You started off playing the piano but switched to the guitar. What drew you to the guitar?
Initially I wasn’t that interested in playing the guitar, as I didn’t really resonate much with the music that was presented to me as “guitar music,” despite the efforts of my father and grandfather! Then one day I listened to Guns N’ Roses’ album “Appetite for Destruction” and realized that guitar was the instrument I felt I could express my creativity in the most.

Are there any traces of your piano skills and knowledge in your guitar work?
I think developing dexterity in both hands has certainly helped me out with particular techniques such as tapping. Thankfully I’ve never had a plateau in that area and never feel limited. However, when thinking about anything musical, I always have black and white keys in my mind’s eye rather than a fretboard. I think it helps me phrase things in a more unique way but also makes it a lot more difficult, as my style of phrasing isn’t particularly “designed” for guitar.

You’ve played 6-, 7- and 8-string guitars through your career. Today, is there one you prefer?
I’d have to say I’m preferring 6 strings more than anything! I played 8-string for many years prior to around 2021, and although that extra range was great to have, I’ve found recently that six strings have helped me express myself a lot better and be a little more relaxed. They’re still a prominent part of my songwriting though!

So far, you’ve released several solo albums and are also busy composing and teaching. Any longing for going with a band constellation? Or do you feel most at home as a solo artist?
I’d love to one day be part of a band that I can fully commit to and/or continue focusing on my solo stuff. Ultimately I want to start performing in some live shows because that’s where the authentic energy is and what it’s all about in my opinion.

As a composer of a lot of instrumental music, do you still visualize words, themes and meanings when writing songs? How does that work?
Almost always – I often find myself hitting a wall with composing, but establishing how the track makes me feel, what imagery the music inspires, etc. comes to the rescue every time! I always try to transport anybody listening to my music to another realm or universe, with or without a narrative, so part of the process for me is finding out what that is. If I can establish that, the music usually writes itself, or so it seems!

How did you first discover Toontrack and which products do you regularly use?
I’ve been a fan of Toontrack for many years – from the very early days! Toontrack came to the rescue during the production of my first album “Heavy Balance.” With only myself producing and a very small budget, it was impossible for me to have live musicians on bass and drums. Thankfully EZdrummer and Superior Drummer existed! Being able to craft the exact sound and feel I wanted from the drums helped elevate that album to something I could be very proud of. Nowadays I still use both of those Toontrack products, as well as EZbass and more recently EZkeys.

What’s next on your agenda?
I hope to start playing some live shows and travel a bit doing so. Whether it’s a clinic or concert, playing live is definitely my next goal. Hopefully some opportunities materialize soon!