Jason Shadrick music.guitars.life

Of course, Steve Vai hardly needs an introduction.  As one of the leading guitar virtousos of his generation he has achieved a legendary place in mainstream guitar culture.  We were lucky enough to have Steve as a guest this past summer at NGW and the feedback I heard from the students was amazing.

I am very lucky and thankful to have Steve participate in this project.

Steve is preparing to release his newest live DVD/CD entitled “Where the Wild Things Are “. Here is a short preview of the video:

Describe your first experience playing music.

I walked up to a little spinet organ and played the theme song for the horror flick with Bette Davis called “Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte”. The movie sacred me to death and the melody haunted me until I plucked it out and then I thought…”Hmmm, that’s not so scary”. I think I was 4 years old.

What has been your most significant musical experience?

The most significant musical experience I ever had was in astral projection dreams when I was younger. I’m not sure if that’s even a correct terminology for them. They started as long back as I can remember and would happen once every 4 years or so. The most profound one, and the last one, happened when I was around 22 years old and it lasted for as long as 4-5 seconds.

The sound I hear during these episodes is impossible to describe. It  rages far beyond the dynamics and frequencies of the ability of the physical ears to hear. It has an intensity and weight to it that dwarfs your own being.  It’s like a 10,000 piece orchestra of all different instruments, all playing different notes and rhythms, all tuned differently, but in perfect harmonious and melodic exhalation. It’s all encompassing and comes from all sides. It actually emanates from within and not from anyplace outside.

It permeates everything. The waking from it is akin to slamming the pavement of a 100 story jump. I awake to feel the limitations, (prison) of the physical body and the congested cloudiness of my own cognizant awareness.

The finest music ever created in this world is like a toilet compared to this celestial orchestra. There is no way to capture and reproduce it. In the world I am left grappling for melodic scabs of it’s magnificence, only to feel that my finest work is a feeble attempt at capturing even a glimmer of this glorious inner music. I’m ashamed at my explanation but then again, I did say it was impossible to explain.

I know I’m not the only one that has had this experience.

I believe this sound resonates within the core of every living thing.

What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?

“Keep your Publishing”. Frank Zappa.

What is your favorite sound?

Complete silence to the point of hearing white noise, or… water lapping on a beach at sunset.

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.

Complete silence to the point of hearing white noise, or… water lapping on a beach at sunset.

What was the most memorable concert you ever attended?

Return To Forever at Hofstra college on Long Island when I was 14 years old.

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 5 songs that appear

Rat Bat Blue by Deep Purple

Cry by Michael Jackson

Sonata for Cello and Piano: Allegro by Elliot Carter

I’ll Wait by Van Halen

The Part You Throw Away by Tom Waits