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  ANTHIMOS MANTI | by Matt Cafissi

Hi Anthimos, how did you get interested in music and who were some guitarists and bands that influenced your playing?

Since I was a child I remember being attracted by the sound of the guitar and that's what made me want to learn how to play. My main influences are virtuoso guitarists such as Steve Vai,Richie Kotzen and Paul Gilbert.

Tell me something about your debut and latest cd called “Alligator Lick”, cool title!

haha,thanks Matt!I was thinking to make an istrumental album for a long time,but I didn;t have the time..Despite the fact that i composed and recorded everything you hear in this record in a week(that may sound a little crazy...!),I think I played everything I wanted to in there,and I  hope u and the rest of the world likes it!!In the meantime,people around me were working for the artwork and the result was really good! in this record there are 14 songs from lots of different styles of music,from shred to melodic rock,classic and atmospheric!I hope you really like that!!

How do you go about composing your music? 

Well,first I think about what style I want the song to be.Then I 'm writing something like a basic riff or lick and then everything else falls into place!That's the way I 'm composing actually.

Which kind of music are you usually listening to right now?

I 'm listening to a lot of country music at the time and I 'm thinking about making my 2nd album a country album.By the way,i got a 6 string banjo recently!

Now, tell us more about what you usually use on stage and in studio recording.

Basically I 'm playing a Fender Telecaster with DiMarzio pickups

and Laney GH 100L head amp,true vintage sound!!On my pedalboard I have custom Telegun pedals[telegun msd distortion,booster and modulator]which I endorse.I really trust them for studio and live shows.I also use a Boss delay pedal,an EBS chorus pedal and a wah by MORLEY.

Tell about the guitar scene in Greece … interesting guitarists …

Well,Yes there are some incredibly talented musicians in my country,especially guitarists,but it's difficult for someone to make it as a guitarist in Greece 'cause the folk/traditional Greek music is the kind of music that sells records in here..Although Greeks are more into the Greek stuff,there are many fans of the hard sound as well!

A crazy question for you: what are three songs of other artists that you wish you had written?

Haha!That's a hard one!So many songs out there..!hah but if I had to choose I 'd say..

1) Tender Surrender-Steve Vai,for sure!

2)YOu don't remember I 'll never forget-Yngwie Malmsteen

3)somebody like you - keith urban

Well, what are you currently working on?

Basically I 've already started composing and arranging my second album,'cause I want to emphasize more on it compared to my last one.I want to mix rock music with country in it!'m also playing with an RnB band and we 're gonna do some shows here in Greece

The interview is finished ... in your opinion, Internet is the future of the music business?

Yes,I think the internet is the future and not only for music.People can advertise and promote themselves through different sites and musicians can make money by selling their records.Thanks to the internet we have some great players and I think there are many cool new ideas to come!

  KB | by Matt Cafissi

Hi KB, how did you get interested in music and who were some guitarists and bands that influenced your playing?

I always listened to music since my more young age, thanks to my parents in particular, but oddly I never thought of playing of an instrument. It is completely by accident that one day at friend’s house which had a guitar, I learned my first chords, and since the guitar never left me.  I was fan of rock and blues at this time. I listened to AC/DC, Van Halen, Satriani, Vai and Malmsteen. Then I known in the Nineties, all the guitarists signed by Mike Varney from Shrapnell Record : Vinnie Moore, Macalpine, Gilbert, Becker, Friedman, Howe, Firkins, Tafolla…, then I tardily discovered Hendrix, Vaughan, Jon Roth, Reinhardt... Today I like the musical approach of the bands like Korn, Meshuggah, Bucket Head or Ron Thal.

Tell me something about your debut and latest cd called “Twelve Ways To Warms Up Your Days”

In fact, the composition of this album goes up with 10 years ago, with the title “Endless Tears". 3 versions were even written. The others were made up about 5 years ago, except “Secret Yard”, but all were really finalized only at the last time. All the songs were recorded and mixed in my home studio. I also made the cover and a video clip of the title " Sunny Day", available on my myspace page.

How do you go about composing your music?

To compose, in general I start with a part of guitar or a melody that I composed, and which I develop rhythmically and harmonically. But sometimes, i start from a rhythm of drum, a sound or an effect which inspires something to me. Sometimes, a title of song that I found, inspires me a direction or a color to be followed.

Which kind of music are you usually listening to right now?

In this moment, I’m inclined to listen to old albums which I have at home, because with musical maturity that I have today, I do not listen to them same manner. I re-discover them. Concurrently to that, I always appreciate an old good Vai, the first Korn’s albums, the first Messugah’s albums, some albums of John Scofield, and the last Lamb of god too. I know, i’m a little bit weird!!! Lol.

Now, tell us more about what you usually use on stage and in studio recording.

I play exclusively on 7 strings guitars, with DIMarzio evolution pickup, except for a telecaster custom of 89 that I use for the clear sounds. I have two different models of whammy pedal that I couple to obtain a larger sound pallet. And I use a POD XT Pro in my home studio. On stage, I have a Mesa Boogie 50/50, a 4x12 Marshall Green cab and my POD.

Now the guitar scene in France is very interesting …

I think there exists much of very good guitarists in France, as in the rest of the world, but finally few of them are really at the top of the others. Many young musicians did not understand yet that it is more important to write a good melody or song, to align notes at any speed. That come with the age. I hope i have understood that. LOL

A crazy question for you: what are three songs of other artists that you wish you had written?

Difficult question!!! I would have liked to compose “Strat-o-Various” of Greg Howe, “Crying” of Malmsteen and...Highway to hell of AC/DC. There are so much incredible songs.

Well, what are you currently working on?

In this moment, I work on new ideas of songs, but between my work and the promotion of the album, I do not have much time.

The interview is finished ... in your opinion, Internet is the future of the music business?

Yes, Internet became impossible to skip today. It’s an incredible tool which puts the culture available to everybody, however his social status. It allows to the artists to be bring to light in the whole world, and not to more be forcing dependent on a recording company. That gives a total freedom of creation. Remain the problem of the remuneration of the artists, which should have been solved for a long time by a global license. But the governments are too much influenced by big producers and huge majors, who have as only objective, to safeguard their own interest and not those of the artists.

  THE BLACKLIES | by Carlo C.

Dopo aver consumato nel mio lettore cd il disco dei “The Blacklies” dal titolo “Groundfloor” (edito per la britannica “Uk Division Records”) mi accingo con piacere ad intervistare il cantante della band, F.Thomas Ferretti, vista anche l'imminente uscita del primo singolo dal titolo...

F.Thomas: “Sorry but I feel so bad”..(ride ...n.d.r)

Allora F.Thomas, parliamo subito di questo singolo, perchè proprio il brano “Sorry but I feel so bad”?

Ciao a tutti innanzitutto...mah , devo dire che è stata una scelta unanime da parte di tutta la band cosiccome dell'entourage che ha lavorato e lavora tuttora al nostro progetto: la consapevolezza è anche quella che “Sorry” abbia in effetti un tiro più prettamente radiofonico, a differenza di altre tracce contenute del cd.

Quindi la vostra prossima mossa è quella di lanciare questo singolo per radio oppure avete in cantiere anche altre novità?

Diciamo che il nostro obbiettivo primario adesso è quello di portare più in alto possibile “Groundfloor” e la prima proposta che  ci è stata formulata , viste anche tutte le recensioni positive, i riscontri durante le esibizioni live e le prime interviste radiofoniche, è stata appunto estrarre un singolo dal disco. All'interno del cd abbiamo pensato di includere quattro brani: due del disco, una versione “nostra” di “American Life “ di Madonna, brano che amiamo suonare dal vivo e che ha spesso incontrato i gusti del pubblico, ed una versione acustica di “Go on flyin'you crazy angel”.

Leggendo appunto le numerose recensioni  riguardo “Groundfloor” si direbbe che il disco stia funzionando davvero bene, me lo confermi?

In effetti ti confermo che abbiamo avuto subito un notevole riscontro tra gli addetti ai lavori (stampa, internet, promoter , con piacere anche dall'estero (Germania, Olanda, Svezia, Spagna), a conferma del fatto che forse qualcosa di buono abbiamo fatto!

In una webzine tedesca (www.powermetal.de) siete stati definiti come una delle band emergenti  più interessanti degli ultimi anni a livello europeo, che effetto vi ha fatto leggere questo commento?

Beh, che dire, è per noi un'immensa soddisfazione ed un motivo in più per andare avanti in questa direzione tenendo alta la voglia di migliorarsi sempre.

A parte il singolo di cui abbiamo parlato avete altri progetti in cantiere? Quando potremo aspettarci l'uscita del successore di “Groundfloor”?

Sul fronte live abbiamo alcune date in programma per quest'estate, per quanto riguarda lo studio se sarà ritenuto opportuno probabilmente pubblicheremo un secondo singolo, mentre per quanto riguarda il disco nuovo è ancora presto per dirlo, ti posso comunque anticipare che abbiamo già composto una quindicina di pezzi ed è probabile che la produzione inizi il prossimo inverno.

Un'ultima domanda prima di terminare l'intervista:  dacci un motivo per comprare “Groundfloor” e/o il singolo “Sorry But I feel so bad"!

D'impatto ti direi perchè è un disco fatto con cuore e con una passione sfrenata per la musica! In seconda battuta aggiungerei perchè abbiamo tentato di scrivere un disco che, nonostante rispetti certi clichè commerciali e quindi di più facile  ascolto, mantiene secondo noi una forte componente rock contaminata dall'elettronica tutta da scoprire..niente è stato lasciato al caso!

Influenze?

Molteplici...dagli Zeppelin ai Depeche Mode, passando per i Muse e Deftones! In ogni caso tutto quello che nel corso degli anni è passato dalle nostre orecchie!

Mi hai convinto! Mi auguro che tu abbia fatto lo stesso effetto anche ai nostri lettori!!! Adesso siamo ai saluti...vuoi ringraziare qualcuno in particolare?

Ovviamente partendo da tutti i nostri familiari ed i fans è doveroso salutare il produttore Nicola Baronti, Giannantonio Corongiu dello GC Studio, il nostro grafico e amico Matt Cafissi...tutte persone senza le quali tutto questo non sarebbe stato possibile.

  LEE CARLSON | by Matt Cafissi

Hi Lee, how did you get interested in music and who were some guitarists and bands that influenced your playing?

Hey Matt! Well, as a kid I always loved hearing guitar solos and imagined that I was the one playing them. So I begged for a guitar! I was listening to the 80’s pop bands at the time. Then I heard David Lee Roth’s Eat ‘Em And Smile album. That ruined everything for me. I was determined to play like Steve Vai! Other major influences were, of course, Joe Satriani and John Petrucci from Dream Theater.

Tell me something about your latest album called “Essence Of Time”

The album was a long time in the works. In fact, I had been working at recording and releasing an instrumental album for quite a few years but I just kept getting sidetracked with other band projects. Finally, I just locked the door and got to work and that’s how the title Essence Of Time came about. I knew the timing was good to focus on my own album. During the writing process I realized that the title would also make for a cool theme for the whole CD. It was originally supposed to be 7 songs but when the time came to put the album out I just wasn’t happy with the other 2 songs, so it became a 5 song EP.

How do you go about composing your music?

I usually start with some sort of concept in my head and try to hear as much of the tune as I can before I start writing. Then I start working out the riff or chord progression or melody. Other times it may be just a cool melody or short riff that came out from jamming. I don’t think I have one specific method of writing.

Which kind of music are you usually listening to right now?

Right now I am listening to Dream Theater and also a lot of Fusion on Internet radio - and, of course, Steve Vai!

Now, tell us more about what you usually use on stage and in studio recording.

I use the same gear both on stage and in the studio, unless, of course, I play an open mic jam, then I just bring my guitar. For guitars, I use my Ibanez RG2550. It has been slightly modified with Dimarzio evolution pickups, and I sanded the finish off and tung oiled the wood. I also have an RG350. I love Ibanez guitars and have used them since 1992, I have tried using others in the past but always end up going back. For amps, I recently switched from a Carvin Legacy head and Marshall cab to a Mesa Boogie Roadster head and 4X12. Essence Of Time was mostly the Carvin with just a few lead tracks recorded with the Boogie. I use a TC Electronic G-System for FX and amp switching and a Morley Bad Horsie wah. Picks are Dunlop Tortex 1mm. In the studio, I use Pro Tools LE with an Mbox2, iMac computer and Yamaha NS10 monitors.

A crazy question for you: what are three songs of other artists that you wish you had written?

Ah yes, that is an easy one. For The Love Of God by Steve Vai, Erotic Nightmares by Steve Vai and The Forgotten Part 2 by Joe Satriani. Those 3 songs were the ones that really did it for me when I first started playing guitar.

Well, what are you currently working on?

Right now I am in a band called Redhead Mack and we have just started the recording for our first album. We are just playing locally for now until the CD is done. Later this year I hope to release a few songs that were recorded during the Essence Of Time album.

The interview is finished ... in your opinion, Internet is the future of the music business?

I do think the Internet is the future, especially for independent artists. You get instant access to people and markets you may not have otherwise been able to access. Of course there is a lot of trash on the Internet, but if used responsibly, it is a fantastic tool!

  CLAUDIO CORDERO | by Matt Cafissi

Hi Dann, how did you get interested in music and who were some guitarists and bands that influenced your playing?

Hi, all my musical inspiration started with AC/DC, it was then when I began playing guitar and tryed to be Angus… from there I just started listening to more music an got more interested in the different techniques and sounds; Steve Vai, Mike Oldfield, Mattias Eklundh… I´m basically influenced by anything that sourounds me, could be a song or a tree.

Tell me something about your debut and latest cd called “Space Octopus”.

Mmmm, what could I say, it’s my first solo album, I tried to show how I experienced music in that particular moment, and I’ pretty happy about it! It is a portion of myself, it has 9 tunes, 8 instrumental and one with vocals (I do sing, well… I try!). It was recorded between the 666 Estudios in Gorliz, Spain, and The Rockstudios, in Bilbao Spain, with Carlos Creator as producer.

Also tell me about your collaboration with Carlos Creator, he works in the guitar-music-business?

Yes, basically he is the owner of The Rockstudios, where I recorded, but we knew each other for other recordings that I made with other bands. He also is a great musician (He played guitars in Mystic Game and his personal projects) and producer and a great person. He really helped me out in focusing my career as guitarist.

From Spain to Usa, from Usa to Spain! Wow! High intense life!

Yes, pretty much, and I hate flying! But I guess is the only way to be connected to both continents America and Europe, and be part of the amazing musical environment they both give. 

How do you go about composing your music?

Wow, sometimes I just have an idea, maybe walking or looking at nowhere, sometimes it’s a longer process of developing a concept, sometimes is just a rhythm and sometimes everything together. For me the most important thing is being fresh and spontaneous, and the rest goes alone.

Which kind of music are you usually listening to right now?

That is a hard question. Let me see… I have some rock, some electronical, some metal, some jazz, and some experimental stuff… I basically listen to everything, but it depends on the day. Now I’m listening a lot to the demos of what is going to be my next solo album, so I can get used to it and take the essence of it.

Now, tell us more about what you usually use on stage and in studio recording.

When I perform in Europe I use a Koch Powertone head to a G-Major effects processor, to a Koch TS412SL cabinet. The guitars that I’m more confortable with are Ibanez, RG570EX and RG565. In the US I use an hybrid amp that I made that basically consist in a Crate pre-amp modified to the G-Major effects processor to a Crate power amp and to the cabinets, a 2 10” and a 12”, mounted as a weirdo robot amp, but I love it!!

In the studio I use the same configuration, everything that sounds basically as I’m going to sound on stage…

A crazy question for you: what are three songs of other artists that you wish you had written?

Mmm… I couldn’t tell, there are too many songs… !! I will say three but it is not that I wish I had writen them, it’s more that I appreciate the work of art they are; Mike Oldfield “Ergest Ride”, Stone Temple Pilots “Atlanta” and Planetoid “Shadow of the Planetoid”.

Well, what are you currently working on?

I’m working on what will be my next album. Actually, I already started the recording process here in Boston, and I can tell you that is going to be an amazing work with amazing musicians and great vibes. I’m going to move away from the instrumental a little although I will keep the essence.  I will be singing on almost all of the tracks. Hopefully I will be able to send you a preview of it soon!

The interview is finished ... in your opinion; Internet is the future of the music business?

Oh yes, definitely! I mean, every moment in history there were different ways to do and get things together, and now we are in the Internet era. I’m just going to send this interview to you through Internet, come on! Actually if we’re going to talk about Internet I would like to express my admiration of the GuitarChef Network, and thank you for everything you’re doing in support for music and guitar, hell yeah! Peace.

  DANN HOYOS | by Matt Cafissi

Hi Dann, how did you get interested in music and who were some guitarists and bands that influenced your playing?

Hi, all my musical inspiration started with AC/DC, it was then when I began playing guitar and tryed to be Angus… from there I just started listening to more music an got more interested in the different techniques and sounds; Steve Vai, Mike Oldfield, Mattias Eklundh… I´m basically influenced by anything that sourounds me, could be a song or a tree.

Tell me something about your debut and latest cd called “Space Octopus”.

Mmmm, what could I say, it’s my first solo album, I tried to show how I experienced music in that particular moment, and I’ pretty happy about it! It is a portion of myself, it has 9 tunes, 8 instrumental and one with vocals (I do sing, well… I try!). It was recorded between the 666 Estudios in Gorliz, Spain, and The Rockstudios, in Bilbao Spain, with Carlos Creator as producer.

Also tell me about your collaboration with Carlos Creator, he works in the guitar-music-business?

Yes, basically he is the owner of The Rockstudios, where I recorded, but we knew each other for other recordings that I made with other bands. He also is a great musician (He played guitars in Mystic Game and his personal projects) and producer and a great person. He really helped me out in focusing my career as guitarist.

From Spain to Usa, from Usa to Spain! Wow! High intense life!

Yes, pretty much, and I hate flying! But I guess is the only way to be connected to both continents America and Europe, and be part of the amazing musical environment they both give. 

How do you go about composing your music?

Wow, sometimes I just have an idea, maybe walking or looking at nowhere, sometimes it’s a longer process of developing a concept, sometimes is just a rhythm and sometimes everything together. For me the most important thing is being fresh and spontaneous, and the rest goes alone.

Which kind of music are you usually listening to right now?

That is a hard question. Let me see… I have some rock, some electronical, some metal, some jazz, and some experimental stuff… I basically listen to everything, but it depends on the day. Now I’m listening a lot to the demos of what is going to be my next solo album, so I can get used to it and take the essence of it.

Now, tell us more about what you usually use on stage and in studio recording.

When I perform in Europe I use a Koch Powertone head to a G-Major effects processor, to a Koch TS412SL cabinet. The guitars that I’m more confortable with are Ibanez, RG570EX and RG565. In the US I use an hybrid amp that I made that basically consist in a Crate pre-amp modified to the G-Major effects processor to a Crate power amp and to the cabinets, a 2 10” and a 12”, mounted as a weirdo robot amp, but I love it!!

In the studio I use the same configuration, everything that sounds basically as I’m going to sound on stage…

A crazy question for you: what are three songs of other artists that you wish you had written?

Mmm… I couldn’t tell, there are too many songs… !! I will say three but it is not that I wish I had writen them, it’s more that I appreciate the work of art they are; Mike Oldfield “Ergest Ride”, Stone Temple Pilots “Atlanta” and Planetoid “Shadow of the Planetoid”.

Well, what are you currently working on?

I’m working on what will be my next album. Actually, I already started the recording process here in Boston, and I can tell you that is going to be an amazing work with amazing musicians and great vibes. I’m going to move away from the instrumental a little although I will keep the essence.  I will be singing on almost all of the tracks. Hopefully I will be able to send you a preview of it soon!

The interview is finished ... in your opinion; Internet is the future of the music business?

Oh yes, definitely! I mean, every moment in history there were different ways to do and get things together, and now we are in the Internet era. I’m just going to send this interview to you through Internet, come on! Actually if we’re going to talk about Internet I would like to express my admiration of the GuitarChef Network, and thank you for everything you’re doing in support for music and guitar, hell yeah! Peace.