Neil Scibelli Talks New Music, National Anthem Debut, and More

Multi-faceted artist Neil Scibelli is kicking off the new year with a bang. Not only did he release a brand-new single titled “Hook Up & Go,” but he also made his Barclay Center debut performing the National Anthem for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Scibelli says the arts have always been his calling. Through years of experience and persistence, and heavily influenced by the city’s rich culture and arts scene, he has turned his artistic passions into a multi-hyphenated career. From working as a celebrity makeup artist and leading beauty expert in media to nourishing his talents as a singer-songwriter and actor, Scibelli is ready to take on any opportunity that comes his way.

Additionally, Scibelli has appeared on popular television shows like Gossip Girl, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That. He also contributes to leading on-air and digital media outlets such as Good Morning America.

Scibelli took some time to talk about his new music, performing the National Anthem, and other projects with OFM.

Can you begin by telling us more about the concept and inspiration behind your latest single, “Hook Up & Go?”

I was inspired for the first time to open up about my yearning for more substance in these fast-paced connections I was making. Whether it was personally, romantically, or career and business wise, we have become so used to this hook up and go culture. Connect quickly and go, and it’s become the norm. Then, to be even more specific, in a nutshell, it also does cover hookup and dating culture in 2023, where you’re liking and swiping. Personally, I’m a hopeless romantic, so I’m yearning for more, and I finally wrote a song about it. It really speaks to wanting a more meaningful connection. I love the song, and I would say it’s one of my favorites I’ve ever written.

How has the track been received by listeners?

I think it’s been received very well. I have gotten a lot of messages from people that are like, “Oh my God, this is so beautiful. It’s heart-wrenching, or it really hit home,” because if someone is single, and they listen to it, they’re like, “This is exactly how I feel.” There’s also key lyrics in the song like “Don’t let me go” and “No need to be in love, but that’s all we know.” We shouldn’t have to be used to what technology is feeding us.

I think we should be able to have these amazing relationships and meaningful connections, and this song was even an eye-opener to myself. The line that says, ‘There’s no time for living, and there’s no time for love,’ which is the end of the chorus, is totally sarcastic because I totally know and believe that there is time for all of that. It was a snarky, sarcastic playoff of those words.

Have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?

Yeah, my whole life. I started singing and playing the piano when I was around 5 years old, and I was gifted a toy keyboard for Christmas at four. Music really was my first language. I’ve always found music as a way of communicating my feelings, and I’ve always gravitated towards the piano and keys for some reason. Not only is it a release to create the music, but it’s a release to actually play it as well.

Then the writing started when I was a teenager. I always had journals; I was always writing, and if I couldn’t fall asleep, I would just write. When I was 15 years old and attending high school at the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts; that’s when I really found my knack for songwriting. I started going to recording studios and taking it a lot more seriously.

You were born and raised in Queens, New York. Can you talk about how you have been deeply influenced by the city’s rich culture and authentic art scene?

As a kid, I remember taking trips to Times Square or Midtown and feeling like I was transported into this magical world, which was Manhattan, and it was right outside of where I grew up. To find Manhattan as a borough that was my next door neighbor was so magical, because it became this place where I felt that I belonged when it came to Broadway and music. Then as I got older, when I started writing and becoming involved with the songwriting scene, I was performing at venues like The Bitter End, Arlene’s Grocery, and these places in the West Village and the Lower West Side.

I found this world for myself that I identified with as a musician and artist, and there was nowhere else like it. The Bitter End is where so many incredible artists have played, and I’ve played there many times. It’s such a special, iconic, homey venue, but all those experiences have added up to who I am today. Even going to the Frank Sinatra School, being able to take art and dance classes in Manhattan, and then go to Broadway to see a show or take a trip to the Met Opera after school, there was so much art around me that it became such a huge part of my life.

Last month, you sang the National Anthem at Barclay Arena for the Brooklyn Nets. What was that experience like, and how meaningful was this moment for you?

It was incredible! I am completely thankful and honored to have been invited by the Brooklyn Nets and to sing the anthem at Barclay Center. It was my first time singing in that large of a venue, and preparing for it was really fun. Doing the anthem on such a big night, it got me focused on my vocals and my vocal health.

Also, I mentioned this on my Instagram and I would hope to dive into this more, I wanted to do the anthem so much because as a first-generation American, and as a member of the LGBTQ community, it meant a lot for me to be able to sing such a meaningful song in a country where my own rights have been challenged several times. It was like a personal moment for myself, my family, and my community.

It was so celebratory because of everything it meant behind it. I was born in the USA, but my parents were born in Italy, and they moved with my grandparents to America with a dream and a couple bucks. As someone who has been very politically involved in human rights and LGBTQ rights, singing this song meant everything to me. It was so special, and I’ll never forget it.

Outside of music, and this is something I did not know, you are also a fashion and celebrity makeup artist. How did this journey begin for you?

I have worked as a celebrity makeup artist for most of my adult career. After I graduated from the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts, I continued to release music, write, and be an independent artist, but at the same time, and here’s a little tidbit to know too; my grandfather was an incredible oil painter. When he would babysit me as a kid, we would paint in his art studio. When I started to look for other work while simultaneously pursuing music, I naturally gravitated towards working for various beauty brands, and that’s how my career started.

I started studying makeup artistry because I loved how you could apply art to someone’s canvas, which was their face. I also loved how you can transform someone to allow them to feel the best version of themselves. It was definitely a passion, and then it turned into an entire career. I pretty much started by assisting other celebrity makeup artists, learning and studying the craft, and building my own portfolio of clients. That turned into working on incredible projects like Fashion Week and building my own celebrity clientele.

Now, over a decade later, I get to contribute to some of my favorite and the most leading beauty media outlets out there. It’s been a fun full circle to be able to share all the knowledge that I’ve learned in the beauty industry, and now I share that with different media outlets as a beauty expert. Most recently, I’ve had the amazing opportunity of recurring on Good Morning America as one of their beauty experts, so it’s been such a fun journey.

Music still is a parallel. I’ve honestly tried to focus on them separately, but at the same time, I feel like there are two amazing artistic parallels in my life that I will never give up. They’re a part of me, and I’m grateful for both. I will continue to nourish them both.

Do you only focus on makeup, or do you do skincare as well?

Both, really. Skincare is so much a part of the makeup process. Great skin leads to a great makeup application. When I’m working on clients, there’s very much an entire skincare prep that goes into the application. That acts as a base and as a primer, and then you would do makeup over it. So, I do both, and I’m continuously learning about both because as I contribute on that side, I love keeping up with what’s new and trending.

For those who live in areas with harsh winter conditions, what is the best way to keep your skin moisturized and not drying out or flaking?

I love that question. For starters, you want to make sure that you’re obviously hydrating optimally, internally, and externally. You want to make sure you’re drinking tons of water because that shows on the outside. When my lips are chapped, that’s my first signal that I’m not drinking enough water. Secondly, the water that you’re drinking is going to also deliver to your skin. You’re going to get that instant hydration on the outside.

Then the next thing you want to use are key ingredients that actually lock moisture in. Things like hyaluronic acid that are super hydrating, and they’re found in tons of easily accessible products in the drugstore. Hyaluronic acid is a fast-acting hydrator. Also, a lot of products right now for winter contain ceramides. They help strengthen the skin’s barrier and lock moisture in.

So, ceramides and hyaluronic acid are the way to go, and then if you’re itchy, dry, and red, another great one is something like oats. Colloidal Oatmeal is very soothing and calming for winter skin. And don’t be afraid to layer. Serum, and then moisturizer on top will lock it all in.

The last time we talked, you were getting ready to make your appearance in the Steven Spielberg remake of West Side Story. Do you have any acting projects in the works?

I have been able to do some fun things since then in the acting world. Since West Side Story, I was tapped to do a scene in the Sex and the City reboot, which was super fun. They were looking for real New Yorkers in the fashion and beauty industry, and they sat me at a table right next to the girls, all three originals, and it was such a fun shoot. It was two days of shooting with these icons, and I’ve followed the show for so long, so it was very fun to be a part of.

Then mid-last year, I was tapped to be the makeup artist in a scene for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. That was super fun because I basically got to play myself (laughs). I also got to shoot a bunch of days with Gossip Girl Season 2. I played a Cavalier named Marcus Ditton, who was one of the guest star’s dates on the show, and I got to be a part of this fun ballroom scene. So, I got to ballroom dance, which was totally a surprise. I didn’t know I was going to do so, but it was so much fun.

So, I’ve gotten to do a few fun acting projects, and I will continue to audition for other ones. I’ll still keep that on-air thread and TV thread, hopefully, with more things on Good Morning America.

Overall, what are some future goals you hope to accomplish with your career?

I would love to hone in and continue to work more on acting, and I would love to continue to merge my experience on air and in the beauty industry and take that to the next level by corresponding more, being a guest co-host, and hopefully, I would love to do some red carpet hosting in the future. It would be super fun to merge all those worlds together.

I’ll continue to release music, and a bunch of these new songs that I’ve been releasing as singles are really a part of an EP. I will eventually release them as a collection, but for now, I have “Hook Up & Go” and “New Day,” which was a remastered single and sort of an anniversary release since I started a new Spotify channel under Neil Scibelli. I really wanted to go back to my roots, and the song that kind of started it all was “New Day.” So, that’s out, and I’ve got more music up my sleeve as well!

Stay up-to-date and connect with Scibelli by following him on Instagram @neilscibellimusic and subscribe to his music on Spotify and Apple Music.

Photos courtesy of Patrick Hopkins and Neil Scibelli