Getting to Know. . . Anthony da Costa
 by Kathy S-B  ·  9 October 2008

Anthony da Costa is a teenage troubadour who has had an incredible year of folk success. How many 16 year-olds do you know who are serious about their music careers? He’s got a quick wit and an engaging on-stage personality for someone so young. He’s written over 100 songs and has compiled five recordings to date. You bet he’s serious! Find out more about him and all his musical adventures at his website. Anthony’s story will put a smile on your face and faith that our great folk tradition continues with the “younger generation.”

2007 has been a rockin’ year for you. Three different awards (thus far) — Kerrville New Folk Winner, Mountain Stage NE Regional Finalist and Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist. . . and you’re only 16. What’s in store for 2008? ;-)

I’ve been given some really great opportunities this year and it’s been an honor to be admitted into each and every one of those. People I’ve met in the folk community have reiterated the fact that you can’t take the contests too seriously, and that’s something I’ve been trying to abide by. I think it’s important to realize that there’s a lot of great talent out there and anyone who creates opportunities to showcase artists should be given some sort of medal or plaque. It’s completely refreshing to see how many people make music in this world and I’ve enjoyed meeting so many new friends. Kerrville and NewSong were both two amazing opportunities that gave me the chance to not only show people what I do, but to see what other people can do and I appreciate them for that. I think singer/songwriters often get kind of a bad rap these days (you know, like, “Do we really need to know all of your problems?”) but I’m still a believer.

I have no idea what is in store for 2008. Hmm, a new record will be out by then, at least one full length, and maybe an EP, or maybe a whole separate full length. I really don’t know. I’ve become so used to making records at a faster pace simply because I made all of my first 4 records in basements and did most of the copying and printing myself, not to mention all of the distribution! So getting out “Quality Time” this past February was a big step for me, the first one I went all-out on, production-wise, and I’m hoping to make more and more records until I can’t make ‘em any longer. I’ll be playing some more shows and festivals and just keepin’ on with what I’m doing. It’s really a great thing to be doing, at any age.

When did you start writing songs and performing?

Well, I’ve been singing for a while now, probably since I was about 4 (Mom had me singin’ in the church choir). That lasted (believe it or not) until I was about 12. My mom also got me into piano lessons at some ridiculously young age, like 3 or something, but in a year’s time I’d forgotten all of it. Picked up guitar at 10 and re-taught myself the piano. Started picking up other instruments (trombone, drums, bass, etc) and writing at 12 or 13. I had a band in Middle School with a couple friends of mine, and we prided ourselves on being the only band our age that actually lasted. Didn’t start performing in the whole folk-singer-songwriter type format ’til I was 13, playing open mics in the Hudson Valley and NYC. Got a couple gigs of my own and made a few records. And here I am.

It’s refreshing to hear a teenager who is opting for something other than hard rock, goth, or heavy metal. Have you always liked acoustic music? Is there an electric side to Anthony da Costa?

Actually, I don’t know how familiar you are with my music, but most of my songs are pretty heavy. It’s in my blood. Slayer backed me on my first couple records, and I also did some duets with Marilyn Manson ;). OK, all kidding aside (my friends don’t think I’m that funny either), I have not really always liked acoustic music. My mom listened to a lot of Nanci Griffith and Joni Mitchell, so that might have helped trigger something, but I mostly liked listening to my dad’s tapes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Elvis, and the Beatles. We used to listen to that stuff all the time. I wanted to be an athlete really, obsessed with every kind of sport (’cept football), so never really planned on it, but thankfully, I found a Bob Dylan record (‘Greatest Hits Vol. 1’) in the attic and fell in love. My dad also listens to a lot of country, and I really got into Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.

I do listen to a lot of different kinds of rock, blues, country, and alternative. My situation with acoustic music is kinda like what Dustin Diamond calls his own “backwardness” — He went from being a TV star to a Standup Comedian, I went from being in a rock band to playing solo acoustic! But I do still play with bands, have put some more rockin’ tracks on my records, and plan on doing some more full band stuff (as well as my acoustic stuff) in the near future. Hopefully, I won’t completely piss off people like Dylan did at Newport in ’65, but I don’t think that’d happen!

You’ve got a song called “Poor Poor Pluto.” Have you ever heard Christine Lavin’s song called “Planet X” which is about Pluto’s pitiful plight of being relegated to non-planet status?

I actually haven’t heard that song! I should go look it up. Us songwriters with Pluto songs should stick together, form a club or something. I actually met Christine this past February at the Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, she’s a complete sweetheart! I really like her. I got the chance to have dinner with her, David Massengill, and Rosalie Sorrells! It was quite the storytelling experience. . . !

You do a masterful job of singing Dylan’s “Boots of Spanish Leather.” What is it about that song that attracted you to it? [See the video on YouTube.]

Thanks very much, very kind of you. Not surprisingly, that’s my most-watched YouTube video :). It’s a beautiful song. I always introduce it at shows as a real “story song”. It’s one of the true greats. No matter what people thought of Dylan, voice of a generation, rock star, bad singer (I can’t stand it when I hear that!), whatever, he was a true poet and storyteller, and this is one of his many touching stories.

How do you manage life outside of your music — do you attend school? Any plans for college or are you going to pursue the life of the troubadour?

I’d love to tell you that I’m a crazy rock star livin’ on the edge, touring the world, but in fact, I’m about to enter my Junior year of high school! I go to school on weekdays, do my work, and play most of my gigs on the weekend (with some exceptions). Summer’s great cause now I can jam and gig without worrying about AP European History. I have some good support from friends at my high school who come and see my local shows, so that’s always nice. Play the cello in the school orchestra, take part in concert choir and the school plays. I’m currently planning on going to college, for some kind of music major, maybe production. Or maybe English. Not sure. Probably music. There’s no “Folk” major, right?