Greg Tomanelli: Building Sound and Meaning Through Music

For Greg Tomanelli, music has never been just something you hear, it’s something you feel, long before you can explain it. Watching his six-month-old niece freeze at the sound of piano music, crawl toward the bench, and play along in her own instinctual way has been a powerful reminder of what first shaped his own relationship with sound. Music, at its core, is one of the earliest and most complex forms of communication we experience and for Greg, it has always been present.

Growing up in the suburbs outside New York City with a father who was a jazz pianist, music was simply part of the environment. The piano in the living room was as familiar as the kitchen or the stairs, there before memory, before language. While Greg jokes that he didn’t grow up to be a virtuoso pianist, the exposure planted something deeper: curiosity, comfort, and an emotional understanding of music from an early age. Supported by his parents and inspired by older siblings, Greg immersed himself in band, choir, chamber ensembles, and competitive a cappella throughout high school, traveling and performing across the country while earning all-county and all-regional choir honors in North Jersey.

But the moment that truly defined Greg’s decision to pursue a life in music came through profound loss. The death of a close friend at seventeen forced him to confront questions about purpose, identity, and the fear of an unwanted future. At a time when peers were moving confidently into STEM fields and guaranteed career paths, Greg chose to bet on what mattered most to him. That decision, to pursue passion despite risk, became a guiding principle.

In 2017, Greg entered Rowan University as a Jazz Percussion major, drawn to drums and rhythm. While percussion laid the foundation, music production ultimately took hold. By sophomore year, he pivoted to a Music Industry major with a specialization in technology, later graduating Cum Laude in 2021 with a minor in Law and Justice Studies. After a brief and clarifying detour into corporate sales, Greg once again chose the uncertain path, restructuring his life to allow for flexible work while dedicating himself fully to music creation and collaboration.

That leap led to the formation of Wizards Ink, a production group Greg co-founded with his brother Joel and longtime collaborator Mike Pacca. Over the past four years, Wizards Ink has grown into a highly respected production collective with over one million Spotify streams and recognition as being in the top 5% of streamed music producers of all time (via muso.ai). Their sound is genre-fluid, rooted in aggressive yet soulful sampling, live guitar performances, and a relentless commitment to originality over categorization.

In 2026, Wizards Ink enters an exciting new chapter, launching deeper into the Hip-Hop and R&B space through collaborations with legendary Gold Producer DJ Grumble, singer Lili K, and rising rapper Ben Reilly. For Greg, collaboration isn’t a strategy, it’s a philosophy. Whether he’s producing, playing bass or guitar, singing, or contributing keys, the role matters less than the result.

A day in Greg’s life rarely looks traditional. Much of his time is now spent in A&R, finding talent, building relationships, and planting seeds that may take years to bloom. The work requires patience, resilience, and balance: unanswered messages, creative risks, financial stability, and finding moments to push forward musically in every spare crack of time.

Beyond music, Greg’s work at Axiom Contemporary Gallery has deeply influenced his approach to the arts as a business. Being immersed in a space where creators, collectors, and curators thrive together has reinforced a powerful truth: artistic fulfillment and sustainability can coexist. Watching artists grow while helping collectors connect with meaningful work mirrors the same ecosystem Greg strives to build in music, one rooted in authenticity, mutual benefit, and long-term vision.

Greg draws inspiration from innovators who reshaped their industries through unconventional thinking figures like Tom Dowd, the physicist-turned-producer who revolutionized recording technology, and Anderson .Paak, whose collaborative spirit and genre-defying career exemplify what it means to elevate others through music. But perhaps most impactful has been working alongside DJ Grumble whose humility, generosity, and deep respect for the craft have reshaped how Wizards Ink operates, plans, and grows.

When asked about success in the age of streaming and social media, Greg offers a refreshingly grounded formula: taste and work ethic. While metrics like streams and monthly listeners matter, he believes true growth comes from collaboration, measuring not just your audience, but the combined reach of everyone you create with. For Greg, relationships, generosity, and consistency are the real engines of longevity.

Today, Greg Tomanelli stands at the intersection of sound, art, and community, building a career not defined by shortcuts or trends, but by intention. Whether through music production, artistic collaboration, or mentorship, his work continues to prove that betting on passion, when paired with discipline and authenticity, is never a gamble it’s an investment.

To support Greg and Wizards Ink, listen on Spotify or Apple Music, follow along on social media, and most importantly, share the music. In an era where art can travel freely, connection remains the most powerful currency of all.