I want real emotional dynamics, on the brink of chaos, but swooned romantically in the tender arms of harmonic bliss.
Steve Vai is known universally as one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. Starting out his career with Frank Zappa and making guest appearances on a veritable wish list of legendary recordings over the last 30 years, Steve Vai has solidified his place in the history books as both a creative genius and guitar virtuoso. But this 3-time Grammy winner is hardly resting on his laurels. Between managing his Favored Nations record label, running 2 recording studios and working with Little Kids Rock, The Independent Music Awards and Make a Noise Foundation, it's incredible that Steve Vai can find the time to put out multiple releases every year and tour the world. And yet, he does.
I had the honor of speaking with Vai as he prepares to release his 21st solo project, Where The Wild Things Are, available September 29th on DVD.
AS: Let's get right into talking about this new DVD because it looks awesome! The material is from your Sound Theories world tour, however The Sound Theories album and DVD have been released before, correct?
SV: Yeah.
What should fans expect to see on Where the Wild Things Are and how is it different from the previous release?
The Sound Theories album was a double live full orchestra record. It was a tremendous amount of work, but once it was over, I didn't really want to go back into the studio yet. I am always looking to challenge myself and do something unique. Unique compared to what other people are doing. I always wanted to have a band with two violin players, so I put the group together. It was hard to find the right players because they need to be able to balance being classically trained with the ability to rock out. The skies opened up and I was sent Alex DePue and Ann Marie Calhoun. They are phenomenal in so many respects. We put a show together and rehearsed it to perfection. I chose the State Theatre in Minneapolis for the DVD because it's gorgeous! I love the state and the sound is incredible.
You've been doing this for a long time, but your impressive stage show proves that you haven't forgotten what it's like to just be a music fan. When you're putting together tours, do you start with an overall concept of what you want the shows to be and then work out the details? Or do you know what songs you want to play and build a show around it?
I put certain challenges in front of myself. It starts with thinking of something I have never done before. Then there are parameters for the visual construction. It has to be entertaining and exciting for me, which is different than what is exciting for Van Halen or Britney Spears. So, I put myself into the audience and think of what I want to see- great musicianship, but I don't want to be beat up by someone's musical intellect. I want to feel uplifted and feel like I experienced something I had never seen before and will never see anywhere else ever again. I want real emotional dynamics, on the brink of chaos, but swooned romantically in the tender arms of harmonic bliss. And everything in between, really.
First and foremost, artists are entertainers. We like to think we do it for ourselves, but that's bullshit. We do it so people can enjoy it. Of course we hope to fascinate ourselves in the process, but artists want to be appreciated for their contribution. They want to be vital and appreciated and moving. That's what I feel my job is. I have talents and I have gifts and I work for the public. Or, at least, the public that is interested in what I do. They are my family, so to speak. It's almost like a service and I wear the badge proudly. I'm happy to have all of these opportunities.
The Favored Nations record label is incredibly exclusive, more so than other labels, as you only put out artists that have fully mastered their craft. Do you encounter many artists that you feel will be good candidates for your label someday, or do you feel the well drying up?
There will always be a well, you just have to go digging in different parts of the yard. The music will be a reflection of my divining. These days, having a label is a real challenge. The industry is changing and you have to think of ways to present artists in an arena where people are really going to 'get' the music.
What is it like to work with so many legendary musicians? Are the egos out of control, or do musical masters have an air of calm and humility about them.. like monks or something?
[laughs] It's everything from ghandi to gangbangers. There are guys who are incredibly talented and beautifully humble, but there are also people who can hardly play their instruments but think they are elite. I need to find potential in whoever I have in the band or whoever I'm working with and try to cultivate that. The rest is just fodder for my entertainment. [laughs]
You're a known guitar virtuoso with a long and impressive music career... it's easy to forget that YOU AREN'T OLD! Someone with your catalog should be well into their 70s, but you got started really early. Let me ask, how does a 14 year old kid get guitar lessons from Joe Satriani and then land a job with Frank Zappa transcribing his ridiculous guitar solos?
Good karma! I love playing. First and foremost, I am in love with the guitar, but I am also in love with a certain kind of composition. Growing up in the 70s, there were a lot of great rock bands, like Led Zeppelin and Queen that helped cultivate my interests. And then there was the music of Frank Zappa that sparked an explosion! He had all of these compositional skills that no one else really had. I gravitated to that and got into the fold. I became his 'little Italian virtuoso.'
Does it surprise you how many musicians today are music illiterate, or just ignorant when it comes to technique?
It doesn't surprise me, really. No one is cultivating that kind of awareness. People interested in music these days are getting it from the radio or tv or itunes or youtube or whatever. What is there that will really cultivate or even inspire them to understand the language of music? There are SOME, but for the most part, there aren't. It doesn't mean these people are bad musicians. It just means they're working with a different set of tools and will express things differently. The same level of brilliance will be born in individuals today as it has been through history. We're not getting dumber. We're evolving. I really believe that.
For more on Steve Vai, visit him here:
Vai.com - The Official Steve Vai Website
Steve Vai on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE available everywhere September 29th!
I had the honor of speaking with Vai as he prepares to release his 21st solo project, Where The Wild Things Are, available September 29th on DVD.
AS: Let's get right into talking about this new DVD because it looks awesome! The material is from your Sound Theories world tour, however The Sound Theories album and DVD have been released before, correct?
SV: Yeah.
What should fans expect to see on Where the Wild Things Are and how is it different from the previous release?
The Sound Theories album was a double live full orchestra record. It was a tremendous amount of work, but once it was over, I didn't really want to go back into the studio yet. I am always looking to challenge myself and do something unique. Unique compared to what other people are doing. I always wanted to have a band with two violin players, so I put the group together. It was hard to find the right players because they need to be able to balance being classically trained with the ability to rock out. The skies opened up and I was sent Alex DePue and Ann Marie Calhoun. They are phenomenal in so many respects. We put a show together and rehearsed it to perfection. I chose the State Theatre in Minneapolis for the DVD because it's gorgeous! I love the state and the sound is incredible.
You've been doing this for a long time, but your impressive stage show proves that you haven't forgotten what it's like to just be a music fan. When you're putting together tours, do you start with an overall concept of what you want the shows to be and then work out the details? Or do you know what songs you want to play and build a show around it?
I put certain challenges in front of myself. It starts with thinking of something I have never done before. Then there are parameters for the visual construction. It has to be entertaining and exciting for me, which is different than what is exciting for Van Halen or Britney Spears. So, I put myself into the audience and think of what I want to see- great musicianship, but I don't want to be beat up by someone's musical intellect. I want to feel uplifted and feel like I experienced something I had never seen before and will never see anywhere else ever again. I want real emotional dynamics, on the brink of chaos, but swooned romantically in the tender arms of harmonic bliss. And everything in between, really.
First and foremost, artists are entertainers. We like to think we do it for ourselves, but that's bullshit. We do it so people can enjoy it. Of course we hope to fascinate ourselves in the process, but artists want to be appreciated for their contribution. They want to be vital and appreciated and moving. That's what I feel my job is. I have talents and I have gifts and I work for the public. Or, at least, the public that is interested in what I do. They are my family, so to speak. It's almost like a service and I wear the badge proudly. I'm happy to have all of these opportunities.
The Favored Nations record label is incredibly exclusive, more so than other labels, as you only put out artists that have fully mastered their craft. Do you encounter many artists that you feel will be good candidates for your label someday, or do you feel the well drying up?
There will always be a well, you just have to go digging in different parts of the yard. The music will be a reflection of my divining. These days, having a label is a real challenge. The industry is changing and you have to think of ways to present artists in an arena where people are really going to 'get' the music.
What is it like to work with so many legendary musicians? Are the egos out of control, or do musical masters have an air of calm and humility about them.. like monks or something?
[laughs] It's everything from ghandi to gangbangers. There are guys who are incredibly talented and beautifully humble, but there are also people who can hardly play their instruments but think they are elite. I need to find potential in whoever I have in the band or whoever I'm working with and try to cultivate that. The rest is just fodder for my entertainment. [laughs]
You're a known guitar virtuoso with a long and impressive music career... it's easy to forget that YOU AREN'T OLD! Someone with your catalog should be well into their 70s, but you got started really early. Let me ask, how does a 14 year old kid get guitar lessons from Joe Satriani and then land a job with Frank Zappa transcribing his ridiculous guitar solos?
Good karma! I love playing. First and foremost, I am in love with the guitar, but I am also in love with a certain kind of composition. Growing up in the 70s, there were a lot of great rock bands, like Led Zeppelin and Queen that helped cultivate my interests. And then there was the music of Frank Zappa that sparked an explosion! He had all of these compositional skills that no one else really had. I gravitated to that and got into the fold. I became his 'little Italian virtuoso.'
Does it surprise you how many musicians today are music illiterate, or just ignorant when it comes to technique?
It doesn't surprise me, really. No one is cultivating that kind of awareness. People interested in music these days are getting it from the radio or tv or itunes or youtube or whatever. What is there that will really cultivate or even inspire them to understand the language of music? There are SOME, but for the most part, there aren't. It doesn't mean these people are bad musicians. It just means they're working with a different set of tools and will express things differently. The same level of brilliance will be born in individuals today as it has been through history. We're not getting dumber. We're evolving. I really believe that.
For more on Steve Vai, visit him here:
Vai.com - The Official Steve Vai Website
Steve Vai on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE available everywhere September 29th!
