Steve Vai Interview: Launching VaiTunes

Here’s a classic Guitar International magazine interview with the legendary Steve Van from September 10, 2010!

Steve Vai – Photo Credit: Larry DiMarzio

Steve Vai is a creative and innovative composer, guitarist and musician. Okay, that’s an obvious statement if I’ve ever written one. He’s changed the way people write within the instrumental guitar genre, his use of rhythm, effects and melodic development have helped to shape the modern guitar vocabulary and his Jem guitar series and Carvin amps have reshaped the custom gear market for the past 25 years.

With this amount of ingenuity and creativity flowing through everything Vai touches, it comes as no surprise that he is now expanding his musical offerings into the digital realm with the development of VaiTunes.

Currently available through Vai’s website, as well as the normal digital music channels such as ITunes and Amazon, the series features new material from Vai’s ever increasing collection of unreleased music. Not one to throw away a good musical idea, Vai has been compiling quite the collection of unpublished music over the years, and VaiTunes has been set up to bring that new music directly to his fans and followers.

Vai recently sat down with Guitar International to discuss the genesis, evolution and future of the VaiTunes project, as well as his gear setup, G3 and his love of beekeeping.

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VaiTunes and G3

Matt Warnock: How did you come up with the idea for the VaiTunes series, and what the series is going to offer as far as new music is concerned?

Steve Vai: Well, technically VaiTunes is all new music, in that the tracks have never been previously released. As is the case with many musicians, I often record much more material than I could ever release.

As we speak, I have an ocean of musical ideas at various stages of completion. Some are from assorted recording sessions for various projects, that were just never completed for one reason or another. Others are from sound-check jams or snippets from demo sessions I’ve done. You name it and I’ve got it one a hard drive somewhere.

There’s enough unreleased, lonely notes in my world to fill an “infinity shelf”. VaiTunes are tracks that I’ve pulled from this melodic abundance, polished up, sometimes severely hosed down, and then released as online singles.

These tracks may be specific to a particular project that never really had the chance to come to fruition. But now, with the new and highly improved digital technology and distribution, it’s possible to release a variety of tracks from a potential project without having to complete the whole project itself.

Matt: Are the VaiTunes tracks going to be available only as singles, or are there plans in the future to compile some, or all, of these songs into albums?

Steve Vai: Eventually, if there are enough tracks completed that fall into a precise endeavor, they may be compiled and released as a cohesive CD. In any event, it’s a good way to release a constant stream of music.

Many of the tracks come from conceptually different backdrops. When enough songs fall into a particular catalog, I may consider releasing them in a CD format, but we’ll have to see how technology evolves. It may not make sense to later. Plus, I’m always going to be onto the next thing.

Although the plan is to continue to create wholesome, full-bodied CD releases, VaiTunes can serve as temporary pacifiers for some delectable melodies to be sucked through the ears and absorbed into the soul.

Matt: Since the VaiTunes series will be presenting new, unreleased material, are you planning on incorporating these songs into your live shows?

Steve Vai: Absolutely. They’ve been burning holes in my set list. As a matter of fact, I’m so itching to play some of these tracks live that I’m booking a tour of Eastern Europe in February 2011 to do just that.

Matt: With your focus on getting the VaiTunes series off the ground at the moment, are you also working a new studio or live album?

Steve Vai: Not at this time. Right now the majority of my time is monopolized by a project I will be doing with the North Netherlands Orchestra. It’s a special “Steve Vai” festival in October 2010, and I am in the process of composing 50 or so minutes of new symphonic music.

Matt: The G3 tour, which ran from ’96 through 2007, has been on hiatus now for three years. Do you have plans on reviving the tour in the coming years or is your focus elsewhere at the moment?

Steve Vai: I certainly hope the tour goes out again. I always enjoy doing them. It’s a matter of logistics, etc.

Vai’s Gear

Matt: You’ve been playing Ibanez Jem guitars now for quite some time. What is it about those guitars that speak to you, making you want to play them as opposed to say a Strat or Les Paul?

Steve Vai: I designed the Ibanez Jem 25 years ago. It was based on idiosyncrasies of my own playing. There were many things I wanted to do on the guitar that neither a Strat nor a Les Paul could do. So, I set out and designed a guitar that would enable me to do some of the things I was hearing in my head. It worked! 25 years later it’s the longest running, and most popular signature-series guitar in history.

Click to Visit the Ibanez Jem Collection at Musician’s Friend

Matt: What amps are you using these days and do you have different amps for your studio work than you do in your live setup?

Steve Vai: I designed a suave little amp with Carvin called “The Legacy”. Again, it’s based on my taste and desires regarding sound. I just love it and use it virtually exclusively. When you have these opportunities to design gear based on what you want, there’s little reason to use anything else.

If you had the means to wear custom cloths that are perfectly fitted to your body, that reflect your unique self, that you are completely comfortable in, why would you want to wear anything else? Having said that, at times I will put on a pair of Nike sneakers, but only occasionally.

Practice Tips, Beekeeping and the Fur & Feather Sanctuary

Matt: A lot of our readers are avid listeners of your music, while others are performers who have studied your playing over the years. Could you talk about one or two exercises that you’ve found have helped you in your practice routine over the years?

Steve Vai: Practice slow and perfect while concentrating on the tone of every note. Play things until they are second nature, and then create a mental atmosphere that will allow you to make an emotional investment in what you’re playing.

Try to identify with the thing that excites you the most about music and do that.

Matt: You were recently involved in an Ebay auction to help raise money for the Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary, where you donated an outfit and signed guitar to the event. How did you become involved with this event and do you have plans to work with this charity in the future?

Steve Vai: A friend of mine, Nancy Sayle, brought it to my attention. She is one of the real, true animal lovers that I know. I felt compelled to contribute to this worthy cause. I hope to help out more in the future.

Matt: As well as being a musician you also raise bees, selling the honey to raise money for your “Make a Noise Foundation.” What is it about bee keeping that you are drawn to, and do you feel it’s important for musicians to have interests outside of music to help make their music more personal, not just technical?

Steve Vai: I would never assume what another musician needs, but I certainly enjoy chasing the Queen. Tending to the bees is a moment in time that is special for me. I’m alone. Nobody would dare bother me, or get near me. No cell phones or e-mails. No nothing, just me and the bees.

They are fascinating little creatures. Gorgeous really. They have flawless aerodynamic body designs, huge captivating alien eyes, a social infrastructure that could teach the world a thing or two, if you piss them off you’re in trouble, but if your gentle they can be very sweet, and they make honey. Come on! What other creature can be and do all of that.