Nashville is a long way from home for Dave Servodidio.

But as the audience in Bongo Java’s After Hours Theatre tapped along to the rhythm of his guitar on a recent September evening, the Belmont sophomore knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

Servodidio, a Moorestown, N.J, native, turned down an acceptance letter from New York University to attend Belmont, a decision his friends and family didn’t understand at first.

After all, Servodidio said, “My whole music career has been based in the north, and coming to the south, no one’s ever heard of me. Going to Belmont was kind of me branching out on a limb, so it definitely provided inspiration for a bunch
of songs.”

Some of those songs were featured on his first solo album, Seven Dreams, which he released the summer before his freshman year. Two tracks were nominated for the Independent Music Awards.

Creating the album was a dream come true for Servodidio, who said his love for music began when he wanted a guitar for Christmas, got it, and never put it down.

“It was a black Fender Squire with an amp about the size of your hand,” Servodidio said, laughing. “That night, I went home and learned 25 songs. That was the point where I was like, ‘You know what? This could be fun.’”

Servodidio played his first show a few months later for an audience of 50 people. He was 13
years old.

“To me, I had hit the big time. I loved it,” Servodidio said.

But his career was just getting started. In high school, Servodidio and his best friends formed a band, Roxie Down, and started playing to sold-out crowds around Philadelphia.

“My favorite experience as a musician so far has just been the times in general that I had with my old band just playing around, putting out records, going to the studio. I love everything about being in a band,” he said.

Once he moved to Nashville to study music business and entrepreneurship, Servodidio had to start over on his own.

After some big shows this summer alongside artists like The Scenic and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, he’s getting ready to record a second album produced by Ace Enders, the former lead singer for The Early November.

“I’m thrilled. I can’t wait to get back in the studio,” Servodidio said. “That’s where a song really comes to life…and when you come out, you have a product that you believe in.”

For Servodidio, that is what it’s always been about.

“It’s not about money. It’s not about fame or anything like that, no awards,” he said. “One of the greatest compliments I could ever get as a musician is when somebody comes up to me and says, ‘Hey, you know, I really connected with this song.’ That to me is success in the music industry — when you connect with other people.”