Hip Hop Momma

Acoustic Percussive Fingerstyle Guitar meets Pop Songwriting.

Hello there! I’m Emilio Lanza, a Naples-born singer-songwriter, and you might have caught one of my covers shared by none other than Ed Sheeran. Yes, the Ed Sheeran! That moment was an amazing milestone on my journey. Music for me isn’t just an art form – it’s my oxygen. Much of my learning came from immersing myself in the craft of guitar masters – studying their chops on Youtube, then adding my own spin to it. I started my Youtube channel by recording covers of my favourite artists – Ed Sheeran, James Bay, Adam Rafferty, Mike Dawes and many other Pop and Rock Artists and Bands. In 2015, my music took a significant turn. I took Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar lessons from with the remarkable Adam Rafferty, and I began sharing my very own songs online. And then, I had the fantastic opportunity to meet James Bay, online and in person, and to see that Ed Sheeran himself had shared my cover of one of his songs! My tunes often delve into raw emotions – heartbreak and loss have played a strong part in determining my identity as a singer-songwriter. But I believe in turning those feelings into beautiful melodies, offering listeners a sense of hope amidst the chaos. I can’t wait for you to hear my music!

The “Rearview Mirror” is a metaphor representing our past, our nightmares, our breakups, our scary thoughts, it can be anything. But the message of the song is positive, according to the song artwork, there is a nice sunset in front of us, and the struggles are left behind us, in the rearview mirror.

The song was inspired by a breakup after a love story of 6 years and other life hardships.