Long Road Home - Trailer from Braden Rooke on Vimeo.
Alfie Zappacosta is a bit humble when it comes to seeing himself as the subject of a documentary.
When Zappacosta last chatted with the Western News, a documentary, Long Road Home, created by students at the Norther Alberta Institute of Technology was about to debut. Now it is being pitched to film festivals and has won film awards in Alberta.
He attended a screening held in Edmonton, where Zappacosta calls home.
“They did a great, great job,” Zappacosta said. “How do I feel about it? It’s kind of like ‘hey, this is your life.’ For what it’s worth you take it all with a grain of salt. I was very proud of what they did. It’s nothing that I’m going to bring home and watch. ‘Hey bring over some popcorn and watch me.’”
The two-time Juno winner has been keeping busy touring throughout the year, and keeping up with social media.
“The world’s changed as you can tell. Based on how much stuff is online and how much you actually read papers and whatnot. You just pick up your phone and read. The whole media thing is changing so much, I’m spending a lot of time trying to stay on top of it,” Zappacosta said.
He added he has been exploring social media to expand his horizons, whether that’s marketing or connecting with fans.
“In a nutshell, I’m letting everybody know that I still have much to offer and that I’m not going away. You ask for me and I will come,” Zappacosta said.
He takes around an hour in the day to check in and see what people are saying and what they want to know.
“Sometimes it’s something rhetorical, but if they’re mentioning something they really need an answer for I’ll take the time to reply to them,” Zappacosta said.
It’s a far cry from the days of fan mail.
“When I started out there wasn’t much apart from being able to be at the gigs and people see you performing and whatnot, and the meet and greets, this is an incredible way to expand on that. It’s pretty tremendous in being able to speak to people very specifically,” Zappacosta said. “The difference is pretty automatic now and it’s much more widespread.”
Zappacosta has made a habit of performing in Penticton. Through some mutual connections he struck up a friendship with local music teacher over the past few years Justin Glibbery, who now plays with him on stage, including the upcoming show at Medici’s Gelateria in Oliver on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 at the Kelowna Forum.
“I think we’re going to be doing this for a long while to come when it comes to the Interior,” Zappacosta said.
Glibbery’s band is playing with Zappacosta and the horn section from Penticton Secondary’s music program is set to join in on his famed track Overload (from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack).
“I know if I was having to do something like this, because you’ll be on stage playing with me, I’d be nervous as hell. I think it’s really exciting for them and I’d be stupid not to tell you it excites me to see their excited,” Zappacosta said.
Zappacosta said the future is bright and he is working on videos for stripped-down versions of his songs, working once again with students from the Edmonton school.
Zappacosta comes to the Shatford Centre on Feb. 4 with members of the Penticton Secondary School band. Tickets are $25 available at the door and proceeds go towards covering costs for the school band.