DEREK SHERINIAN INTERVIEW |
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Who is the most busy keyboardist on the progressive metal scene nowadays? The answer must undoubtedly be Derek Sherinian! The guy who have played with such hot-shots in the metal scene as Kiss, Alice Cooper, Yngwie Malmsteen and Dream Theater, began his solo career only a few years ago, and have since then released numerous solo-discs as well as three albums with the band Planet X ... AND ... as if this wasn't enough, the man have been featured as special guest on close to a million progressive metal albums lately (Platypus, Jughead etc). Pheeew - with all this, and now the release of his latest disc "Black Utopia", it is hard to understand that he even have time to answer our questions …
Interview by Martin Jørgensen |
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1. How long have you been playing keyboard, and when did you realize that you could make a career of your fantastic talent?
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"I started playing since I was a baby. I always knew I would make it in music since I was young."
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2. What inspire you to do the music that you do on your solo-albums?
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"My solo CDs are a snapshot of my life at the time. Each record will always sound different."
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3. You have played in some quite successful bands like Dream Theater, Planet X, Kiss and with Alice Cooper, and by that, along with your great solo-projects, your name has been acknowledged in the music industry. What do you think have, musically, helped you the most getting where you are right now?
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"I think that people respond when you take a stand. I didnt start getting any media attention until I started to play the music that I really feel. The key is to stay true to the sound in your head."
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4. Black Utopia feature some the most respected musicians in the metal/rock industry like Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Simon Phillips and Tony Franklin just to mention a few. What was your idea with Black Utopia when thinking "I need these guys to appear on my 3rd solo-album"?
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"I knew that Yngwie was going to be on my CD, so I wrote "The Sons of Anu" in honor of his sound. Other than that, the players that you mentioned above are some of my favorite musicians. They are invited to play on my records anytime."
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5. With guest guitarists Zakk Wylde and Yngwie Malmsteen, a leading metal magazine in Canada has described Black Utopia as "a guitar lovers wet dream". Do you see Black Utopia primarily as a guitar dominated album or as a keyboard dominated album ... or how would you describe Black Utopia?
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""Black Utopia" is very guitar dominated. I wanted to make a great instrumental CD that was true to my musical taste. I like music that is more guitar dominated. There are still some shredding keyboard moments on the disc."
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6. What do you think of the music and production compared to your previous solo-projects?
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"I think that Black Utopia is much heavier and darker than anything I have released in the past." |
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7. I think that Black Utopia is a fantastic and great progressive album, but do you have your own favorite among your solo-projects ... and why/why not?
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"They are all my children! I cant pick!"
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8. Are you going on a tour to support the release of Black Utopia?
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"Yes, I have an awesome band lineup: Tony MacAlpine- Guitar , Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai)- Bass , Jonathan Mover (Joe Satriani) Drums"
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9. Finally, is there anything you would like to say?
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"I intend on playing shows in Europe this fall. Please check MP3 samples of Black utopia at dereksherinian.com, and stay tuned for future touring activities. thanks! derek"
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