeling of hearing something that’s on the verge of fully coming to life is a feeling that will never get old.
SJ: What is one song you wish Tony Lio wrote?
TL: “I Feel Fine” by the Beatles. I love playing that guitar line; it’s simple and effective.
SJ: What’s next for Tony Lio?
TL: All I can say is there are multiple projects that are in the pre-production stage that I’m hoping to share with everyone soon. For now, wait and see.
SJ: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us!
TL: Thank you for having me, and glad you enjoyed my music!
Album Art: Sarah Macor
Stream Mirage Masquerade below!
"Moon"
Tony Lio: Rhythm and Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals
Garrett Kruse: Drums, Percussion, and Production
Becky Bex: Lead Guitar and Background Vocals
Corynn Seahulster: Backing Vocals
"Ice Rain"
Tony Lio: Rhythm and Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
Lupe Dragon: Backing Vocals
Matt Pelosi: Production and Drum Programming
Naomi Smith: Upright Bass
"Beautiful Chloe"
Tony Lio: Rhythm and Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals
Zack Miranowic: Lead Guitar and Production
Garret Manyoky: Drums
"Better to Sleep"
Tony Lio: Rhythm, Lead and Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals
Christopher Kapschock: Production and Percussion Programming
Mackie June: Backing Vocals