Richie Kotzen and Tony Das: Shredding the Norms
Richie Kotzen is an American guitar virtuoso, singer, songwriter, and producer. His journey began in the early 1990s as a solo artist on Shrapnel Records, where his lightning-fast guitar technique gained him recognition. Kotzen's versatility as an artist allowed him to venture into various musical realms, from hard rock, pop, and blues to funk and jazz fusion. His contributions to stalwart glam-rockers Poison and Mr. Big added to his musical repertoire. In 2012, he co-founded the hard rock supergroup The Winery Dogs, further solidifying his musical prowess. Kotzen's remarkable career includes the release of his ambitious project 50 for 50, commemorating his 50th birthday. His extensive discography and impactful collaborations have solidified his status as a celebrated musician in the realm of rock and beyond.
Tony Das, a seasoned musician with nearly two decades of professional experience, boasts an impressive track record in the music industry. He's an accomplished guitarist for Peepal Tree, a band that has graced prominent Indian music festivals like NH7 and OctoberFest and received acclaim for their initial music videos. Tony also lends his guitar skills to Bhoomi, a heavy metal outfit that collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Neil Kernon on their debut album and toured extensively in India. As a key collaborator with Thermal and a Quarter, Tony has played guitar and bass at memorable gigs in India, the UK, and the Gulf.
This exceptional episode marks the first ever Indian premiere of the brand new album Winery Dogs Album III, featuring Richie Kotzen.
Aditya kicks off the interview by questioning Richie about his initial foray into music. Richie fondly recollects his affinity for music gatherings at his home during his childhood and how a poster of The Beatles sparked his desire to become a musician. This pivotal moment led him to take guitar lessons and embark on his musical journey.
Aditya shares his experience of listening to Richie's new album, a classy and old-school production, and mentions that the album was mixed by Jay Ruston. Richie emphasizes the importance of capturing the nuances of the trio's music. Aditya then dives into what makes The Winery Dogs special, to which Richie acknowledges the unique chemistry and interplay among the members. He highlights the irreplaceable nature of each member's contribution and the organic, technology-free essence of their collaboration.
Aditya acknowledges Richie's showmanship as a guitar player, mentioning how Richie's stage antics like tossing and spinning the guitar have left a lasting impression, and inquires whether the primary purpose of his music is to make people happy.
Richie acknowledges that artists do care about how people perceive their music; otherwise, they wouldn't release it publicly. Richie notes that his approach to lyrics in The Winery Dogs is conversational, aiming to connect on deeper levels beyond just happiness. He shares instances where fans have expressed how his music has impacted them during difficult times or special moments, which reinforces his belief in the significance of music.
Aditya queries why rock music holds importance for communities and why it's vital for people to appreciate this genre. Richie provides a thoughtful response, mentioning that people will naturally gravitate towards the music that appeals to them, emphasizing personal preference.
Richie then delves into the diverse spectrum of rock music, highlighting its range from heavy and aggressive to soft and melodic and even incorporating elements of funk, soul, and more. He contrasts rock's broad appeal with genres like jazz, which might have a more specific audience. Richie underscores rock music's ability to transcend cultural boundaries due to its multifaceted nature.
Aditya acknowledges Richie's impressive discography of about 22 solo studio albums. Richie notes that while he's lost count of the exact number, he continues to create music that resonates with people globally. He recalls his early experiences with songwriting as a child and how his life experiences gradually provided him with the material to craft meaningful songs. He expresses that predicting others' reactions to his music is not something he can control and that he focuses on staying authentic in his creative process.
The conversation then turns to spirituality and its influence on Richie's music. Aditya inquires how spirituality informs Richie's work as a musician. Richie responds candidly, mentioning that he doesn't delve into the intricacies of spirituality in his creative process.
When Aditya asks if Richie would describe himself as naturally gifted, Richie humbly rejects that label. He believes that every individual's personality shapes their path, and he sees his progression in the music industry as a result of his interests and consistent efforts. He underscores the importance of his passion and the deep connection between himself and his music.
Aditya and Richie discover a shared love for Philly soul music and Hall & Oates. Richie discusses his regional connection to Daryl Hall and how he appreciates the Philadelphia sound. He explains that while he explored various techniques as a young musician, he now prioritizes creativity, songwriting, and singing, and he continues to learn new techniques through collaboration with other musicians. He provides an example of how working with others can lead to new techniques and approaches.
Aditya asks Richie about his artistic collaboration with his wife, Julia Lage. Richie praises Julia's talents, highlighting her skills as a singer, bass player, and songwriter. He mentions that they are currently working on new music together as the interview takes place.
Richie elaborates on their past collaborations, sharing that they once embarked on an acoustic tour together. The tour was initially designed as a vacation for Richie, but with a promoter's suggestion, he and Julia performed his material together.
Richie also mentions a recent album he worked on with Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden. For this project, they formed a live group and decided to include Julia on bass. He applauds Julia's stage presence and musical abilities, noting that she brought a unique level of showmanship to their performances. He mentions that their live group also featured Bruno Valverde on drums.
Tony Das, guitar player for Thermal and a Quarter, Peepal Tree, a music aficionado and dedicated follower of Richie's work, joins the conversation to share his admiration for Richie and his musical journey.
Tony expresses his excitement at being able to speak to Richie directly, mentioning that he's been a big fan for a long time. Tony shares a story about how he was drawn to Richie's signature guitar and his efforts to replicate its features on his own instrument. Tony explains that the guitar has a neck made from satin wood, a local wood variety. Richie shows interest in trying out the guitar when he visits India in the future.
Tony mentions that he almost had a chance to meet Richie at the Orange Festival in Dambuk, where both were performing, but he had conflicting commitments at the time. Richie recalls the festival and expresses his positive memories of the experience, noting the wonderful audience and his desire to perform in India again.
Tony recalls discovering Richie through the Guitars That Rule the World compilation album and a song called Chype Fluxx. He asks Richie about the unconventional title of the song and how Richie achieved the complex sounds in the track. Richie explains that the title was an inside joke and that the song was meant to be deliberately indecipherable, showcasing his technical prowess on the guitar.
Tony shares how he was drawn to Richie's playing style and how he found Richie's playing different from other guitarists like Steve Morse. He mentions discovering Richie's compatibility with Mr. Big through the Farewell Tour DVD and how Richie's playing fits well within the context of the band's music.
Tony then delves into Richie's musical origins, asking how he transitioned from being a showman to focusing on developing his guitar virtuosity. Richie explains that his journey began with wanting to break out of the local scene and become a national-level artist. He describes his early motivations, such as sending demo recordings to Mike Varney, who eventually invited him to make an album, and getting featured in Guitar World Magazine.
Tony asks when and how Richie developed his singing skills. Richie explains that he used to sing in a band where everyone sang, and he took the opportunity to sing lead vocals occasionally. He talks about his influences and the artists he emulated, such as Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Rod Stewart. Richie mentions that he started taking his singing more seriously around the time of the Fever Dream album.
Tony asks Richie about his transition from using a pick to playing with his fingers. Richie explains that he initially started using a combination of both picking and finger plucking, but the transition to predominantly using his fingers happened during a show in South America. He recounts the incident where his pick fell out and he continued playing without it, which led him to explore fingerstyle playing. Richie mentions that the positive experience encouraged him to continue and eventually led to him developing his unique fingerstyle technique.
Tony brings up a recent track of Richie's, Mad World, and comments on the various tones he achieves. Richie explains that while some trill passages may involve fingerstyle playing, there's a certain muting technique he employs to achieve a specific attack and sound, often giving the illusion of using a pick. He elaborates on how he combines fingerstyle techniques with muting to create the desired tones.
The conversation concludes with Tony mentioning Richie's gear and asking about using a Fender Twin amplifier. Richie explains that getting the desired sound from a Fender Twin involves using certain drive pedals and techniques to push the amp into the right tonal territory. He also talks about his current gear setup involving the Victory Amps and his signature Fly Rig. Overall, the interview showcases Richie Kotzen's genuine and thoughtful insights into his music, playing style, career, and artistic philosophy.