by: Matt Warnock

    There’s probably a really good chance that if there were more high-school Art teachers like Michael Shouse that classrooms would be filled with interested teens across the country. It’s not often that kids can say that their teacher is a monster guitarist whose latest album, Alone on the Sun, is receiving critical acclaim across the board. Recently called “Joe Satriani on Steroids,” Shouse’s playing is not only full of chops, but contains a melodic quality to it that draws the listener in, only releasing them when the final notes of the record ring off into the ether.

    On top of it being a great album, the title track was recently named the Gold Winner: Gods of Indie Guitar 2011, Alone on the Sun is a multi-layered product that gives listeners the usual audio files, but also includes tabs so that guitarists can learn their favorite Shouse licks and songs, as well as videos. It is truly a multimedia experience, and one that is sure to be a hit with guitar fans the world over. If you’d like to check out the tabs for the songs on the record, you can also visit Michael Shouse’s Download Page on his website.

    Guitar International recently caught up with Michael Shouse to talk about Joe Satriani, his new record and why he chose to release a multi-layered product rather than a plain, old CD.

Matt Warnock: Your music has been described as “Joe Satriani on steroids.” How do you react when you read something like that?

Michael Shouse: It makes me proud and laugh at the same time. I’m not the man, Satriani is. I’m just starting out, but I try to be creative and melodic and that’s why I think people compare me to him. It might be the look too. I shaved my head a year before him and I wear shades because I have a disfigured eyelid from birth. I’m sure that contributes to the comparison. When you want people to know your name and your music, it’s hard to not be put in a comparison early on. Honestly, I don’t really want to be compared to other players, but if it has to be someone then Satriani is fine by me.

Matt: You play guitars, keys and sing on the album. Do you consider yourself a guitarist who sings and plays keyboards or a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar?

Michael Shouse: I’m definitely a guitarist. I like to think of myself as a musician that plays the guitar. Theory is transcendent and I can use it with keyboards or any other instrument. Thanks to midi, it’s a little easier these days to do this.

Matt: The album features several bassists and drummers. When you’re writing a new song do you have a specific group of players in mind, or do you choose the line up once a song is written?

Michael Shouse: Well, for this CD I did the guitar locally, then searched on different websites and found these great musicians. I sent an email clip of each song and asked if they wanted to play on it. All were very happy and excited to do so. After hearing the drummers play on their first track, it gave me an idea of what I thought were their strengths and what future songs might suite them best. It was the same thing with the bass players. The project was unique in that I never met any of the musicians, and in most cases never talked to them other than through email.

After recording the guitar, I sent those tracks to the drummers, and they recorded where they were. Then, I rough mixed that and sent it to the bass players. After everything was recorded I went to Nashville to have it mixed and mastered. I really liked this process. I gave each musician total freedom, unless I had a specific sound in mind or if I didn’t like something, then I would ask them to change it. So, they really put a part of themselves into the record, and I know they’re proud of what they did on the CD.

Matt: You released an enhanced CD with a music video and guitar tab. What was the inspiration behind this and do you think this is the way things are going for the future of guitar CD releases?

Michael Shouse: I also act and my brother and I do independent films and shoot videos. He wanted to try some flying rig and green screen with HD effects. So, we shot the video to the title track and he came up with the video concept and did all the work. I definitely think that all instrumental guitarists should put either videos or tab with their CDs. I hated it when I was growing up and I’d hear the CD and have to wait months for any tab to come out, or never get any at all.

    Every lick on the CD was an original idea. I’ve been tabbing them and writing and storing them for a few years now. Knowing that I’m a new player on the scene, I really wanted players to be able to look at what I did and see the innovative things on the CD. In the future you can count on all my CDs following the same format. A real multi-media experience, not just a CD.

Matt: That must have been a major project, probably almost as much time as it would take to record an album.

Michael Shouse: It was , but as I recorded, I would look through the tons of ideas and pick several that I liked for each song. I didn’t use the same lick on more than one song, giving each its own identity. I would use those licks and create variations and also improvise when necessary.

    Knowing that I wanted to put the tab on the CD, I tabbed things out as I recorded the album. The only instrumental song on the CD I didn’t tab was “Dead in Memphis.” Although I had tab for the main lick and melody, most of the song was improvised, and I just didn’t have the time to go back and tab it all out.

Matt: What guitars are you using on the album?

Michael Shouse: I only play Carvin. I got my first in ‘92 and I have never played anything else. I own seven Carvin guitars and I played most, if not all, of them somewhere on the CD. I strung my seven-string very unusually for “The Arabian,” which gave me the chance to do things that would have been impossible on a six-string.

Matt: Are you planning on touring this year to support the new record? What’s in the works coming up for you in the New Year?

Michael Shouse: Not currently. I would love to, but only if I can get signed by a label or company that could put me out there with someone. I’m a full time art teacher and there aren’t many local venues for this type of music. But, I would love to get a gig opening for someone on tour.

    “Alone on the sun” will be part of a compilation CD called, Gods of Indie Guitar 2011, which will be out in the next couple of months, so I’m excited about that. Reviews, magazines and webzines are pretty much the extent of what I’ve done so far in hopes that someone gives me and my music a shot.