The story behind the Tatted Violinist is equally shocking and inspiring.
Marcos Aycox grew up in Brazil and did everything he possibly could to appeal to his very religious family. He started as a youth pastor and picked up the violin at a very early age but had a very difficult time expressing himself authentically.
Thankfully, everything changed once his cousin helped him secure a scholarship to study music at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2014. Barely knowing any English, Aycox moved all the way to America and faced a slew of adversities. At one point, he even ended up homeless as he was unable to properly make a living under a student visa.
"I was everything my parents wanted me to be. I was a good Christian girl growing up. It was very much a struggle growing up there. I never felt like I could fit in or express myself. I was very unhappy with the way I looked. I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin, so I started with two religious tattoos," Aycox tells Out.
Aycox's first tattoos served as a breakthrough as his first step to finally loving the skin he's in. However, he still dealt with major challenges as he was living out of his car and even lost close friends because they couldn't afford vital medication.
Although he was a skilled violinist, Aycox also found the music industry to be very limiting for his creative process. As he started experimenting with his sexuality and getting permanent ink on his body, the performer started to heal from his trauma.
"I could not fit into any specific crowd. I was tired of being put in a box. You have to be perfect to be a violinist. You have to cover all of your tattoos in a performance. They want you to be mold and all look the same. Everything I know is music."
Everything changed for Aycox once he met his husband, Michael; they first went on a date after chatting on Grindr for a year. The two moved in together right after that first date in August 2018 and eventually tied the knot in July 2019. The husbands are stronger than ever and have no problem baring all on social media as they celebrate their incredible relationship.
"The rest is history. That was the start of the Tatted Violinist. The name was our child, mine and my husband's, but I can't take credit for it. He saw everything about me that I struggled with. He saw me in ways that I couldn't see myself."
Currently residing in Wilton Manors, Aycox is now a familiar face in the iconic gayborhood as he performs at a slew of notable events throughout the year. His next show, titled Unbound, is taking place on May 7 and will feature special arrangements of original and classic material that'll move the entire audience.
"I want it to be about inclusiveness. I want people to come to my performances and know they’re not getting something generic. It’s not just about the music. It’s about feeling like you're part of something. Be in a unicorn in a field of horses. Every tattoo tells a story. My body tells a story."
Fans can get tickets to Unbound by visiting the official website here. To see the full interview with Marcos Aycox, check out the video at the top of the page.
