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Joe Satriani is an aspiring guitarist’s hero, a multi-platinum virtuoso with groundbreaking style and legendary sounds. As fans wait eagerly for the release, The Record gets a rare opportunity for a conversation with the maestro. We are excited and even a little awestruck, but we keep a lid on it, and come away with some great insights from the guru himself.
The Record: Tell us about the new album Is There Love In Space?
Joe Satriani: Is There Love In Space has about 60 minutes of music. Nine instrumentals, two vocal songs - it’s a rocking record with a little bit of a blues influence. If the songs were leaning a little bit towards modern or older blues they still had a rock sensibility about them. I made sure that there was just a lot of extraordinary guitar playing on every song.
TR: What goes into the making of a G3 Tour?
JS: It takes myself and my manager about a year to organise, put together, invite and eventually sell the G3 concert series to individual promoters around the world. I try to come up with players that I think will be complementing towards each other even though they might be very different in their personal style.
TR: What do you do to keep evolving as a guitarist?
JS: I practice all the time. I really sit down and try to be as different and innovative as possible but I don’t turn my back on my roots, my beginnings, my first loves of music. I listen to all the other guitar players that are around making good music as well. (Among the new guitarists) Charlie Hunter is an 8 string jazz guitar player – I think he’s probably one of the most modern, forward-thinking guitarist around.
TR: You said in an interview that there was a time when you had no idea what you were doing. What did you do to change that?
JS: That happens a lot! [Laughs] In a lighter way, I think there are certain times when you feel you’ve accomplished a particular direction. Once that moment comes and you’re completely satisfied, it’s replaced almost immediately with a longing for a new journey, some new unusual desire that you can’t put your finger on. At that moment you don’t really know what you’re doing but you know you’ve got a desire for it – to reach something.
It’s a very interesting moment – you’re gaining something and then it slips away the moment you have it and then once again you’re searching. I think the most interesting thing is in the searching – looking for that elusive song, the missing note, the special chord. I think it’s a very noble, artistic quest.
You can read the rest of our exclusive interview with Joe Satriai in the April 2004 issue of The Record Music Magazine available at your local newsagent.
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