Guitar instrumentalist Angel Vivaldi can be marked as one of the top guitar virtuosos of this generation. This guitarist has made quite an impact with his craft which has seen his name thrown into conversations with the names of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker, Marty Friedman and many other guitar shredders, as to who is the best of the best. Vivaldi is celebrating fifteen years doing professional music this year. He is not only an amazing guitar player, but also an advocate for many social and environmental causes. I was fortunate to get to talk to Angel while he is currently out on the Melodic Decadence tour.
GA: Can you start off with telling me a little about yourself, and your band?
AV: I am a touring guitar instrumentalist celebrating fifteen years of doing professional music this year. During this time, I have released four albums, and I’m on the road touring now.
GA: How has the Melodic Decadence tour been for you so far? Is there anything you look forward to when you go out on the road?
AV: Yes, it has been absolutely incredible. I look forward to meeting people and hanging out. To listen to their stories about how they heard about my music and what ever impact I have had in their lives, is very humbling and reminds me not to take anything for granted.
GA: What got you into playing guitar? I see you were self-taught, who did you look to for inspiration and to learn from to expand on your craft?
AV: Kurt Cobain was the first guy that made me want to pick up a guitar and start writing music. I don’t really look at outside sources, but more inwards as far as trying to find my own max potential trying to push myself further.
GA: I did a little digging and seen you have worked with Will Putney on several occasions for albums, how is it to work with him?
AV: He is incredible to work with. He has worked on like ninety percent of my records since 2010. We have a beautiful working relationship, the chemistry is great; he knows how to get the best performance out of me, and my guys. His production is incredible and bar none.
GA: When composing a song, what sparks your imagination to write the riffs? Do you have a particular way you go about making new music?
AV: The last record was a concept album. I love doing concept records. It is a concept record based on neurotransmitters, one song is serotonin, one song is adrenaline, dopamine, and it goes from there. For the album I painted my studio nine times for each song, and I wrote every song based off the mood I was getting from the room. It worked out because I am sensitive to my environments. I notice when I get writers block and I get frustrated, so I wanted to give myself something that will keep me constantly inspired; being in a new room in a sense kind of helped do that.
GA: You are one of the best virtuosos of this generation of guitar players, do you sometimes feel like it is difficult to live up to this mantle, or do you embrace the challenge of outdoing yourself on each new recording?
AV: I definitely do the latter a lot. I always write one or two songs that are a little bit out of my ability, only because I am spread quite thin doing everything else. Doing this helps me from being complacent with my playing. I mean this is king of subjective, but I do my own thing and have my own voice. I just try to reach my max potential; the word ceiling isn’t in my vocabulary for playing.
GA: I also seen you are quite a humanitarian with doing a lot of awareness and aid shows for various groups, can you tell me a little more about these groups you are involved with?
AV: MY approach to doing these events is from a visceral stand point, of being in that group. I was homeless for two years, from age seventeen to nineteen. I am also gay and an advocate for that. As far as charities, my best friend had ALS and passed away from it a few years ago. Now that I am in a place where I can give back, and even when I wasn’t I would find a way to donate to these causes because it is incredibly important to me. I think that it is a privilege to know why you are here, and I know that I am here to make music and make art. I think that even that, as a vessel to do something beyond is an optional responsibility, but I like to take that on for sure.
GA: You were an Ibanez artist for a long time before announcing that you were moving to Charvel, can you expand on why the move?
AV: I was with Ibanez for close to eight years. I love everyone over there, they make great guitars. When it came down to it, I felt like it was time for a change. Its kind of like being with a partner; where you grow, and they stay the same. You don’t necessarily grow together but kind of grow apart. I got to a point where I was like it’s time. I started really pushing my playing and noticing there were things that I couldn’t do comfortably on that guitar, that I can do on my signature. Luckily the guys at Charvel trusted me. We have a very beautiful and close relationship, they believe in what I do, and I believe in them.
GA: Well there is a lot of history associated with the Charvel brand, from the Van Halen days to Grover Jackson. It’s a historical brand to be a part of.
AV: Mike Shannon built my guitars along with Joe Williams, the one was mainly Joe, but Chip Ellis had some ideas on it as well. He has done work with Van Halen, and it is such an honor to work with all of them.
GA: Can you tell me what you are using for your live set up, any endorsements please mention?
AV: I am religious about two things; Charvel guitars and Mesa Boogie amps. I use the JP 2 C plus, the John Petrucci model, I love it. I am using that with the four-cable method through my Fractal Ax FX. For tonight since I am going solo without the band, I am just running DI straight through the Fractal Ax FX down to the house. Its is just easier and streamlined for tonight’s show, and makes it simple for the sound guy, since we are not loading all that other stuff in.
GA: Do you use any external effects?
AV: My signal chain is really simple. I use a gate, delay and reverb; the reverb is for the wet tones. The AX FX’s built in effects are just superb and paired with the Mesa I can’t really beat the feel and sound.
GA: When you are not playing guitar what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
AV: I am big on meditating, yoga, and fitness. I am also and environmentalist as well. I also enjoy doing cinematography and videography. I think if I wasn’t a musician I would be an interior designer for sure. I like to keep myself busy.
GA: Where can people keep up to date with you and the band online, and if they want to purchase merchandise where can they go to find your store?
AV: They can find pretty much everything through my website, Angelvivaldi.com.https://www.angelvivaldiofficial.com
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I want to thank Angel for speaking with me, it was quite a pleasure. I wish you well out on tour and hope to see you come back through the area again. You can currently catch Angel Vivaldi out on the Melodic Decadence tour. For more information on Angel Vivaldi please visit his website.

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George Archibald

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