Avi Wisnia

Name: Avi Wisnia

Location (Philly Neighbourhood): Bella Vista

Hometown: Yardley, PA

Current Project/Band: Avi Wisnia, just me & my music

Instrument(s) you play: vocals + piano, guitar, melodica, kazoo (learning the accordion)

What else do you do in the Philly music scene? I run the Philly Songwriters Circle, with fellow songwriter Aaron Nathans; I also play keys on other people's projects and I just started giving piano lessons

Location of Photo(s): my brother’s old house in Bella Vista and Palumbo Park by Fleisher Art Memorial

What do those location(s) mean to you?: My brother was one of the first people to inspire me to play music, and when he moved to a house by the Italian Market, he inherited our old family piano, the one i grew up learning how to play. I composed so many songs and had many jam sessions with my brother on this piano. My brother died at the age of 33 from a brain tumor, but i think of him every time i play music.  Palumbo Park is right around the corner from his house and also from my current apartment. I’ll come here in the middle of the day to sit under the trees, stare at the mural, and work on song lyrics.

Favourite Place in Philly: any and all pop-up parks

Favourite Watering Hole/Coffee Spot: Twisted Tail if i want alcohol or ChapterHouse if i want caffeine

Favourite Restaurant: Royal Tavern

Favourite Pizza Spot: Stella Pizza / Little Italy II 

Favourite Philly Venue: Boot & Saddle; also the Philadelphia Artist Salon in Center City

Recording Space: Daniel Harris Levine’s home studio

Favourite Philly Band(s): Good Old War, War on Drugs, Amos Lee, G. Love

Best show you’ve seen in Philly: Bobby McFerrin at Verizon Hall

What are you listening to now: Andy Shauf, Feist, Thom Hell, The Tallest Man on Earth, Chet Baker, Sara Gazarek, Paulinho Moska, and whatever’s on WXPN

If you could sum up in one sentence what Philly / Philly music scene means to you, what would it be? Philly is a big city with a small-town feel and a strong sense of community

Life motto: there’s nothing better than making good music with good people

Random Fun Fact: in high school, i spent the summer working at Sesame Place dressing up as Big Bird. it was hell. 

Childhood Dream Job: mix-tape maker

Future plans: i’m working on my second album, and i’m excited to release some new material soon. i also plan to tour more outside the country and to get back to Brazil