SATRIANI TRACK BY TRACK

DO YOU FEEL rock guitar guitar instrumentals have changed due to the influence of YouTube?

Now that new styles of music and new technologies have arrived, the change was inevitable. All for the better, I think. There are more acceptable formats and styles of arrangement now than before. Rock instrumentals can be the sort that focuses on demonstration of technical prowess, or, just the opposite, some kind of subtle artistic expression that doesn’t want you to notice the techniques applied. This new reality allows for a greater variety of talent to have a seat at the table. On the positive side guitarists today have developed their techniques to a higher level than decades ago, but on the negative side the presence of the camera has altered how these new players are appreciated. In fact, they are not ‘heard’ as much as they are ‘seen’ and perhaps judged by that to a large degree.

You’ve said The Elephants Of Mars is a new standard for instrumental guitar albums, and a new platform of your own design. Is this perhaps derived from what you’re seeing on platforms like YouTube?

I wanted to create a new standard for myself primarily. I needed to write better songs, come up with more creative arrangements, play my guitar better and make a more compelling sounding album in total. The art form of the instrumental album is unique, and I cherish it. I love achieving the perfect sequence of songs to make the album a cathartic listening experience from the