A Place To Hide

FROM THE AISLES OF A LONG ISLAND MUSIC SHOP, FORMED A PLACE TO HIDE; A NY ALTERNATIVE-ROCK BAND THAT’LL KEEP YOU COMING BACK FOR MORE.

Rising up from the Long Island Music Scene, APTH (Nick Rigali, Nick Valero, and Ryan Mastrelli) bring the energy to the stage; from syncopated rhythms, exciting choruses, and an authentic live feel.

The three met in 2014 at a local music shop, where they fulfilled their craving to play in a band. Together, they started off jamming to their favorite alt-rock songs in Mastrelli’s basement, and soon after started writing their own original material. Today, they have over two albums worth of music released, and many more planned to come later this year.

Ryan Mastrelli started his musical journey early in life, filling his childhood with memories of singing, smashing a toy drum set, or pretending to play the guitar. Unfortunately Mastrelli was born legally blind, leaving him with limited sight, which prevented him from truly embracing school activities like sports or video games. In turn, he gravitated towards making music his primary escape. One of Mastrelli’s favorite drummers, Neil Peart (1952-2020) of the rock band Rush, inspired Ryan to become a drummer. By 2009, Ryan had saved up enough money to buy his first drum set that propelled him into the musician he is today.

Nick Rigali’s main musical influence stemmed from his immediate family; introducing him to groups like Cream, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead. His uncle Paulie also had a major impact on Nick during his childhood, showcasing a large guitar collection that constantly expanded each year. Although surrounded by music, Rigali did not have it easy. By 6th grade, it was discovered that Nick had a arachnoid cyst in his brain, which explained the constant fainting he experienced as a child. For about half the year, Rigali was removed from his middle school for the surgery and recovery, where social interaction halted. To add by the doctors order, he was no longer allowed to play in sports, and turned to music as a coping mechanism. With a musically inclined family, and the drive to succeed in music, these experiences fueled Nick to become a rock star, play in a band, and make music his life.

Although being put on to a multitude of rock bands from the 70’s and 80’s through his childhood, it wasn't until Nick Valero was about 12 years old where he decided to pick up bass. Earlier in life, Valero’s father and uncle exposed Nick to live music with their playing habits with guitar and drums, and later inspired Nick to learn how to sing, and be an essential part of the group, A Place To Hide. Like the other members in the band, Valero also went through some childhood trauma. Nick grew up with a little sense of a typical sense of family, due to his parents being separated. Although having a strong relationship with his parents, this bled into his middle school career. He was labeled an outcast, going through a stereotypical (yet prominent) emo phase, which lasted for a few years until his sophomore year of high school. Throwing down the lifestyle of black skinny jeans and beanies, Valero stepped out of his comfort zone, and embraced his social distance of the norm. By staying quiet, he inadvertently created some noise by joining the band, and finding his peers common saying he was the “only person in high school in a rock band.”

The name “A Place To Hide” actually formed after the group started practicing together, stemming from a phone call between the two Nicks in 2012. As the story goes, Rigali was in the middle of a game of hide and seek (manhunt in some areas of the USA) and told Valero he needed “a place to hide.” It caught on, and from there on they kept it.

The music of A Place To Hide combines all the problematic issues, hardships, and journeys the members went through to find their place to hide - where you know you’re not alone in your struggles.