Debut Album 'In Transit'
TRACKS
1.
In Transit
♪ PLAY
 04:21
2. The Beginning 04:14
3. Florence's Theme 03:06
4. Shades 03:32
5. The Awakening 04:39
6. In Memoriam 02:53
7. In Memoriam (with strings) 03:44
8. The Beginning (with strings) 04:19
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*All proceeds bought through Bandcamp go towards fighting homelessness
*All proceeds bought through Bandcamp go towards fighting homelessness

In Transit is a deeply personal collection of original piano compositions by Nicole Sanzio, reflecting moments of transformation, loss, and emotional resilience. The album serves as a sonic journey through pivotal experiences in her life, with each track representing a chapter in her story.
Recorded at Rusk Sound Studios and produced by a talented team including Phillip Lewis (Doja, Sabrina Carpenter, HER), Jill Tengan, Hal Cragin, Jason Mattia, and Joey Baron, In Transit captures raw emotion through intricate piano melodies and evocative arrangements.
The album's title holds multiple meanings—most significantly, it represents the moment Nicole was traveling to Los Angeles, unaware that she would never see her biological mother alive again. This moment of unexpected grief became the emotional foundation for the title track and the album, symbolizing not just loss, but also the transition into what comes next.
While deeply personal, In Transit invites listeners to connect with their own emotions and experiences, offering a space to reflect on the changes and journeys in their own lives.
Each track on In Transit tells a part of Nicole’s journey. Below, she shares the stories behind the compositions, offering insight into the emotions and experiences that shaped them.

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TRACK DETAILS
1. In Transit   ♪ Listen on Spotify
The title track of the album, In Transit, holds multiple meanings - both literal and symbolic. The composition was initially inspired by a pivotal moment in Nicole’s life when she traveled to Los Angeles for business, planning to visit her biological mother, who was in a convalescent home at the time. While in flight, she captured a photograph of the clouds from above—unaware that her mother had passed away that same day. Five days later, when she called to confirm their visit, she learned the devastating news. That moment of transition, from expectation to loss, became the emotional core of the piece. Read more
Beyond this deeply personal meaning, In Transit also reflects the act of moving through pain into what comes next. During her most recent LA trip in 2021, Nicole was grappling with the emotional weight of someone in her life who was constantly in transit - physically and emotionally. That experience became the push she needed to finish the track. When a friend later pointed out that the composition didn’t feel like it ended in pain, they named it In Transit - signifying movement, transformation, and the unknown ahead.
The title also carries broader significance:
  • The composition itself was in transit to Nicole’s next body of work, the full album.
  • It marks her transition into Islam and her evolving sense of self.
  • It represents her growing clarity on love, relationships, and what she wants—and doesn’t want - in a partner.
In Transit is more than just a track; it’s a reflection of life’s constant motion, the way we navigate love, loss, and personal transformation. It doesn’t dwell in the past—it moves forward.
2. The Beginning   ♪ Listen on Spotify
A tribute to Nicole’s adoptive parents, honoring the love and stability they provided her. This track is a reflection of deep gratitude for the home they gave her when her biological mother, who battled schizophrenia, heroin addiction, and instability, was unable to provide the same. Read more
At nearly four years old, Nicole was adopted, carrying the weight of an early life marked by chaos and uncertainty. But by the grace of God, she was welcomed into the arms of two of the most loving parents—people who not only gave her a home but also nurtured her future.
Recognizing the power of music as a tool for connection, her parents enrolled her in Suzuki piano lessons not long after her adoption. The structured yet intuitive method helped her develop a deep sensitivity to sound, shaping the way she listened—both in music and in life.
Released on her birthday, The Beginning is more than just a composition—it’s a dedication to the parents who gave her a new start, a safe space, and a life filled with music and love. Nicole credits them for giving her the foundation to hear the world differently, allowing her to express what words could not.
3. Florence's Theme   ♪ Listen on Spotify
Florence's Theme is a tribute to the moment Nicole truly recognized her gift for composing music - despite never having learned to read music. Read more
Her best friend, Florence, a Westminster Choir College graduate with a deep mastery of music theory, had always been able to effortlessly sight-read sheet music. While living together for a year, she overheard Nicole composing this piece and walked into her room, astonished. She couldn’t believe that Nicole was creating such intricate music without reading notation. That moment of recognition—from someone so skilled in traditional music education—became a turning point.
Florence's reaction gave Nicole the motivation to finish the track and, more importantly, the confidence to continue composing. At the time, she wasn’t sure how trained musicians perceived her work, so Florence's encouragement was deeply validating.
The track was named Florence's Theme in honor of that pivotal exchange—one that reinforced Nicole’s passion for composition and reminded her that music is felt just as much as it is learned.
4. Shades   ♪ Listen on Spotify
Shades is a reflection of the emotional journey we all experience throughout life. With its evolving melodies and shifting dynamics, the composition captures the ever-changing seasons we go through—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Read more
For Nicole, this piece represents her own personal growth and the realization that human connection comes in many forms, across all shades of experience. The way we relate to one another isn’t always black and white; it’s layered, nuanced, and constantly evolving—just like music itself.
Through Shades, Nicole translates this understanding into sound, expressing what words often cannot.
5. The Awakening   ♪ Listen on Spotify
The Awakening marks the beginning of Nicole’s journey as a composer - when she realized she no longer wanted to perform other people’s music but instead create her own. Read more
Growing up, piano lessons were a constant in her life, encouraged by her parents. But after transitioning from the Suzuki Method to traditional lessons, the joy of playing began to fade. Reading music felt restrictive, and over time, the structured approach no longer resonated with her. When she finally stepped away from reading sheet music, she assumed that might be the end of her time at the piano. Yet, the piano still called to her.
It wasn’t until she started freely experimenting with the keys—without the pressure of notation - that something shifted. For the first time, she discovered she could attach her own emotions to the music she was creating. That realization was The Awakening - the moment she found her true voice through composition.
6. In Memoriam   ♪ Listen on Spotify
In Memoriam is a tribute to love, legacy, and the people who shape us in ways we don’t always realize until later. Read more
Nicole originally wasn’t planning to include this track on In Transit, hesitant to close the album with something that felt like a memorial to herself. But sometimes, things unfold for reasons beyond our understanding. The track, which was frequently used by NBC’s Meet The Press during their tributes, ultimately found its home on the album—just in time to honor the life of her Aunt, Linda.
Auntie Lin played a pivotal role in Nicole’s journey, introducing the idea of her adoption to the Sanzio family and unknowingly setting in motion the path that would lead her to a loving home. She was a source of strength, confidence, and resilience, passing down traits that continue to shape Nicole today.
Her impact extended beyond family ties—she also helped Nicole establish her now-signature month-long stays in Los Angeles, unknowingly preparing her for the extended business trips that have become a part of her life.
In Memoriam is not just a reflection on loss, but a reminder to cherish the people who make us who we are.
7. In Memoriam - with strings   ♪ Listen on Spotify
8. The Beginning – with strings   ♪ Listen on Spotify
The release party for In Transit was hosted on Clubhouse and featured a surprise appearance by legendary producer Just Blaze. The event originated from a conversation in the #mahsaamini chatroom and brought together artists and supporters for an intimate listening session. Check out the clip of Just Blaze sharing his thoughts on the project.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Rusk Studio session
Session with Phil Lewis
Session with Phil Lewis
Session with Phil Lewis
Session with Phil Lewis