Interview with Chris Steberl of Project Alcazar ( www.lionmusic.com   ) by Johnny C of www.loudmetal.com 

I know that you are working on a new Project Alcazar album, what can you tell us about it?

The new CD is entitled “The Scarlet Letter”. This will be a full length CD with about 10 songs ranging from original music to a few classical remakes such as Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” to Respighi’s “Tarantella”. “The Scarlet Letter” is a 12 minute, 2 part song that the band Alcazar performed live years ago. This is finally an opportunity to record it in the fashion it needed to be done in and I am very excited to get this new release out. Hopefully it will be accepted as well as “Reasons For A Decade” was.

When can we expect to be able to listen to the new album?

I am guessing probably late October/mid November. I had surgery in late July which set me back a few weeks and of course there’s the “normal, unexepected debacles”  that occur along the way. I just dumped my ADATS for Pro Tools so I have been learning somewhat of a new way to do things. All the songs are together and the artwork for the CD is ready. It might even be sooner than expected!!!!

Which guys would you consider to be your main influences?

Man………all of the early Shrapnel guys (Howe, Macalpine, Moore, Becker) and of course Van Halen. George Lynch and Malmsteen. There are so many players though it’s really hard to name them all. I listen to a wide spectrum of styles from DiMeola to Eric Johnson, Vai to Gambale, etc etc…….

How would you describe your music to someone who is not familiar with it?

Well I would say it’s instrumental melodic metal, with a focus on songwriting more than “How many arpeggios can I put in THIS song!! Lol The reviews I have seen on the last CD have pretty much reflected that to the people who listened to it which thrilled me. I sway towards the melody and hook more when I write. I know the majority of my audience are musicians but I still want the average listener to enjoy the music too. They hear the song where sometimes guitar players just judge the song on how much “technique and rippin’ licks” were in the song.

How did you develop your own style of playing, did you take any lessons?

Believe it or not, my parents made me take lessons at age 8 and I absolutely despised the guitar for years!! Lol Then a class mate loaned me the first Van Halen album and then – it was totally cool!!!

It gave me a jump on a lot of players in my area, even older guys just because I could read music and knew my fundamentals. It was a great benefit to have that knowledge, especially when I started to learn solos by ear. It’s so much easier when you know what key you are dealing with. I’m not sure I have my OWN style yet I guess. It’s encouraging to know other players think I do though. I do put together parts on the guitar and then see if I can make the fingering more difficult. It helps me to improve my dexterity and usually the different fingering, when moved to someplace else on the neck, will inspire something really cool. I used to hit the scale books a lot but have gotten away from them over the last year or two. I think arranging the classical pieces I have done has really improved my knowledge of the way composers put their pieces together. Anything you learn can be worked into where you want to use it,

What is the most important, feeling or technique? can you survive with only one of them?

Tough question…………….technique you can build up until it is absolutely insane but then when you get to that level, your feeling and emotion will usually suffer or is lost. Not always, but it seems the player compromises at that point. I think if you play with a lot of emotion, then you compliment your technique.

Speed can be used to express feeling in a solo as well. I have heard players in a solo just use it in bursts or even use it in climaxes on solos or endings. It’s well placed and not redundant. I think feeling and technique walk hand in hand with each other and one without the other is just leaving yourself short of your potential to be a well rounded player.

What kind of equipment are you using live or in the studio?

Guitar wise I am using the Brian Moore C90P for most everything. I also have an older Jackson that I occasionally break out if the part calls for it. I am also using my Taylor 410cse for some cleaner stuff.

I do most of my pre production with my Kurzweil K2000 with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 and then just drop the MIDI tracks into Pro Tools. Almost all of the songs have drums, bass and keys when I give them to the guys to record. I am still using the Carvin Legacy as my main amp with some various outboard gear live and in the studio. I basically go into the studio and get the drum tracks, lay down bass tracks if possible while the drums are going to tape. Take them back home and do guitars, then go back to mix and master.

I have been working with engineer Joe Viers who is just a pleasure to work with. He knows what I want and knows how to achieve it. He is one of the few guys I completely trust to tell me if something is working and sounds good. I never doubt him and that’s why we continue to hook up

How was the album recorded?

Basically I just write the arrangements in their entirety in my studio at home, rehearse them with the players and record them. Some of the songs were in the bag a year ago, some were written in the last 3-4 months. The longer they sit the more they end up getting polished when they go to tape. Some material might not even make it due to the new material is just more exciting to me. I spend a great deal of time laying down guitar parts and burning the demos to CD, then listening to them in the car or at home. They’re almost cover songs to me by the time we record the final tracks!! Lol

Which musicians would you like to play with some day?

Well I came close to playing with Mike Terrana for this new one but scheduling conflicts wouldn’t allow it. Maybe in the future though. I would love to work with drummer Steve Smith or Atma Anur. Vitalij Kuprij’s playing always moved me, even Jens Johannsen would be totally jammin!! As far as guitar players, just about anyone out there would be incredible!!!!

What kind of music do you like the least?

I’m not a real big country music fan. My parents love it and I do appreciate players like Roy Clark and Ricky Skaggs. Just something about that style music that never sat right with me. Always liked some of the Southern Rock (i.e. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet. The Outlaws, 38 Special, etc) but I draw the line into the mainstream country.

Do you ever listen to music that is very different from what you do, if so what?

Oh all the time. I listen to classic rock, 70’s and 80’s stuff. I listen to everything from Mariah Carey’s stuff to R & B. I have a lot of different flavors in my music background and I think that really helps me in my songwriting. I think if you listen to one style of music exclusively you going to end up sounding exactly like that style and will never really progress into your OWN style. Different styles of music can effect you in so many ways. If you can take that inspiration and mold it into what you interpret it as, you can come up with some pretty unique ideas………..

\Are there any plans to tour?

No plans to tour at the moment. I have been flooded with emails asking that question and right now it’s just something that hasn’t happened. Not saying I don’t want to!!!!!  I would love too but the places to perform are so limited anymore. I would totally dig going to Europe or overseas to do some shows. It seems that the fanbase over there is much more into the instrumental metal scene. The US has it’s players and fans but it is so hard to do anything with it in the States.

What other plans do you have for the near future?

After this CD is done, I’ll hopefully put together some shows in the US. I would like to do a project with vocals next time around to see how it turns out and the response it gets. I think the future is gonna hinge on some of the opportunities this new CD brings to the table. On a personal note, probably spend a lot of time with my son Christopher as well as invest in a home around where I live. Of course that means remodeling the basement into my new studio. $$$$$$$ Lol

How is the musical climate for instrumental music in USA?

Cold and frigid!!!!! Lol It’s hanging in there but not by much. It seems like the “guitar solo” in songs has just vanished. I listen to the radio in the car and rarely hear a song with a guitar solo anymore. I know admissions in music schools have been way down too. I find myself compromising what I can listen to.It’s like “Well I really don’t like this song, but compared to that one song they play over and over……this one is pretty good.” Point being – neither song is really all that great but you find a way to like it. Even the bigger name players like Macalpine, Vinnie Moore etc rarely come around. When they do, you are blown away that they are even touring!!!!! Those guys deserve so much more for the level of talent they have. I know it’s not the money. It’s really about performing and showing their fans that they still know they are out there, and appreciate all their support.

What are your feelings about the world we live in and how do you look upon yourself in 15 years from now?

I don’t really know how to feel about the world at the moment. Things sure don’t look peaceful for the next few years!! It’s always going to have it’s ups and downs so I don’t really look too deep into every problem that arises. As far as myself in 15 years? No idea!!! Probably be settled down doing the family thing. Maybe get back into teaching for awhile. I have thought about maybe doing some artist management or running sound & lights for some artists. I will definitely have my hand in music somewhere without a doubt. I don’t see myself ever not writing and recording but of course you just never know…………………….