Q: (regarding Starry Light) I am anxious to hear the entire piece. What inspired you to call it that?
A: The song began in my mind as Starlight. I googled starlight to see if I could find a picture of stars and starlight illuminating the ground at night. According to John Denver, in the rockies, they do. I came across a picture of stars with a person bending backwards towards them. I clicked on it. Turns out it's from a music video for a song called Starlight from the band Babymetal that I had not yet heard. I loved the song and the band, a masterpiece in its own right. Mind altering spirits entered my soul after listening. Their song from what I had read happens to partially be a memorial for their Guitar player who fell off a stargazing platform and died in front of his wife and children. They have this incredible passage of words towards the end which reads:
"Wherever we are, we'll be with you
We'll never forget shining starlight
Wherever you are, you live in my heart
We'll never forget shining star"
My humble instrumental can't compare with that.
So I felt compelled to change the name of my song. I thought Stargazer but there is a song by Rainbow and Dio called that which in later years was coved and published by Dream Theater. I thought change again. ( I want to add that songs can have the same title, there are some 900+ songs registered at the U.S. copywrite office entitled Yesterday, though we may only collectively know of one ). So all around this time during my painting classes we had painted Van Gogh's Starry Night in at least two if not three different groups. I asked everyone to paint it from memory first, which yielded great surprising works. Then we copied the original. So it has a great memory for me as a unique experience and works as a solution for the above scenario. ( another side note, the famous Don McLean song that comes to mind is actually called Vincent rather than Starry Starry Night as the chorus reads ). Then I remembered Joe Satriani has a song entitled Starry Night on his 2002 record, Strange Beautiful Music. If these genres of music weren't so close to what I'm doing I wouldn't be concerned or keep changing the name. Also it's out of respect. If it weren't for the aforementioned players and bands I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing. Nor is my song an homage or an inspired by, but rather its own unique work.
I went with Starry Light which is close to my original impulse of Starlight plus it makes for a great visual. By definition it means adorned with stars or a light with points like a star. My song is in a Major key ( A Major ), and is quite uplifting. This is a perfect fit for me. It's a great solution to a naming challenge that arose and it's a great fit that makes sense to my weird mind. I over think things, but when something feels right I go with it. The photograph I used for the cover is an image I took some 20 years ago. It's the surface of the ocean looking down on it from four feet above. The mountain is the rock I'm standing on. The trees are seaweed. The multiple "stars" in the middle are the sun appearing multiple times at once on the rippled ocean surface. The smoke cloud is my Grandmothers ashes, that we had just put in the water. I added the extra dots allover in photoshop to be a sky of distant stars. That's the real answer, I'm glad you asked, and I'm happy to share that. Long though.
Q: Can you elaborate on your sound?
A: Yes, without revealing my custom speakers and cabinets, or how my amps are set, I am proud to share what amps I use and why. I thought about this as the time came for the music to transition from concept to reality. I decided I wanted mic'd tube amps, rather than digital sims. I tried some Marshals and have to admit the Marshals sound great for my rhythm parts, very clear, sharp, clean, and percussive. So many of the guitar players I like use Marshals. Why then I'm I not using a Marshall? Marshal, though incredible and burned into our collective sonic consciousness, is a distinct British sound. I was on the fence on this issue but decided I wanted an American sound, so I looked to Mesa Boogie. Mesa's original basic design is based on Fender's design. The hard high gain heavy guitars that came from the early 80's with Metallica are from Mesa'a Mark series, and John Petrucci and Carlos Santana's signature lead sounds also come from a Boogie. After trying many models I went with the 150 watt Triple Rectifier, potentially the most versatile amp ever made. It's a three channel amp and when combined with pedals I can get dozens of subtle variations that suit the needs of the sonic expression demanded by the changes in my music. I use a pair of them and have named them Fire and Ice. They sound different from each other like all tube amps. Naming them helps identify them and all of their cords which I color coded red and blue. One has a vintage drawl and the other has a modern tightness. Together they meet in the middle to create a full sound. My guitars, the clean, rhythm, and lead, are 100% analog including the delay in the effects loop, until the mic'd sound reaches the DAW. ( yes in the picture below there is an MXR digital reverb pedal. I use that for a few clean sounds only and not very much in the mix is at all. There is additional but limited delay and reverb during mix down in Logic).
Ultimately, the raw untethered quality that comes from a cranked 150 watt Mesa Boogie, (actually there are five Triple Rectifiers at any given time on the recording) is something that interests me a lot. I want the recording for the listener to sound as if you were standing center stage, thirty feet back from me, with a perfect live mix. Turn up my recording as loud as your ears and speakers can handle and you'll hear what I'm talking about.
A: Yes, without revealing my custom speakers and cabinets, or how my amps are set, I am proud to share what amps I use and why. I thought about this as the time came for the music to transition from concept to reality. I decided I wanted mic'd tube amps, rather than digital sims. I tried some Marshals and have to admit the Marshals sound great for my rhythm parts, very clear, sharp, clean, and percussive. So many of the guitar players I like use Marshals. Why then I'm I not using a Marshall? Marshal, though incredible and burned into our collective sonic consciousness, is a distinct British sound. I was on the fence on this issue but decided I wanted an American sound, so I looked to Mesa Boogie. Mesa's original basic design is based on Fender's design. The hard high gain heavy guitars that came from the early 80's with Metallica are from Mesa'a Mark series, and John Petrucci and Carlos Santana's signature lead sounds also come from a Boogie. After trying many models I went with the 150 watt Triple Rectifier, potentially the most versatile amp ever made. It's a three channel amp and when combined with pedals I can get dozens of subtle variations that suit the needs of the sonic expression demanded by the changes in my music. I use a pair of them and have named them Fire and Ice. They sound different from each other like all tube amps. Naming them helps identify them and all of their cords which I color coded red and blue. One has a vintage drawl and the other has a modern tightness. Together they meet in the middle to create a full sound. My guitars, the clean, rhythm, and lead, are 100% analog including the delay in the effects loop, until the mic'd sound reaches the DAW. ( yes in the picture below there is an MXR digital reverb pedal. I use that for a few clean sounds only and not very much in the mix is at all. There is additional but limited delay and reverb during mix down in Logic).
Ultimately, the raw untethered quality that comes from a cranked 150 watt Mesa Boogie, (actually there are five Triple Rectifiers at any given time on the recording) is something that interests me a lot. I want the recording for the listener to sound as if you were standing center stage, thirty feet back from me, with a perfect live mix. Turn up my recording as loud as your ears and speakers can handle and you'll hear what I'm talking about.
Q: Your song Starseed carries so many themes and melodies from Starry Light yet it has its own unique feel. Could you tell me more about how it came to be and why?
A: Starseed ( Starry Light Funkametrix Mashmix ) is a combination of a remix and a mashup so I created a new word . . . Mashmix! The clean guitar from the middle of the original Starry Light is repeated over and over. Its timing over the drums generate a funky geometric pulsation hence the other word I needed to create Funkametrix - a geometric funky remix. A remix is a reordering of parts or an alteration to the volumes of the mix. A mashup is combining two different songs. I combined various parts like the verse melody over the chorus bass line over the clean guitar, etc. etc. throughout. It's a mashup within itself and with the new groove it's a totally different song, a mashmix. There are some new guitar leads in Starseed that came from the "jams" recorded during the original Starry Light sessions. Some of the leads from those sessions, though lovely, couldn't find a home in the original song. As it is, the original went from 5 minutes to 8 minutes to 14 minutes by the time I did the final mix. I couldn't squeeze another lick into that song. I'm so happy these little phrases and flavors are getting a chance to shine in this new Mashmix! It also features some triplet feel parts that in the original Starry Light are hidden behind 4/4 feels. This Mashmix became irresistible to me the more I worked on it. I'm so pleased to present it to you, though (in a way) I'm sad it's finished because I had so much fun putting it together. I look forward to creating more Funkametrix Mashmixes with future recordings.
note . . . I am not a Starseed nor do I believe I share qualities with Starseeds. However, I do know Starseeds . . . they are for sure among us.
A: Starseed ( Starry Light Funkametrix Mashmix ) is a combination of a remix and a mashup so I created a new word . . . Mashmix! The clean guitar from the middle of the original Starry Light is repeated over and over. Its timing over the drums generate a funky geometric pulsation hence the other word I needed to create Funkametrix - a geometric funky remix. A remix is a reordering of parts or an alteration to the volumes of the mix. A mashup is combining two different songs. I combined various parts like the verse melody over the chorus bass line over the clean guitar, etc. etc. throughout. It's a mashup within itself and with the new groove it's a totally different song, a mashmix. There are some new guitar leads in Starseed that came from the "jams" recorded during the original Starry Light sessions. Some of the leads from those sessions, though lovely, couldn't find a home in the original song. As it is, the original went from 5 minutes to 8 minutes to 14 minutes by the time I did the final mix. I couldn't squeeze another lick into that song. I'm so happy these little phrases and flavors are getting a chance to shine in this new Mashmix! It also features some triplet feel parts that in the original Starry Light are hidden behind 4/4 feels. This Mashmix became irresistible to me the more I worked on it. I'm so pleased to present it to you, though (in a way) I'm sad it's finished because I had so much fun putting it together. I look forward to creating more Funkametrix Mashmixes with future recordings.
note . . . I am not a Starseed nor do I believe I share qualities with Starseeds. However, I do know Starseeds . . . they are for sure among us.
Q: So . . . what is a Starseed?
A: A Starseed is a person from another world. Starseeds have deep feelings. Starseeds love the Earth yet can typically feel like they don't quite belong, never feeling at home here, and find themselves gazing at the stars. In my experience Starseeds have unique qualities or abilities, as well as unusual auras, that lead me to the conclusion there is no way they came from this planet. They also seem to exist day to day on the edge of the veil between worlds sometimes causing them to be virtually "invisible" in a crowd or group of people.
Some interesting definitions found online . . .
A Starseed is an old soul with deep spiritual wisdom, that's been lying dormant. They have arrived from other solar systems.
Starseeds are highly advanced spiritual beings and souls that originated from distant planets, solar systems and galaxies, typically far from Earth.
A: A Starseed is a person from another world. Starseeds have deep feelings. Starseeds love the Earth yet can typically feel like they don't quite belong, never feeling at home here, and find themselves gazing at the stars. In my experience Starseeds have unique qualities or abilities, as well as unusual auras, that lead me to the conclusion there is no way they came from this planet. They also seem to exist day to day on the edge of the veil between worlds sometimes causing them to be virtually "invisible" in a crowd or group of people.
Some interesting definitions found online . . .
A Starseed is an old soul with deep spiritual wisdom, that's been lying dormant. They have arrived from other solar systems.
Starseeds are highly advanced spiritual beings and souls that originated from distant planets, solar systems and galaxies, typically far from Earth.
Q: Who is Meteor Train and when will we see you and them live in action?
A: I have written all the music and played all the instruments on these songs and recordings. Meteor Train is my live performance band
consisting of incredible musicians, players, performers, and human beings.
We will be known as Derek Leka and Meteor Train, not unlike any band you can name that has a similar moniker, like Gladys Night and the Pips, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to name two. In a performance sense I am not separate from Meteor Train and Meteor Train is not separate from me. However on the stage I will be playing lead guitar.
I'm looking for the players right now. The right people are out there. The call is out. Where are you? The world is waiting for you, for us, for this incredible life changing music. Come to me, I'm looking for you, I'm waiting for for you. Here I am, take me on . . . Do you have the fortitude to live up to the power and importance of this band. This is an incredible dream and I visualize us all on the stage everyday.
Q: What makes someone the right people as you said?
A: The given things are that they can perform the music and love the music, because they will be performing it over and over. Their skill set must be high because the music has unique demands on each of the players. They have to be very happy playing someone else's music, because like being in an orchestra the music is prewritten though there are areas for interpretation and inflection. Like Michael Jackson said during the This is it rehearsals to one of his players, "I want it to sound the way it does on the record. That's what the fans expect to hear". I understand artists, their needs, the space and respect they require, and it's very important to me that the other artists are happy, satisfied, and fulfilled.
That's the technical part. Once the above is met, I and we all need to get along. We will be together for a long time. This is all standard band stuff. We will be together through all the highs and lows, away from home, etc. etc. We will see each other at our best and worst. We will be a family.
In the end it's about the fans and we need to put on a show for them. They are giving us their hard earned money and we have a responsibility to bring it every time. Without them we are a theory. Again, standard band stuff universal to all bands.
A: I have written all the music and played all the instruments on these songs and recordings. Meteor Train is my live performance band
consisting of incredible musicians, players, performers, and human beings.
We will be known as Derek Leka and Meteor Train, not unlike any band you can name that has a similar moniker, like Gladys Night and the Pips, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to name two. In a performance sense I am not separate from Meteor Train and Meteor Train is not separate from me. However on the stage I will be playing lead guitar.
I'm looking for the players right now. The right people are out there. The call is out. Where are you? The world is waiting for you, for us, for this incredible life changing music. Come to me, I'm looking for you, I'm waiting for for you. Here I am, take me on . . . Do you have the fortitude to live up to the power and importance of this band. This is an incredible dream and I visualize us all on the stage everyday.
Q: What makes someone the right people as you said?
A: The given things are that they can perform the music and love the music, because they will be performing it over and over. Their skill set must be high because the music has unique demands on each of the players. They have to be very happy playing someone else's music, because like being in an orchestra the music is prewritten though there are areas for interpretation and inflection. Like Michael Jackson said during the This is it rehearsals to one of his players, "I want it to sound the way it does on the record. That's what the fans expect to hear". I understand artists, their needs, the space and respect they require, and it's very important to me that the other artists are happy, satisfied, and fulfilled.
That's the technical part. Once the above is met, I and we all need to get along. We will be together for a long time. This is all standard band stuff. We will be together through all the highs and lows, away from home, etc. etc. We will see each other at our best and worst. We will be a family.
In the end it's about the fans and we need to put on a show for them. They are giving us their hard earned money and we have a responsibility to bring it every time. Without them we are a theory. Again, standard band stuff universal to all bands.
Q: Why does your guitar say Uriel on it?
A: I have many 8 string guitars and was referring to them as the new black one or the original white one. This was not only confusing but since they each have a singular sound and feel, therefore a personality, they deserve names. Naming them after Arch Angels made sense to me so there it is. Uriel, Azrael, Metatron, Sandalphon, I associate each guitar's unique tonal qualities and playability with their names now and quickly know which I want or need to play. Example: I recorded most of the leads on my new song Immortal with Azrael, and one part with Uriel. I know how both instruments influence my playing, tone, and sensibility. Azrael is the only guitar I have that is strung up with .008's. The strings are loose like rubber bands. They demand a light touch, and when handled with care are very expressive. Uriel is set up with .009's and works well for fast runs. The strings are in between stiff and loose. Sandalphon is a rhythm guitar that is strung up with wicked thick heavy strings. It's a heavy guitar with a Mahogany body and a thick neck. It sounds great for the dirty clean parts in Immortal. Metatron's bridge pickup is all the way back touching the bridge. This ramps up the treble and bite that I may require for funky rhythm scratching. And yes I fully acknowledge that I'm borrowing this naming idea from Steve Vai who has named many of his guitars like FLO. It's the biggest no brainer to do this and simplifies everything since there's so much to consider when recoding. Why not make it poetic and romantic as well, "I need Uriel for these leads". Uriel is Excalibur, Azrael is a Light Saber, Sandalphon is a Sherman Tank, Metatron is a Tiger. I named my amps as well, Fire and Ice, and have them color coded along with all the pedals being color coded to go with each amp. This naming thing further traces back to my second Triple Rectifier arriving with a blue jewel light instead of red . . . which I quickly named them Fire and Ice, I was like no duh! These amps and guitars are deserving of names, since they sound so different. It makes it so easy to know who you need to use. They have personalities and are alive since giving them a name and an identity.
A: I have many 8 string guitars and was referring to them as the new black one or the original white one. This was not only confusing but since they each have a singular sound and feel, therefore a personality, they deserve names. Naming them after Arch Angels made sense to me so there it is. Uriel, Azrael, Metatron, Sandalphon, I associate each guitar's unique tonal qualities and playability with their names now and quickly know which I want or need to play. Example: I recorded most of the leads on my new song Immortal with Azrael, and one part with Uriel. I know how both instruments influence my playing, tone, and sensibility. Azrael is the only guitar I have that is strung up with .008's. The strings are loose like rubber bands. They demand a light touch, and when handled with care are very expressive. Uriel is set up with .009's and works well for fast runs. The strings are in between stiff and loose. Sandalphon is a rhythm guitar that is strung up with wicked thick heavy strings. It's a heavy guitar with a Mahogany body and a thick neck. It sounds great for the dirty clean parts in Immortal. Metatron's bridge pickup is all the way back touching the bridge. This ramps up the treble and bite that I may require for funky rhythm scratching. And yes I fully acknowledge that I'm borrowing this naming idea from Steve Vai who has named many of his guitars like FLO. It's the biggest no brainer to do this and simplifies everything since there's so much to consider when recoding. Why not make it poetic and romantic as well, "I need Uriel for these leads". Uriel is Excalibur, Azrael is a Light Saber, Sandalphon is a Sherman Tank, Metatron is a Tiger. I named my amps as well, Fire and Ice, and have them color coded along with all the pedals being color coded to go with each amp. This naming thing further traces back to my second Triple Rectifier arriving with a blue jewel light instead of red . . . which I quickly named them Fire and Ice, I was like no duh! These amps and guitars are deserving of names, since they sound so different. It makes it so easy to know who you need to use. They have personalities and are alive since giving them a name and an identity.
