Sixty Scales and the Truth

Some bands make you smile, give you energy, and make you feel alive. For me, that band is High Fade. 🎶 Playing as a power trio (drums, bass, guitar), they bring raw energy and chemistry to every performance. Guitarist Harry Valentino doesn’t just play; he’s part of the rhythm section with his dynamic, groove-driven style while also shredding incredible solos. 🎸High Fade often takes to the streets for busking gigs, driven by their passion for music and love of connecting with new audiences. Watching their videos, you can feel the joy they radiate—it’s infectious! Their debut album, Life’s Too Fast, is out now, and it’s the ultimate feel-good soundtrack.When I sat down with Harry, he shared some incredible stories about the band and his personal journey. These conversations made me realize that while High Fade is all about fun, but there's so much more to this band. These guys are on a mission, and I can’t wait to see where the journey takes them!

"This is actually my favorite guitarist," I remember Plini saying these words during a show in Nijmegen (yes, the town where Eddie Van Halen grew up) and thought, “Hm, I should check this guy out.” I’m glad I did!

"I'm trying to be less melancholic." These were the words Jakub spoke just before our interview during a workshop at the Guitar Summit in Mannheim, and they resonated in my mind. Why? I asked myself. The music of this fantastic – and I repeat, FANTASTIC – guitarist can indeed be somewhat melancholic at times. But in a beautiful way. It's music you can simply lose yourself in. Jakub composes like a painter creating a canvas: it's rich, colorful music that sounds unlike anything else I know. I'm very grateful to Jakub for how open he was during this conversation, despite mentioning that he's not really a social person. I'm really looking forward to seeing him live again.

News alert!

Scoring scoops isn’t exactly my goal during the conversations for this podcast. When Nick Johnston

Nick revealed that he has started a band with superstar drummer Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King

However, it was another sentence that stuck with me after the conversation with Nick: “I have two

Nick speaks very openly about how this was once painful for him, but he’s managed to put that pain aside. Most of the super guitarists I speak with for this series have families that support them through thick and thin. Nick, however, comes from a background where his passion wasn’t exactly understood. I find it incredibly

For those who don’t know Nick: his music can be summed up in five words: un-be-lie-va-ble. The unique way

It kind of makes sense to release an episode with Tom Quayle right after one with Jack Gardiner in this podcast series. After all, the latter guitarist calls Tom his "second father."

After every conversation in this series, I always need a moment to come back down to earth. With headphones on, it feels like we're diving into our own little microcosm together. I find myself in a sort of hyperfocus, and it amazes me every single time, in a positive way, how openly the guests are willing to share their life experiences.

Toward the end of the conversation with Tom, he mentioned the term "imposter syndrome." It’s something even a ridiculously skilled guitarist like Tom has had to deal with. Choosing to live as a musician is a bold decision. A choice that, alongside the excitement, comes with doubt, introspection, and other uncertainties. Tom openly talks about it.

He also shares stories about his guitar-obsessed family roots and how he mastered the legato technique that brought him global recognition. Tom reflects on his musical influences, the challenges of balancing performance with teaching, and how his love for improvisation shaped his approach to guitar playing.

Tom also provides insights into the influence of jazz theory and the subtleties of his personal sound. In this conversation, he reveals key moments from his career, including his discovery of Dream Theater, his time at jazz college, and the struggles he faced when writing albums. He also gives us a peek into his current obsession—analog synthesizers—and how this unexpected passion has influenced his creative journey.

Thanks again, Tom! It was an absolute pleasure to have this conversation with you. Enjoy the full interview, and don’t forget to subscribe! 😀

Subwoofer Alert! You might want to turn down your subwoofers because when Jack Gardiner speaks, he brings all the bass you need! But if you choose to keep them on, watch out—they might just explode! 🎸

How do you find focus while life keeps rushing by in all its chaos? How do you keep learning fun and, moreover, interesting? And how valuable is it to make music with real friends? These are just a few topics that came up in the conversation I recently had with Richard Henshall, the guitarist of the fantastic British prog rock band Haken. Richard also releases albums as a solo artist—music I personally treasure as beautiful, interesting, surprising, and simply very well produced.Every time I bring a guitarist in front of the microphone for this podcast series, I realize how grateful I am that they take the time for a conversation. Each time I learn something new. And each time I meet interesting, talented, and very kind people. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed the conversation.

From Conservatory to Rock Legend: DeWolff’s Pablo van de Poel Shares His Musical Journey! 

In this Podcast interview, DeWolff’s frontman and guitar virtuoso Pablo van de Poel talks about early struggles at the conservatory, to crafting iconic songs with DeWolff, Pablo opens up about his shift from complex music theory to trusting his gut and instinct.

#DeWolff #PablovandePoel #ClassicRock #GuitarLegend #MusicJourney #Songwriting #LiveMusic #RockInterview #StudioRecording #GuitarHero #MusicalEvolution #AuthenticityInMusic #BluesRock #RocknRoll #BehindTheMusic #MusicLovers #DeWolffFans

After a period of playing less guitar myself, I’ve recently dived back into it with renewed enthusiasm. It’s been fantastic to explore new styles and follow online lessons from guitar legends, trying to catch even a small part of their brilliance. While browsing through True Fire’s offerings, I came across a name that seemed distinctly Dutch: Theo van Niel Jr. Intrigued, I downloaded his course and quickly realized I was dealing with an exceptionally talented musician.

Not long after my ‘discovery,’ Theo released a new album where he masterfully blends rock, fusion, metal, and country in his unique style. I decided to visit Theo at his home, where he also runs his music school, for an in-depth conversation. We talked about his talent, his learning process, teaching, his childhood, and some of his musical heroes.

Get to find out more about this crafty player as we explore Theo’s journey through music, his creative process, and his insights into mastering the guitar.

Many consider Tommy Emmanuel to be the greatest of all time (GOAT), and while music isn’t a competition, I wholeheartedly agree. Tommy is not only a phenomenal musician but also a remarkable human being. I had the privilege of meeting him once before this interview, and what struck me was his presence. He truly connects with everyone around him, which, as he told me, is no coincidence. It’s a state of mind that Tommy deliberately chooses. We discussed how this mindset has helped him as a musician and performing artist. We also delved into his youth, his struggles, the lessons he has learned, and some other anecdotes that only Tommy Emmanuel could share. At the end of our conversation, I couldn’t resist asking if he would play a song. You can hear it in a separate video I’ve posted. Enjoy listening to this one-of-a-kind person.

The more music you’ve heard and the easier it is to access, the harder it is to be truly surprised and captivated by something that you find completely refreshing. Maybe that comes with getting older. Or perhaps it’s a deflation of your listening experience, given that you can hear almost any imaginable music with just a few clicks. This contrasts with the romanticized version etched in my memory from my youth: spending your hard-earned money only on music that truly moves you and then playing it a million times.

When I first heard Plini’s music, I suddenly felt that kick again: I had never heard anything like it. Inventive music, ranging from soothing to hard-hitting, with simply wonderful melodies, amazing rhythmic ideas, and skillful playing. Each new release from the laid-back Australian is a gift.

It's not surprising that Plini can evoke such an experience. When making music, he responds to his impulses like a child, he mentioned in the podcast. This approach avoids clichés and well-trodden paths, sometimes turning everything upside down.

Plini talks about the role of his parents, his architecture studies, and answers a question from Matteo Mancuso, who wanted to know why his productions sound so good.

Plini will be playing on August 17th, a month after the release of this episode at Complexity Fest! Check https://www.complexityfest.com/ for more info and tickets.