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Steve Vai - His First 30 Years | The Documentary Hotney 5 Streams • 4 years ago

This is the first documentary covering Steve Vai's life from 1960 to 1990. (Co-written by Steve Vai.)
The documentary has hundreds of Vai-centric facts and stories that even the most ardent fan will not have known. Complete with a Vai’esque quirky sense of humor, the video covers Vai’s life growing up, attending Berklee College, playing with several artists like Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, the David Lee Roth band, and Whitesnake, the recording of both his solo albums Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare, plus Vai’s role in the movie Crossroads, and how he helped create the JEM guitar.

Soundtrack playlist https://bit.ly/3xaIHms

Other information, photos, etc. can be found here: https://bit.ly/3B9P0ZH

Link to Arlen Roth's SoundCloud https://bit.ly/3cLQHTL
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00:00:00 - Intro to Steve Vai documentary
00:00:36 - Steve Vai growing up in Carle Place, and his family
00:01:20 - His first musical revelation
00:01:53 - His love for the musical Westside Story
00:02:35 - His first musical instrument
00:03:11 - His first records
00:04:09 - His first band is formed
00:04:57 - His second band
00:05:11 - He is introduced to Led Zeppelin
00:05:52 - Steve Vai’s first guitar
00:06:23 - Vai tells his Dad he wants to play the guitar
00:06:54 - Taking lessons from Joe Satriani
00:08:29 - Vai meets Bill Westcott
00:09:08 - Vai plays the Tuba
00:11:51 - Vai has one last blow-out before college
00:12:19 - Vai almost gets busted by the cops
00:13:04 - Vai’s ritual of the tuna melt
00:13:46 - The worm had turned
00:15:45 - One last drive around Carle Place
00:16:27 - Steve Vai heads off to Berklee College of Music
00:17:40 - Via meets his future wife, Pia
00:18:16 - The first time he tried to connect with Frank Zappa
00:18:51 - He talks to Zappa
00:20:04 - Vai’s first mention in a music magazine
00:20:29 - Vai considers leaving Berklee
00:21:01 - Moving out to California
00:21:47 - Transcribing Zappa’s music
00:22:18 - Trying out for Frank Zappa’s band
00:23:00 - Frank Zappa’s thoughts on Vai’s guitar playing
00:23:37 - Vai goes on his first Zappa tour
00:23:51 - Vai asks Zappa for an honest appraisal of his playing
00:24:34 - Onset of Vai’s depression
00:25:41 - Vai finds some help
00:26:53 - Vai reclaims his mojo
00:28:11 - The Palermo, Italy riot
00:29:44 - What Vai learned from Zappa
00:30:10 - The ethic he learned from Zappa
00:31:43 - SYVA studio and FlexAble
00:32:21 - Trying out for Alice Cooper
00:33:12 - Building Stucco Blue Studio
00:34:34 - Why the name FlexAble is the name of his first album
00:35:44 - Why he said no to a record deal
00:36:33 - The birth of Akashic and Urantia Records
00:37:55 - FlexAble is released
00:39:08 - Joining Alcatrazz
00:40:14 - Alcatrazz works on their album
00:40:54 - Alcatrazz’s God Bless Video
00:41:58 - The movie Crossroads
00:42:20 - Arlen Roth
00:42:38 - The original duel
00:43:29 - Ry Cooder calls Guitar Player magazine looking for talent
00:43:52 - Vai is hired for the movie Crossroads
00:44:20 - Vai did not want to be in the movie Crossroads
00:44:51 - Shuggie Otis plays in the duel
00:45:04 - Another Frank Zappa connection
00:45:27 - Vai’s recycle riffs for Bad Horsie
00:46:04 - Eugene’s Trick Bag and who played what
00:46:26 - Niccolo Paganini’s connection to Crossroads
00:47:09 - Steve Vai’s other acting gigs
00:47:50 - Vai gets a call from David Lee Roth
00:48:28 - David Lee Roth’s acting career and movie
00:49:12 - Billy Sheehan steps in
00:49:24 - Roth’s first choice of guitarist
00:51:19 - Eat ‘Em and Smile
00:52:04 - Guitar makers want Steve Vai
00:52:42 - The creation of the Flame guitar and the Monkey Grip
00:52:58 - Vai’s guitar is stolen
00:53:09 - Vai goes to Performance Guitar
00:53:23 - The prototype JEMs before Ibanez
00:53:44 - Ibanez needs their own Eddie Van Halen
00:54:39 - Vai’s request to all guitar companies
00:55:35 - Steve Vai signs with Ibanez
00:55:46 - Unveiling the Ibanez JEM
00:55:56 - Why Vai named it the JEM guitar
00:56:33 - David Lee Roth’s Skyscraper album
00:57:58 - Billy Sheehan leaves the band
00:58:32 - Just like Paradise and the show 90210
00:59:06 - Vai turns in his resignation to Roth
00:59:30 - Whitesnake comes along
01:01:58 - The influence the Ibanez 7-string had over music
01:02:42 - Vai turns his attention to Passion and Warfare
01:03:59 - What was Passion and Warfare written around?
01:05:47 - Sound effects on Passion and Warfare
01:08:42 - The melody Vai has reused several times
01:09:32 - Vai’s mastery in the studio
01:10:55 - For the Love of God backstory
01:13:22 - Finding a record deal for Passion and Warfare
01:14:46 - Releasing Passion and Warfare
01:15:16 - Critic response to Passion and Warfare
01:15:44 - Why did he not tour for Passion and Warfare

#stevevai #ibanezjem

Sting And Shaggy: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert Hotney 5 Streams • 4 years ago

Watch Sting And Shaggy play "Englishman in New York", "Don't Make Me Wait" and "Shape of My Heart/Lucid Dreams" at the Tiny Desk.

Watch Tiny Desk Concerts ONE WEEK before they go on YouTube at https://www.npr.org/tinydesk

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July 10, 2019 | Josh Rogosin -- Sting and Shaggy might not be the most likely musical pairing. But one thing is certain, they love playing each other's music. On a bright autumn morning, the legends arrived at the NPR Music office bleary-eyed yet excited to play for the diverse staff of Shaggy and Sting fans. What surprised many of my NPR colleagues is just how well the collaboration works.

Their success as a duo shouldn't come as a total shock. After all, pulsing through many Police songs (Sting's famed band of the '70s and '80s) is a Reggae backbeat. It's impossible not to hear the influence in classics like "Walking On The Moon" and "So Lonely."

Shaggy (zoinks! - his nom de guerre comes from the Scooby-Doo cartoon character) was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to New York when he was 18 and his music evokes only good vibes. The positive energy he brought to their opening song, "Englishman [and Jamaican] In New York," had everyone in the room grinning ear to ear, "early morning Reggae style," as he put it. After the tune, Sting announced "I never sang that song before 8 PM... Ever!"

Sting's familiar, raspy voice was accompanied by his battered 1957 Fender Precision bass he's plucked for over 25 years. His long-time guitarist and collaborator, Dominic Miller, strummed Reggae offbeats on acoustic guitar and co-wrote the hauntingly beautiful "Shape Of My Heart." That song is mashed-up with Juice Wrld's "Lucid Dream," sung by Gene Noble, offering a refreshing counter to Sting's nuanced melody.

Shaggy affectionately refers to his collaborator as "Stingy," putting his arm around him mid-performance. It's easy to see the comradery that being on the road together affords these veteran musicians, to say nothing of the breath of fresh air they bring to each other's music.

SET LIST
"Englishman in New York"
"Don't Make Me Wait"
"Shape of My Heart/Lucid Dreams"

MUSICIANS
Sting: vocals, bass, guitar; Shaggy: vocals; Dominic Miller: guitar; Gene Noble: vocals; Melissa Musique: vocals

CREDITS
Producers: Abby O'Neill, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, CJ Riculan, Maia Stern, Beck Harlan; Editor: Kaylee Domzalski; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Photo: Cameron Pollack/NPR

Questlove Supreme Podcast | Organized Noize (Part 1) Hotney 2 Streams • 4 years ago

Watch the Questlove Supreme Podcast - https://bit.ly/QuestloveSupremeLive

Questlove Supreme travels to Atlanta to kick it with some of the city's musical architects. Organized Noize appears in a comprehensive two-parter. In Part 1, Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Sleepy Brown discuss their approach to sampling, recall the early days of OutKast and the Dungeon Family, and have a few laughs about their formation. This conversation is not to be missed.

Subscribe to The Roots' channel: http://bit.ly/RootsYouTube

Watch The Roots' Exclusive Series & Footage:
Roots Picnic 2020 - https://bit.ly/RootsPicnic2020YouTube
Questlove Quarantine - https://bit.ly/QuestloveQuarantineYT
The Roots Jam Presents Solo Sessions - https://bit.ly/RootsSoloSessions
Questlove Supreme Podcast - https://bit.ly/QuestloveSupremeLive
Streams of Thought Podcast - https://bit.ly/StreamsofThoughtPod
Behind The Keys w/ James Poyser - https://bit.ly/BehindTheKeys
Guitar Stories w/ Captain Kirk - https://bit.ly/GuitarStoriesYT
Reconstruction w/ Stro Elliot - https://bit.ly/ReconstructionStro
The Bridge - https://bit.ly/TheBridgeYT

Official site for The Roots: http://theroots.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRoots
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theroots
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theroots
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroots/
Jimmy Fallon: http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

0:00 - Questlove Supreme rollcall
3:50 - Questlove's Organized Noize introduction
7:15 - Organized Noize's first musical memories. Sleep Brown discusses his father, Brick band member Jimmy Brown. Questlove and Sleepy also celebrate Brick's impact, including a piece of Prince history
16:55 - Organized Noize talks about the significance and impact of The Atlanta Child Murders, and the tragedy's impact on culture and creativity
24:30 - Atlanta's unique musical history
28:10 - Organized Noize talk about digging for records to sample
31:40 - How Organized Noize met
40:50 - Questlove offers a mini-history on Breakbeat Lou's Ultimate Breaks & Beats series, and the early days of sampling
45:00 - Questlove Supreme and Organized Noize celebrate late pioneering Hip-Hop musician and producer Larry Smith
48:00 - How Organized Noize dig in the crates and sample differently, as it applies to songs for OutKast, Goodie Mob, and the rest of Dungeon Family
54:00 - Organized Noize recalls Rico Wade's Dungeon studio, and laid out the process to making those incredible songs. There is a reason why Ray Murray is the yoda of Organized Noize
58:00 - Organized Noize reveals that En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)" began as a beat for Cool Breeze as they talk about samplers, technology, and approach to programming beats
1:03:00 - Organized Noize recalls their label housed at Interscope Records, and talk about making albums with Cool Breeze and Witchdoctor
1:10:00 - Questlove recalls the moment he came to properly appreciate OutKast and Organized Noize; the producers discuss the "Player's Ball" remix
1:13:20 - A discussion on why OutKast's "Elevators (Me & You)" defies logic as a bold single for ATLiens
1:18:00 - Organized Noize argues why OutKast's "So Fresh, So Clean" is not a sample. Sleepy Brown shows why
1:21:00 - Part 1 outro

#TheRoots

Summer Walker: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert Hotney 4 Streams • 4 years ago

Watch Summer Walker play"Session 32", "Wasted", "Girls Need Love", "Riot" and "Playing Games" at the Tiny Desk.

Watch Tiny Desk Concerts ONE WEEK before they go on YouTube at https://www.npr.org/tinydesk

More from NPR Music:
Tiny Desk Concerts: https://www.npr.org/tinydesk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nprmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nprmusic

Oct. 21, 2019 | Rodney Carmichael -- Seconds before the cameras started to roll, Summer Walker showed just how much she was willing to sacrifice for her day at the Tiny Desk: She clipped her nails. It wasn't an aesthetic choice but a pragmatic one. Not even her love for a fresh set of bedazzled acrylics would get in the way of her strumming the soul out of her six-string Fender electric. The guitar wasn't the only thing she'd brought with her from Atlanta. In her lap sat "Friend," the pink stuffed animal who no doubt provided a bit of emotional support during a five-song set that forced the shy enigma out of her creative shell.

"Look, I'm really freaking excited to be here but I have social anxiety like a mother******," Walker told the NPR crowd at the end of her set, barely mumbling the expletive in an attempt to censor herself. "I'm freaked the hell out, I'm sweating, but this is so exciting for me."

A 23-year old singer-songwriter with an uncensored pen and brown-liquor vocals, Walker has become something of a patron saint for colored girls who've considered bossing up when heartbreak is too much. With the release of her official studio debut Over It, she made history last week by racking up the biggest streaming week of any female R&B artist ever. Meanwhile, the first lady of upstart label Love Renaissance (LVRN) is lowkey leading a sonic revolution in Atlanta that's turning the trap capital back into an R&B town. Her team was equally insistent on tricking out the Tiny Desk space by hanging lights that brought a diffuse glow to Walker's creative set.

For an artist who rarely grants interviews and admittedly dreads the public spotlight — despite an Instagram feed that clearly shows off her humorous, exhibitionist flair — Walker's Tiny Desk is revealing. In the span of 15 minutes, she performs fan favorites ("Session 32," "Wasted," "Riot") and the song that made Drake hop in her DMs, "Girls Need Love," before ending with current single "Playing Games." Even behind the bright lights and oversized eyeglass frames, her unadorned soul shines through.

SET LIST
"Session 32"
"Wasted"
"Girls Need Love"
"Riot"
"Playing Games"

MUSICIANS
Summer Walker: vocals, guitar; Elijah Whittingham: guitar; Angel White: vocals; Autumn Tuesdae: vocals; Slim.wav: keys; Stox: bass; Remey Williams: drums

CREDITS
Producers: Rodney Carmichael, Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, Patrick Boyd; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Niki Walker, Maia Stern, Beck Harlan, Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR

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