Please talk a little about your album "Forbidden Dimension"
Forbidden Dimension is my second solo album and I'm very happy to have recorded the CD with some of the best musicians out there like the incredible bass player Kyle Honea and the two amazing keyboards players Vitalij Kuprij and Bob Katsionis; thanks to their playing my music was improved a lot. The cd contains 8 tracks included a piano intro because I really love the piano sound and the second part of a song that I started in my debut album, the other tracks are influenced by shred/progressive metal.

Which guys would you consider to be your main influences?
At the beginning I was influenced by a lot of guitar players and it helped me to study some guitar techniques but after some years I discovered a new musician that really enchanted me with his music, playing, style and unique touch, he was the pianist/keyboard player Vitalij Kuprij. I think his music is really innovative and his ideas are so fresh and I can say without any doubts that he is my absolute greatest influence.

How would you describe your music to someone who is not familiar with it?
It is hard to describe with words, also because music doesn't need explanation... if you feel something it means that the player was able to show his feelings and ideas with music. Anyway my way of playing is influenced by shred and progressive metal but trying to create melodies with guitar techiques, infact in my opinon all the guitar techniques have a 'colour' and if you can use them in the right way you can show everything of yourself.

How did you develop your own style of playing, did you take any lessons?
I took guitar lessons from a friend of mine in the first year of playing then I continued by myself and it was very funny to learn from videos or books

What kind of equipment are you using live or in the studio?
Actually I have a Mesa Boogie Triaxis, Alesis Midiverb4, VHT 2/90/2 power amp and a VHT 1x12 cabinet; for guitars I have one Ibanez RG7620 custom model, an Ibanez RG550 and an acoustic guitar by Ovation, I have also a Korg 01/wfd keyboard... this is the gear I used now to record my third album. I'm a VHT and SIT string endorser.

What is the most important, feeling or technique? can you survive with only one of them?
It is impossible to use only one... it has no sense to have technique without feeling or feeling without technique. The most important thing is to balance them in your playing. I discovered this concept some years ago and now thanks to some players I really care much more to themes and melodies in a song but of course also the technique is very important to be able to play everything you have got in mind and more!

How was the album recorded?
I recorded the guitars and keyboards parts in my studio, then Kyle recorded all the bass parts in his studio and sent me the tracks, the same was done by Vitalij and Bob. Instead Greg Howe tracked the drums in his studio and then sent me the tracks.

Which musicians would you like to play with some day?
I must say that I was very lucky because I think that the dream of all players is to play one time in life with their greatest influences and I realized this dream very soon... infact in 2003 Vitalij Kuprij asked me to partecipate with a guest solo in his fourth solo album 'Forward and Beyond' and then he played in mine. We were email-friends for a long time and we had the possbility to meet here in Rome in 2003 and few months later I received an email with his request, then we met again last year and we worked for some new things again. So what I can say is that actually the dream to play with my 'hero' is realized!

What kind of music do you like the least?
I use to listen to all music and all kind of genres are more than welcome if they can move something in me

Are there any plans to tour?
Actually there aren't plans for tours or concerts. It is very hard to make concerts for instrumental artists, consider also that I'm an unknown guitar player so it is also much hard... but of course if I have some possibilities I'll be very happy to make concerts

What other plans do you have for the near future?
I've now finished to record my third solo albums and it is my best one I've ever made for playing, songs and production; Lion Music will release it in march 2007, more details will be available on my site very soon. I'm also working on two instrumental projects; one with with bassist Kyle Honea called 'KFproject' and the other with two players bassist and drummer, and the project is called 'OSF project' but it isn't the final title! I'm producing an instrumental album for a friend of mine where I'll play all guitars, I'm working on some graphics for a cd and I should record a new instructional video as soon as I find time to go in studio, I have some guest solos for new albums too.

How is the musical climate for hard rock in your country?
I must admit that in the last year something is changing, there are a lot of bands or solo artists that come here for concerts and it was really cool to see them, I hope one day to be part of this group or artists!
Thanks so much for the interview and if you are interested in more info about my music please check out my site!
take care
Francesco Fareri
www.francescofareri.com