It’s been good. Real good. People like what the layout, the songs and the info on the site. So mission accomplished. I have been making a conscious effort to keep it updated on a regular basis, usually about every 2 weeks. I had a few pages to complete after it was launch and I’m pretty much there now. There are a couple of pages which still have to be done (i.e. the training pages) which I am working on pretty hard and which will be up and running soon. In general I’m really pleased with the way it has worked out. It’s been a good little project for me to work on. I guess it’s the “business” side of the music for me.

I guess the updates take up a certain amount of time?

A little. The web site updates don’t really take up all that much time to put together. I’ve already worked out most of the concepts and ideas so it’s just a matter of putting the pages together and uploading them onto the site. I’m a one man band so it’s been balancing act between working on the web site, the music and the rest of life over the last couple of months.

What else have you been up to since the last time we spoke?

The last time round I said that I only practice when I need to, I think I made a point of it, well I needed to so I’ve been practicing some pretty rudimentary stuff to progress my playing. I’ve been going back to basics and brushing up in my picking and scales and things like that. I find it helpful to go over the basics once in a while. I’ve also been buying new equipment [details can be found on the equipment page]. I managed to find an ESP MII which I really like. It has an alder body and maple neck and fretboard. This guitar is just fantastic. Real easy to play, sounds absolutely brilliant. I’ve not picked up my other guitars since I bought it in November. I’m also using a couple of pedals in front of the Line 6 POD. I’m switching between a Boss DS1 (Distortion) and the OD3 (Overdrive) pedals for extra drive. Both sound very smooth. The DS-1 sound is has a little more attack. I’m also using Monster Cables rather then the George L’s now so my set up has changed a little.

What prompted the change in your set up?

-I’m always buying new gear so inevitably my set up changes from time to time. The guitar I found purely by chance. I was kinda looking but only if the right guitar came along and it did. In terms of the pedals, I was looking for a line driver to give my sound a little more edge. I noticed that a lot of people (including the George Lynch and Steve Vai) use overdrive and distortion pedals to enhance their sound so I decided to give it a shot. In respect of the cables, I had been reading about the Monster Cables for a while and I decided to give them a go. They are pricey but they really do work. I’m a believer. I’m using the Monster Rock cable at the moment and it does a great job of restoring mid and highs as well as enhancing the bass response. The extra frequencies definitely make a big, big difference to the overall sound.

What is your current set up?

ESP MII to the POD via the Monster Rock (sometimes with the Morley Bad Horsie, Boss DS1 or OD3 in between). I like to keep the line between the guitar and the POD as straight forward as possible so that the signal is as unchanged as possible. I find that putting effects between the guitar and the POD or an amp changes the sound. I can usually get the sound I want straight out of the POD. If I can’t then I use the pedals. On the POD I use the Boogie Rectifier #2 amp model most of the time. The sound I get is very crunchy, very much like the sound on Lynch Mob’s “Wicked Sensation”.

Is that the sound you were aiming for?

Yes. It’s one of my all time favorite guitar sounds.

And now you’ve finally nailed it?

Almost. The POD lacks a little something. I’ve still not figured out what is missing but the tone is almost there. I think I’m lacking a little bit of bite and attack and a tiny bit of top end which I can’t seem to get by turning up the treble or presence. Extra treble or presence tends makes the sound too twangy and unusable.

Why not mike up an amp?

Because the POD is so convenient for the environment I record in. I don’t have access to a full sized studio at the moment so the most convenient solution is to use the POD. In fact I’ve recently bought a Bass POD which I think is excellent. I’d love to be able to mike up an amp but I wouldn’t get the sound I want unless I turned the amp up all the way. Besides the amp I want to go try out, the Peavey Triple XXX, is still not available in the UK. Well, it’s supposedly been shipped out by Peavey but none of the stores have it yet. So if anybody from Peavey happens to read this, where the hell is the amp?!?!?!?!?! I’ve heard mixed reviews about it. Some people say that it’s a really good sounding amp, is very versatile and sounds good even at low volumes, some people say that it’s not all that great sounding. To be honest, I think my tone problem has more to do with the guitar then the amp. I think a maple body guitar would do the trick. It’s something I have to check out.

You’re also playing keyboard now?

Yes I am. I’m still in the novice stage but its much easier then programming midi into my PC, which was becoming a major pain in the neck. I’ve only had it a couple of days but I’m figuring out how to play it really quickly because I know how chords are structured, etc. It’s kinda fun. I’ve just completed my first track on which I actually play the keyboard, as opposed to programming the midi in the computer.

So, you’re all set to record the remaining tracks for your demo?

I guess so in the sense that I have all of the equipment ready and waiting. Composing and recording, that’s a whole different story. I have a couple of tracks already completed. I have another couple which are almost complete (solos to be done) and I have a number of ideas which I have to get onto the hard drive. I’m planning on having a total of 6-7 tracks in total.

How is the recording the going?

As usual! 76 takes and maybe I’ll have a complete track!!! Seriously, is going OK. The PC does most of what I want it to but it is tricky sometimes because of the interference the screen gives off, so I gotta sit at 90 degrees to the screen while recording. I'm using Cubase 5 now, which is the 32bit version of the version I was previously running. I've not tried out the 32bit recording function yet but am itching to give it a go. The software is a lot more stable then previous versions and runs really smoothly. Sound wise, the PC does a great job whether I'm recording in 16bit or 24bit mode. 24bit sound a little better then the 16bit but it eats up disk space really quickly. 32bit is going to fill my drive!!! I do want to get into a proper studio at some point though.

Once the demo is done?

Once it’s done I’ll have it duplicated and it’ll be available through the web site.

Where has the exotic influence come from?

I guess it’s in my eastern blood! Seriously, a lot of my favorite players tinker with eastern and exotic sounding scales and intervals all the time so the influence has come from there. I’ve taken what I have leant and incorporated it into my own playing. George Lynch and Steve Vai use those sounds a lot.

The new George Lynch/Jeff Pilson project must be exciting you as you’re a big George Lynch fan?

Oh yeah definitely. Let’s put it this way, I’ve not been this excited about a CD since I heard about the impending release of the first Lynch Mob album. I waiting a long year and a half for the release of that album and it turned out to be one of my all time favs and one of those CDs that influenced me most in my playing. Both George and Jeff are brilliant musicians. They are two of my all time favorite musicians. I have always liked Jeff’s voice. I think he has a much stronger voice then Don Dokken. From what I have heard, the music will have elements of Lynch Mob, War & Peace and Dokken in it. It’ll be real interesting to hear the results. Let’s wait and see what happens with this one…

Where are you drawing inspiration from at the moment? Are there any specific artists you are listening to?

Actually, it’s more a case of watching. I have been really getting into movies lately. I’ve had a DVD player over the last few months and I use every single day. I have been watching movies directed by Robert Rodriguez over the last couple of weeks, (“El Mariachi”, “Desperado” “From Dusk Till Dawn”, etc). He is a very talented and inspirational guy. I read his book about the making of “El Mariachi” as well and its one of those stories which gives musicians like me lots of hope. Basically, Rodriguez made “El Mariachi” on a budget of $7,000 by doing everything himself (filming, editing, PR, etc) and it eventually became critically acclaimed and Columbia Pictures bought the rights for a fortune. His methods are very “anti-institutional” because he did things his way, not the way which has been prescribed by the film companies. That’s the path I have taken over the last couple of years, and lets face it, major record labels are not interested inhair band and solo guitar players, so if you wanna make it playing the sort of music I do then I’ve just gotta take the initiative and do everything by yourself, which is what I have done, i.e. sticking to my guns and playing the way I want and promoting my music through my web site rather then going the usual route of demo, send to record companies, get rejected a million times and then get signed to a small independent label or something like that. That’s not to say that that route doesn’t work, it does for lots of bands. I think it wouldn’t work for me and the type of music I am playing, the fact that I’m a solo guitar player at the moment and I don’t really have a fan base at the moment. There’s work still to be done before I get to the record company stage.

Is it the process that is influencing you at the moment?

Well, that’s part of it. The process of creating everything myself is real appealing to me because what I end up with is music which I have created in its entirety. It is music which has been written, recorded, layered and shaped by me. It is essentially looking directly into who I am as a musician. I am also drawing a lot of stimulation and inspiration from visual elements at the moment as well, i.e. the films themselves. Visual stimulus gives me a different perspective on writing music. Music is already incorporated as part of the soundtrack and that has some bearing on what I eventually write, but as the music on soundtracks is very different from that which I listen to on CDs it gives me fresh ideas which I otherwise would not have thought of. When I write music I try to visualize it, I want it to tell a story. I don’t just want it to be a bunch of notes. That actually drives me to write music which means something to me. It’s a real spiritual experience for me. The music has to touch me otherwise I’ll end up scrapping it, and that is something which I have done that in the past. When a song is completed it has to tell me a story, I have to be able to make up a visual story in my head to associate with the music otherwise I am not completely satisfied. I hope some of what goes into my tracks is felt by the listeners.

Example?

OK, have a listen to these tracks…

[Jay plays back the tracks “Tears” and “Sacred Serpent”}

For me, when I listen back at those 2 tracks I can actually visualize where I am. They evoke emotions in me. In terms of “Tears”, I can feel the hurt and tears. I can visualize the type of situation which may evoke those emotions. When I listen to “Sacred Serpent”, I can picture standing in desert and a rattlesnake slithering past while I'm playing the track. That might be a great idea for a video!!! Maybe a panning shot from a helicopter. OK so now I’m just day dreaming…

I can see where you’re coming from. Both tracks do evoke different feelings and emotions. Is that also something that you look for in songs by other artists?

Yes. I can always visualize the tracks which are my favorites. I can feel the emotion in the track. It’s something I want to feel.

Is there any music out there which is influencing you?

I’ve been listening to CDs released by the Favored Nations record label, which is Steve Vai’s record label. There are some really cool artists on that label. I’m currently listening to Billy Sheehan’s latest solo CD, Stuart Hamm’s latest solo CD and a CD by Greg Koch, who is a blues player with a really cool approach to playing. Its kind of “spooky blues”. Considering what is currently being released under the head of “Guitar Bands” these are a real breath of fresh air. Billy Sheehan’s CD is really cool because he plays guitars, bass and keyboards on all tracks and there are guest appearances by a couple of other top players (Steve Vai included). There are a couple of other CDs from the Favored Nations catalogue I also want to pick up. I’m also listening to James LaBrie’s Mullmuzzler CD which is awesome. A friend of mine recommended I check it out and it’s a great CD (thanks Andrew). Sounds very like Dream Theatre. Mike Keneally (guitar) and Mike Mangini (drums) play on the CD. They used to be part of Steve Vai’s live backing band. Both are great players. The other CD I am listening to is the last album by Live which is called “V”.

How did you find out able the Favored Nations label?

I’ve know about it for a while now. I really got interested because I was given a copy of a sampler disk at the Steve Via gig which I went to a couple of weeks ago. There was one track by each artist on the CD and I thought they were great so I went and bought a couple of the CDs. A very good piece of PR…

…and Steve Vai?

As awesome as ever. The gig was really cool because he has Tony MacAlpine playing second guitars and Billy Sheehan playing bass. Steve is a great showman. The band played for about two and a half hours, Can’t really ask for much more. I really enjoy seeing Steve Vai live.

Steve Vai started out by releasing a demo through an independent label did he?

Yes he did. “Flex-able” was recorded by Steve himself and released via a small independent label, I think on a distribution deal basis. Steve Vai retained the copyright in the recordings (a good thing) and made a lot of money from that album. He’s an incredibly talented musician so I’m not gonna start drawing comparisons with me because I can’t even start to come into the same league but he. He did what he did really well and it gave him the freedom to dictate exactly where his career went from there. I think Steve Vai is one of those rare people who have the ability to call the shots. It’s great what he did with the David Lee Roth band back in the early ‘80s, it was sometimes off the wall and definitely fresh sounding, and then being given the freedom to write what he wanted to on Whitesnake’s “Slip of the Tongue”. I don’t think there are a lot of people on the planet who have as much musical freedom as he does.

Do you think that the way forward is self production and independent labels?

Self production is certainly something which is on the increase. It can be helpful to have somebody else producing as well though as they can offer an objective opinion and ideas but the technology is now readily available so that anybody can record and produce their own music on their computer, on a digital 4 track, etc. I think independent labels are one of the ways forward. In recent years I have seen a number of musicians just taking the initiative and creating their own labels, doing everything themselves and just looking for a distribution deal once their material is completed. For music which is not classified as “popular” and which is unlikely to attract a big record contract, this is one of the only ways of getting the music out there. I think the internet is also working wonders in this arena as well because anybody with the will and initiative can digitize their music and put it onto the net, which technically exposes it to millions of people. Once the music is out there it’s just a question of “how do I get as much exposure as possible?” and there are various ways of doing this. Personally, I send out update E-Mails to a group of people, who I hope are telling their friends about my site. I have also posted details on a couple of message boards, which has helped as well. Even simple things like putting the web site address at the bottom of E-Mails is useful.

But isn’t that what a record company is there to do?

Yes it is, but they are only going to invest in PR for an artist if the artist is signed to them and they think that they are going to obtain a reasonable return from such PR. For those bands and artists who are not signed and want to get exposure while they look for a deal this is an effective way of getting the necessary publicity. A lot of the time bands and artists do not have a huge budget for PR and promotion and therefore they have to find alternative routes. The internet is one of those routes. Another angle is that many artists do not want a record contract or world tour but do want to get their music out there. The internet is perfect for that. It gives artists a lot of options and freedoms which they would otherwise not have if they were signed to a major label. I do think though that there is an art in the promoting side. You need to plan ahead and have a vision of where you want to go and how to get there. It’s essentially a business plan. “There are my objectives and these are the ways I am going to fulfill those objectives”. It’s basic commerce.

You’ve obviously created the web site for yourself. Are there any tips you would give any aspiring musician out there for getting their music listened to?

I’d say go for it. I have found it an easy way of getting my music out there to the audience who will want to listen to it. As the internet is a world wide affair you can target a specific group of people throughout the world. Before creating a site though I would say that the first thing to do is carefully considers the look of the site, the layout, what material will they have, what material will be needed, what resources they have, etc. Although I did most of the web site designing myself there were still certain elements which required help (e.g. the photos). I had friends help me out with certain elements of the site. It’s also a good idea to plan ahead and consider where you want the site to go. What is your ultimate aim? Do you want to get a record contract? Do you want it to be a personal part time thing? This is probably one of the more important elements as it’ll guide how the web site progresses. The final element would be letting people know that the web site is up and running. It never hurts to have a regular mailing list. It’s also real helpful to have web links on other sites and registering with search engines. With the internet you got to remember that the person designing and administering the site dictates where it goes. The only boundaries are the technical ones.

Do you think the music industry will change in the coming years to cater for this trend?

I think it is already changing. Record companies are already aware of the potential of the internet and they are using it to their advantage. I think that their view of the industry has radically changed over the last 10 years and this is reflected in how the industry is run.

So what do you think the future holds?

Hopefully the independent labels will rise up and sign all those quickly little artists which the majors are not interested in, will start selling billions of CDs and will eventually take over the majors and restore artistic integrity in the industry!!! Oh, and I get signed make a huge amount of money and will be driving around in a Lamborghini within 6 months. Well, it’s a nice fantasy. In all seriousness, I think that labels like Favored Nations will strive to make sure that talented artists continue to record and will make available music which people like me want to listen to. I think serious musicians will always want to listen to the virtuosos and will not want to listen to guitar bands that play with way too much distortion and zero guitar solos.

Are the younger guitar player taking notice of the virtuosos these days?

Some are. I received an E-Mail a couple of months ago from a 20 year old guitar player who had some across my site and he was saying that he really liked George Lynch’s playing from the early ‘90s and that he can’t take guitar players seriously now. However, because he likes the hair bands and the virtuosos he is not taken very seriously!!! It should be the other way around. For all their faults and stereotypes the one thing that hair bands did produce were great musicians like Randy Rhodes, George Lynch, Warren DiMartini, Vito Bratta, etc. Virtuoso guitar playing is a dying art. It will never completely fade away though. There will always be players out there who are prepared to defy the rules and keep the art alive.

Music wise, what are your plans for 2002?

First and foremost, to complete my demo CD. Hopefully it will be completed within the next couple of months. Once the demo is done I’d like to find a band and maybe do some gigs. The rest, well, I’ll let fate decide…

24 December 2001.