[http://www.theshredzone.com]
[http://www.fabriziochiruzzi.com]
Interview by Fabrizio Chiruzzi - 2003 - Italy (it seems like the interview has been deleted, but it’s still a nice website to check) Hi Jill, several months ago, I received this "Guitar Garbage 1.2", which is one of the most strange guitar works I received at the present day. Would you start to talk about how this works was made? Hello Fabrizio, at first, thanks for the interview… The Guitar Garbage project started a few years ago when I stopped my last band. At this time, I knew I wanted to keep playing, but I did not know exactly what direction I wanted to follow, so for a little while, I kept composing for an hypothetic new band, with an uncertain new singer. But after a short period of time, I realized that I was still not satisfied, that something was missing, In fact the idea of doing something of my own came from my wife. Anyway, this is when I started to compose instrumental songs. At the beginning, I composed some "classic" guitar tunes like a fast boogie, a mid-tempo, etc, but it still was not what I wanted. So one day, I thought "What if I try to rearrange a tune I made for my uncertain new band in order to play it instrumental?" Suddenly, wow, I finally found what I was looking for. Then, I just let the music come to me, and after a little while I had something like 13 new songs ready. Everything was recorded with a Roland VS1680 and a few mikes. I recorded first the drummer and the bass player and then I overdubbed all the guitars parts. I wanted to do it by myself because I wanted to have the freedom to do exactly what I wanted, when and how I wanted. For example, all the leads parts (except 2 solos) are improvised and a few ones are first take. Considering it's the first time I do a record, I'm really happy the way it turned out. A very strange mix of jazz/fusion parts and hard core/rap riffing. Do you think is possible a so weird matching? and why create this kind of matching? I created this mix because this is what I hear in my head. I really like all those nu-metal band, but at the same time, I like all the great guitar players like Vai, Holdsworth etc and I like jazz, fusion, flamenco too. So for me, it's really natural to mix all those styles. How is possible to call this genre? I call it "heavy grooving instrumental guitar music", but, If anybody has a better idea, let me know. I noticed that all the tracks follow more or less the same register, aren't you afraid it could be heard as a monotone work? No, I'm not afraid at all because it was what I wanted to do. I wanted to make a record that was heavy and grooving from top to end. I think it's good to have a focus when you are making a record. If you like the style of music I play, you will like all the CD, not only one or two tunes. On the top of all, I think I have my own identity in music, sure I have lots of influences that you can hear through the CD, but in a overall view I don't think it sounds too much like somebody else. The next album is going to be a little bit different, it's already composed and there's just 3 songs in the guitar garbage style, but you still are going to get some heavy riffs and some melodies. The main elements of what I play are still here, but I tried to vary the tempo a little bit more.. Can we talk about G.G.1.2 as a self production? if so, which was the difficulties and the costs you faced to record/produce/distribute this work? I had to buy the digital recorder and to pay the bass player and the drummer. It cost me something like 6000 euros to do the CD. Why not a label to support your music? I sent the CD to a few labels, although they all liked it very much, they told me the problem is that I don't fall into one category so they don't know how to market it. Like you said, the mix of music I do is strange and weird, so maybe it's a matter of time for people to accept it. According to you, which are the advantages and not, being a independent artist, and which are the advantages you got being an independent artist? The advantages are simple, you can do whatever you want to do, the disadvantages are that you have to pay for everything and you have to promote yourself. A label could help to get more exposure. Surely internet helped you to spread your music, but what do you think about mp3s and the possibility for kids to download your songs for free? I think it's a very good way to spread your music. But, it seems there's a lot of people who don't want to pay for music. I was very surprised when I saw almost all my CD available in Audiogalaxy for free. The truth is that if all the people who have my CD had paid for it, it would help me economically to make the second one without once again having to pay it all by myself. It sure quits incomes for the "small" artists, but at the same time it helps you to get more exposure. Talking about your songs, I noticed a large use of legato and tapping sequences, instead of picking one, that is a normal thing playing fusion, but which is the technique that you think could better characterize your sound? Legato technique of course. This is the sound I hear in my head. I noticed a great use of pentatonic patterns played with legato or mixed with three note per string tapping sequences. which is the use you do with these simple lines? When I play this type of lines, it's more for a rhythmic effect than a melodic one. I tend to play a lot of odd grouping with that technique where you have groups of five or six or whatever number of notes played against a 3 against 2 beat. Harmonically, I do a lot of substitutions like playing a pentatonic a fifth or a forth higher or even a minor third up for an altered sounds.. G.G.1.2 is surely a "well, well, well" (just summoning a track inside it) work, for which kind of target you thought this work? Thanks for the compliments. When I named this tune "Well,well,well", I did not mean good. It's just an expression to say "that's what it is". Like all my works, I can't say if it's good or not, it's just like it is… I did not have any target, I just played what was in my mind without thinking. Which were the targets achieved with this work? Did it give you a more and better exposure to the guitar world? Sure, before this CD, I was totally unknown. Now, I receive lots of mails from all over the world, and I sell records. Musically, it was the best experience I had so far. To finally hear on a CD what you wanted to do is an incredible experience. Talking about live shows, what can you say us? It's really cool. Since the music is really grooving it's like a big party, there's lot of energy and fun. At the same time, we extend some part to improvise. Right now, I'm putting a new band together with a DJ, it ads a really cool dimension to the show. We can't wait for hear what will you do for your next project, meanwhile, I hope to see you soon in Italy for shows and maybe for a jam together, would you salute or say something to our readers? I would love to come to Italy to play. I'm going to record my new CD and after, I will see if I can do a little tour around Europe, so who knows. Sure I would love to jam with you, I've heard your stuff, it sounds very good. I would like to thanks all the people who bought the CD and all the people who send me some really cool e-mails about my music. A special thanks to my friend Niko from Malaga. Thanks for the interview, Fabrizio, good luck for you. Jill Yan
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