Conversations with Ron Scalzo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron Scalzo

Hi Ron, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a native New Yorker who started his own record label, Bald Freak Music, in 2005. I released my first two albums with guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal in the electronic project Q*Ball. The initial intent was just to have a platform to put out my own music, but the label picked up enough steam to motivate me to release music from other acts, including Thal’s solo albums as Bumblefoot, plus experimental act Black Pig, pirate metal band Swashbuckle, and modern rockers The Head Set.

I formed alternative metal band Return To Earth in 2006 with guitarist Brett Aveni and Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Chris Pennie and released RTE’s first album, Captains of Industry, the following year. We would sign with Metal Blade Records in 2010.

In 2012, my home was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. Bald Freak — as a physical entity — was essentially destroyed, including all my gear and merch. Instead of packing it in, I traveled to Seattle, Tucson, Nashville, and Berlin to record piano rock songs that would appear on three solo releases: The Last Q*Ball Album in 2014; You Deserve The Best in 2015; and I Gotta Rock in 2017.

Return To Earth reunited in 2020 and Bald Freak released the album, Oblivion, in 2022, and a new EP, Octavius, earlier this year.

I moved to Nashville on a whim in early 2021 to surround myself with like-minded individuals. I host and produce Independent Minded, a long-running podcast featuring independent artists from around the world and their stories of struggle and triumph, and so Music City seemed like a great place to crank that up again after a pandemic-inspired hiatus.

I leaned heavy into my entrepreneurial side. I became the host and producer of The Joy of Bob Ross, a podcast that honors the late, great television painter. I’ve just become the Social Media Manager for Austin-based Musician Treatment Foundation, a non-profit that offers orthopedic surgery help to professional musicians without insurance.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Heh is any creative road smooth? The hurricane was a game changer. Considering the state of the industry at the time, plus all the monetary and material loss, it would have made a lot of sense to shift gears at that point. Instead, I doubled down on my artistry and had some great experiences recording in different cities and seeing more of the world. I probably wouldn’t be in Nashville if not for the storm, having come here in 2017 to record the title track from my solo album, I Gotta Rock.

The pandemic did its damage. I was blindsided by NPR and laid off from my day job after 4+ years, but that was a blessing in disguise. It led to the Bob Ross gig, which has been an absolute blast and is still going strong. That was only supposed to be a 12 episode deal, but we’ll be approaching 50 episodes by year’s end. There were some growing pains, but also road trips to New York, Florida, and a great interview with David Arquette here at The Loveless Cafe. Podcasting has truly become my social network, and every door that has closed in my career has ultimately opened a new one. Some cliches are legit!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My podcasting career has taken off, and it all started rather humbly in 2012. I was a producer for a mammoth Top 40 station in New York City, but when the opportunity to start a podcast presented itself, naturally I focused on indie musicians. I saw Independent Minded as a platform to not only help my friends in the NYC music scene get more exposure, but also to be a bit of a fanboy – Henry Rollins, Scott Ian, Mike Doughty, Duff McKagan and “Weird Al” Yankovic were all early guests. It was also a great way for an introvert like me to connect with total strangers in New York, then DC, then Nashville, not to mention a great excuse to explore the club scene in all of these cities. I’ve conducted interviews in churches, back alleys, Ethiopian restaurants, noisy dressing rooms, you name it.

Independent Minded has always been a labor of love, but my corporate masters could care less about it. Me, I always treated it as it was the most important thing on my plate, a place to hone my craft unimpeded by mass market guidelines. My commitment to it has created a path for me to do this full-time, not to mention all the life opportunities it’s presented, including living here.

What sets me apart? I’m stubborn, anti-establishment. For years, I worked in an industry so bent on youth and “the numbers.” Rejecting those notions, I ultimately recognized that it’s really about craft. So I take pride in the work and block out all the noise no matter what the data says. In fact, I barely pay attention to the data. So many creatives throw in the towel when they see a lack of engagement, but really, all it takes is one listen, one guest, one encounter to affirm your hard work and open a new door… or three. You’ve just gotta keep plugging away.

Any big plans?
Stay healthy, stay committed, keep an open mind about new opportunities. Hard work pays off and I really believe in good karma and momentum. Bald Freak will celebrate 20 years in existence next year, so I’ll likely do something special to commemorate that.

I’d like to remain self-employed unless something absolutely bananas comes along. The Bob Ross folks are sending me to TwitchCon in San Diego, then to Comic Con: The Cruise early next year. I’m covering Underwater Sunshine Fest in NYC in October thanks to this new gig with Musician Treatment Foundation. It’s a weekend-long festival curated by Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz. This all feels like my version of touring, even if it’s not in a band.

My podcasting career is doing for me today what my music career did a decade ago — sending me on cool adventures and putting me in the same spaces as my peers and even some of my idols. There’s a “feel-good” aspect to all this that doesn’t start or end with a dollar sign, but I must admit that it feels even better to get paid for doing things you love to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://baldfreak.com
• Instagram: @BaldFreakMusic
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/baldfreakmusic
• Twitter: @BaldFreakMusic
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/baldfreakmusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/baldfreak
• Other: https://baldfreak.bandcamp.com