Sixty Scales and the Truth

Where I used to discover new artists through friends and often by reading the credits in CD booklets, these days I mostly rely on algorithms. It might not sound as romantic, but it does lead to some fantastic discoveries. That’s how, sometime last year, Oz Noy came onto my radar. His name sounds like a character straight out of L. Frank Baum’s famous book. His playing is just as imaginative and adventurous as the journeys through the Land of Oz. At times, it squeaks and grates, but there are always surprises waiting. He was already performing on stage at a relatively young age and took the leap to move to New York in his early twenties. In our conversation, we delve deeply into his connection with that city and explore his collaborations with top-tier musicians. As rich and colorful as his playing is, Oz has a dry way of summarizing life in words: “I remember when I stopped going to school, I was a little freaked out. My parents were freaked out. But I started practicing all the time. Once you practice, you get into a routine, then everybody kind of chilled out.”

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 announced two new projects during the recording, my initial reaction was simply excitement. It wasn’t until the editing phase that I realized: “Hey, this is news!” Nick revealed that he has started a band with superstar drummer Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson). He’s also coming out with a trilogy of solo albums accompanied by a full-fledged novel. I can’t wait for this music to see the light of day. However, it was another sentence that stuck with me after the conversation with Nick: “I have two brothers, and they’ve never heard my music. They’ve never came to a concert of mine. And they’ve never asked me anything about my music.” 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 impressive that he’s broken free from this, found his own path, and walked it, no matter how big the obstacles were along the way. For those who don’t know Nick: his music can be summed up in five words: un-be-lie-va-ble. The unique way he plays always resonates with me immediately. He also has a gifted sense of harmony and melody. Is he the very best? Of course, that’s a matter of taste. But if you asked me with a gun to my head, there’s a good chance his name would slip out.

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! 😀