While I await rehearsals for album number 9, inspiration decided to strike again in a bizarre way
That’s the story of my life.
Saw a post by my good friend Larry Mitchell quoting a friend about “A piece of light”, and figured that would sound like a cool song title. The music came to me this morning, so after a couple of takes, I chose the second one (even with some mistakes) as it had more feel. Added effects in post and then registered it with BMI. Ain’t I professional?
This tune, “Pieces Of Light”, has a lot of ambient delays, chorus, church reverb, and decent compression. I am very pleased with how it came out. And I hope you enjoy what you hear. You can stream it on Spotify, iTunes, etc. as well as here (how novel) and Bandcamp.
Steve Vai has been one of my biggest influences, if not one of the most severe in my life as a guitarist. Granted, I cut my teeth on fantastic players such as Jimi Hendrix (the GOAT), Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc. But with Vai, his influence was more than the music and the guitar gymnastics. He always seemed to have this awareness that floored me.
I’ll have what he’s having.
He did an Instagram live yesterday with the band Polyphia. He said something (and I’m paraphrasing here) that being a musician is a curse. We are always putting our hearts into our work, and then the world can say yes or no to you. And in this industry, rejection is 99% of it. But the way he talked about how being an artist is a mixed blessing was what astounded me.
I look at a musician like Vai, or even someone like Prince, and see someone who has total freedom with music. No chains, no boundaries, no hang-ups about the big hit single. Just put your blood and sweat into your work, and you will be rewarded.
Yes?
Being unique does not get you accolades and rewards out of the starting gate. So what does one do when people say “You need a singer” or “You need to write normal songs”? You can dumb down real bad and cater to the masses. (BTW: I heard a song by Daryl Hall called “Something In 4/4 Time”…check it out!) Or you can stick your neck out with the risk of being beheaded (shades of Alice Cooper?)
My heroes simply did not care about what was popular. Maybe they did secretly, who knows? In my eyes, it was all about the music, and everything else should be icing on the cake. The dream of a nice record deal way back when was something musicians strived for, there was an incentive at hand. Speaking only for myself, a record deal would have been the worst thing for me. I don’t think I could have handled hearing some guy in a suit telling me “This is what the kids like!” Sorry, but I prefer King’s X to Kings Of Leon (no offense!)
Vai also talked about musical expression, how to tap into sources and channel them. I interpreted that as go beyond the surface. Dick Cavett once asked Hendrix about his music, to which Jimi replied (again, paraphrasing because my memory sucks lately) that the music he heard in his head was not being done by anyone else, so he had to do it himself. When you want something done right…
This all ties in nicely with getting ready to head into rehearsals soon to start pre-production on album #9. I can do what I want musically. I’ve had friends tell me “Try writing something like this…” and I think “Why don’t you write it?” I hate being told what to do. I can take direction but not dictation. If that makes me look smug and arrogant, my apologies. A true artist is not swayed by the masses. I write heavy metal, and am damn proud of that. But I can also write funky stuff, jazzy ideas, whatever. No rules, no sword of Damacles over my head about “Write that hit single.”
Apparently, a thing happened this morning. The ISSA have decided to do a new voting poll, this time for Instrumental Artist of the Month. And wouldn’t you know it…I am on the ballot! Not bad for someone who was always told “You need a singer.”
Here’s the link to the polls: Instrumental Artist so VOTE VOTE VOTE! And if elected, I vow to keep making awesome guitar music 🙂
Every year I seem to say the same thing: “Where did the time go?” This was the fastest summer but was the best one for me personally. Now it gets darker earlier, which admittedly bums me out. I love the Fall, don’t get me wrong. Perfect for taking pictures of leaves turning colors (as evident in the photo above). I don’t mind breaking out the hoodie, and then later on the leather jacket. But still my heart yearns for how this year went.
‘Twas a pretty banner year for my cd MOOD SWINGS. Great sales, good reviews, good amount of promo. Oh and it was up for an award with the ISSA. Obviously it didn’t win (I’ll keep my cynicism to a minimum) but it’s a CD that I can be proud of. But as everyone knows, there’s no rest for the handsome. I have a lot of rough demos that hope to turn into real songs. No rush though. For once I don’t feel compelled to get back to work.
Teaching has been eating up a huge part of my life and I love it! Three nights a week at the music store, three nights private lessons. Which leaves Saturday as my day to blend with the furniture.
But I won’t lie to you (yes, the one reading this blog): I am feeling a bit off my game lately. Feel like I’m in a rut with my guitar playing. Been trying to spice things up with learning jazz licks, country riffs, you name it. Also delving into learning some sax lines to help with better phrasing. Even though I have a ton of students, I am still a student myself, constantly searching and digging. Some friends have suggested “You need to reinvent yourself” but I hate being told what to do. I will do what comes naturally, period. Forcing things doesn’t work in my world.
Was hoping for a November gig but no such luck. The July 9 show was one of my best shows ever, and with my luck, if I did a show in November and it sucked, I would hate life. Best that the Metalfest show was a great period at the end of the sentence this year. Don’t want to tarnish that feeling. The saying is true, “You’re only as good as your last show” so my last show (for maybe a little while) was damn good!
Selfie taken yesterday morning after recording new demo
Thursday night after teaching many students, I came home to wolf down some dinner. Leftover pasta to be exact. And what happens during my time of munching?
A song comes to me.
Inspiration is a funny thing, as I always way. But for the muse to come to me during dinner, what do you do? You do what any other musician might do: finish eating and then write the song down on manuscript paper. When I can’t write things down fast enough, then I know it’s going to be a good tune.
But while stuffing my face?! I guess so.
I wanted so bad to record the rough demo but didn’t want to wake up a sleeping house. So when most everyone left for either work or school, I pulled out Pinkie, plugged into an Orange amp (of course!), set up the Tascam recorder and let it rip. And the song poured out of my hands, basically writing itself. I like that feeling. Listened back to it and was pleased. It’s a very cathartic feeling to have something come from nothing, and then lay it down quickly.
After listening, I decided to use a song title from another song I tried working on in 2021. No, I won’t say the title (I learned that lesson years ago) but it fit better with this tune than the other idea I had.
Pic taken in the basement aka "My Corner Of The Universe"
A strange feeling washed over me this morning. And we haven’t had much rain this summer either..
I only pick up a guitar when giving lessons or recording little demos. Normally I would be here in the basement (“my corner of the universe”), grabbing one of my guitars and riffing away. But so far, nothing. Am I in a rut? Or am I satisfied/vindicated because of the July 9 show? Been searching for answers and coming up dry. Been scanning YouTube, watching videos of jazz players, hoping to add more licks to my repertoire. Zero.
WTF is going on?
Was hoping for a third gig this year to cap it off but nothing materialized. That’s okay, it gives me time to focus on my ninth album. Maybe I’m better off behind the scenes? Who knows…
One thing’s certain: Seeing footage of Living Colour with Steve Vai as guest really excited me! Two of my all-time fave guitarists, one of my all-time fave bands…it was an early Xmas for me. But it also got me thinking: Why have I never gotten to that level? Maybe I was not supposed to? Granted, I really love teaching, it’s a niche that fits well. However, there’s that part of me that asks “Will I ever play a HUGE show, just one time in my life?”
Maybe it’s time to reclaim my guitar god throne…or did it ever exist in the first place?
Late last July, I did a phone interview with Jason Buice for his podcast called Hear For The Music. Despite battling allergies, it was definitely one of the most interesting Q&A’s that I’ve ever been a part of. Here is the link but I have to alert you all to one thing I talked about (a bit of a spoiler, perhaps):
During the chat, I somehow resurrected something from my past that was never discussed ever until now. I will not give too much away but will mention a bit of it…
I was bullied in middle school for liking Rainbow.
Yes, the band.
I won’t say much else but when you hear the podcast, you will understand why I am the way I am. It was very cathartic to talk about but was also shaking in my chair at the same time. At first I was going to ask Jason to edit that out but then I thought “People need to know how poorly I was treated for being ‘different’.”
Imagine being beat up for liking a fucking rock band?
Yeah it happened to me.
So when you listen to the interview, picture a short-haired zit-face 13-year-old being shoved and punched every day.
Yes, karma caught up to them.
Listen to the interview and get back to me. Thanks.
Pic taken by Michael Perry. I need a Pantene endorsement now.
Has it been a year already?
You know what I’m talking about, right?
On August 21, 2021 the album MOOD SWINGS was released. It is still the fastest-selling cd in my catalog.
Read that again because it’s true.
The cd has received airplay in parts of United States, as well as Canada, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and most recently Australia and South Africa. Still trying to get attention in Japan. BUDOKAN, BABY!
It was up for Male Album Of The Year with the ISSA. No it didn’t win but being nominated…ah you know the rest.
The album almost didn’t come to life had it not been for Mike Sabatini saying “Send me the songs.” And you’d think by now, after releasing music for many years, I’d be all “Yeah well whatever” but I still had butterflies in my stomach (along with a very strong cup of coffee) the morning the cd was released.
And now here it is, one year later, the cd is still being talked about. Sales come and go but the songs still get attention on various stations.
Had a great conversation with a friend today on the phone (what? no text?) and one thing that she brought up was how heavy metal has/had these rules that you had to adhere to, in order to fit in that tribe.
I never got the memo apparently.
She said “When you do something different, you’re no longer part of the heavy metal tribe.” Well, I wish I knew this person back in middle school. Would have saved me a lot of grief! I struggled for years to fit in. Like any teenager growing up in the 80s, bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Metallica, etc. were part of my musical diet. And like any teenager, I wanted to be in a heavy metal band. I simply wasn’t meant to be in one. So, many years later, I had to make my own “metal band” (basically me with a revolving door, which wasn’t part of the plan).
What went wrong (or right, depending on your angle?)
While I was visualizing myself in a heavy metal band, I heard other bands along the way such as The Police, Squeeze, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Yes, Genesis (pre-soccer mom years), King Crimson, Prince…stuff that was NOWHERE near heavy metal yet still grabbed me in some way. How and why was I drawn to all these artists? Do I dare lose my supposed metal cred? (I already did because my hair wasn’t long in high school and I didn’t drink.) I could pop on an Exodus cassette one minute and then throw in ZZ Top. To me, if it stirred my soul, it was good. I even digested punk/hardcore bands such as Black Flag, Sex Pistols, and Discharge. (Yes, I liked some hair metal for a brief period before I saw the light…)
Then along came three bands that steamrolled me just as I was graduating high school: Living Colour, King’s X, and Jane’s Addiction. These bands were playing “smart metal” (to loosely paraphrase Martin Popoff) so I latched onto them. Could these bands he heavy yet be soulful, funky, and downright WEIRD? Yep! And I lapped it up! (Faith No More wasn’t until two years later but they also inspired me to be as quirky as possible, which was easy.)
So were heavy metal bands embracing these newer bands at the time? Yes and no. There was respect but also “They’re not REAL metal” and all that nonsense. My friend calls it a “Crab in a barrel” mentality, meaning if you step outside the barrel, someone else will pull you back in so you don’t move up another level.
I was already doing that in high school! I just didn’t see it at the time. I was combining metal with some other twists and was told “You can’t do that!” And I started believing it. Wasn’t until I joined up with a band in 1990 where I felt creatively free. I could write something funky, something heavy, there were seemingly no rules. (Well, the drummer and singer didn’t like me being TOO over the top…) Ever since then, I was on a quest to be as different as possible but not too different.
That didn’t quite pan out that way. I would audition for bands and hear “Can you play less like Steve Vai and more like Kurt Cobain?” or “Don’t use that chord, it’s gay” (yes, a bassist said that to me…) Inevitably I would wind up doing instrumental music and being thrown in the role as front man.
I simply was not born to blend in.
So yes, I proved in some strange way that heavy metal could be freed up from the constraints of what belongs. I simply never belonged, and the music reflects it.
The ISSA Awards show happened yesterday. After many months of wondering who will take home the top prizes, the results were announced on their website.
No I did not win Male Album Of The Year.
But that’s okay! As I have been saying, being nominated was a win, and then being a finalist was the cherry on top. I was up against some serious competition and am sure the judges spent many a sleepless night wondering who to pick. Yes, of course I was hoping to see MOOD SWINGS either take gold, but would have been fine with bronze or silver. (Sounds like the Olympics!) Yes I was dismayed that I was not chosen. That only makes me work harder the next album, right?
I am grateful to have been given such an opportunity to be recognized. When the public voted all of April, and the announcement was made on May 4, I was as shocked as anyone when my name was mentioned. Did I hear that right?! Yep, I heard “Steve Bello MOOD SWINGS” and my jaw hit the ground. And I said to myself even then, if I don’t win the award, I still won accolades and decent press.
Of course many congratulations to the winners! We all work hard and it shows. Was nice to see some friends take home the top spots as well.
Would I have liked a trophy in my hands? Definitely. But that doesn’t diminish how proud I am of the album, how much hard work went into it between myself, Mike Sabatini and Jon Hanemann. If I won, they would have as well.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR 7-STRING GUITARIST STEVE BELLO 
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