MUSIC
Roberta Setzu is Atlanta’s Own Jazz Singer, Composer, and Actress Extraordinaire By Tr ac ey Hawk i ns
but we have a path forward into creating a supporting, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Personally, I work hard to love the woman in the mirror even during darker days. As people, but especially as artists, we have the power to define ourselves with our own words and actions; therefore, I try to focus only on words and thoughts that are self-loving and that actively propel my goals forward. WITH SO MANY PASSIONS, INTERESTS, AND PROJECTS, HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME? HA! Managing my time is not the best of my skills, but it’s a must, so I work really hard to make sure that I am effective and clear in my priorities. I am currently putting most of my focus on music. I just released my new jazz album, As You Are, and I am working to set a European tour and promote the record. It’s nice to see my music listened to by people across the world on all digital platforms. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT SO FAR, AND WHY? The best project is always the one I am working on right at the moment. It’s about being present and giving your all. Producing As You Are was such an incredible experience of music making, from inception to fruition. My album features six originals and a few jazz standards, and I was lucky to have some of the best musicians that the American Jazz scene has to offer. It’s co-produced with my good friend, wonderful Grammy-nominated pianist Kevin Bales. It’s been a great year. I booked and shot three TV costars, and my first short film as a director just won “Best Film Made in GA” at the Southern Shorts Awards. Actually, the song on my album Come As You Are was inspired by my movie and was the first I recorded for the album. So you see, everything is connected, which is why I feel that the limit is the sky when you stay open to possibilities!
Roberta Setzu
I believe the most incredible artists never cease to seek deeper meanings and never miss an opportunity to learn something new.
Photo courtesy Roberta Setzu
P assionate, multi-talented jazz musician and actress Roberta Setzu generously granted us an interview, and we discovered the beautiful energy with which she approaches the perfor- mance arts. HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR PASSION FOR THE PERFORMANCE ARTS, AND WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO PURSUE A PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN ENTERTAINMENT? Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved music and storytelling. I have loving memories of my family creating stories together. My mom had the sweetest voice; she would sing for me lullabies from all over the world, and my dad would create the most wonderful bedtime stories. I guess I liked to put on shows for them, and I am lucky they had the patience to listen to me singing for hours straight, especially in the car on short or super long drives. In high school, I started dedicating more time to arts, and after graduation, I was lucky to study and work in theater where I also started cultivating more passion for music. I guess everything happened pretty organically, but by the time I was twenty, I knew there was no other option besides following my heart and becoming committed to the performing arts.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND: WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO UNDERTAKE TO “MAKE IT” IN THE BUSINESS? I was born in Cagliari, Sardinia, a colorful and enchanting island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. I‘d say in life the first teacher is always your environment. I grew up with the colors, sounds, and openness of a port city touched by so many cultures, people, and traditions throughout history, so that really laid the groundwork for my music; it’s part of me. The biggest turning point in my professional career was the impact that Cagliari University Jazz Program had on my life. My discovery of jazz sparked an incredible journey that it is still in the making. As a musician, your training never ends. I believe the most incredible artists never cease to seek deeper meanings and never miss an opportunity to learn something new. I have had incredible mentors in music and acting, and they all focused on the same lesson: “The art of being in the moment.” WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A WOMAN IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED FOR YOU DURING YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER? Entertainment, like most industries, has its glass ceilings to break, but I actually believe there is not a better time for women to express their voices in their own unique ways. We live in an era where, yes, we have to work hard,
Setzu’s Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/4tt6UI3y4W9GrsiebxX36E?si=8 OrOT3ajTo6iyfszW9ChmQ www.robertasetzu.com | @robertasetzu
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