I take the whole recording and writing process very serious. Each song on Violet Horizon has a special meaning to me and each track reflects a certain area of my life. When I go back and listen to the songs, it basically brings me back to the time of when I wrote the song or what caused me to write the song in the first place.
Each song is like a catharsis for me and I enjoy being brought back in time to these special areas of my life. .
I never just put a song on the CD for the sake of needing another track. There are no filler tracks on any of my CDs and I think all of the people who have bought my CD's appreciate the fact and can hear it for themselves when listening.
Another thing about Violet Horizon is that each song is in a certain place on the CD. I take a lot of time into the order of each of the tunes and the placement of where they will be. I experiment on each song and how they sound going into each other so when you listen, it is best to start from track 1 and listen all the way through to the end of the CD.
My music is instrumental and the main instrument is the guitar. I feel my music, even though it has no vocals, the Guitar is the voice. My songs are not vehicles for shred... they are melodic and I write my songs so that the melodies stick in your head. This is my mission when writing tunes... the melody must stay in your head.
Don't get me wrong... lol… there is a lot of guitar playing on the songs.
I can see the reaction from my shows and from the emails I get from fans that people pick up on this vibe. People of all ages can enjoy my music and I am very proud of that fact.
VIOLET HORIZON - the title...
Violet is my favorite color and has to do with my birth sign of Libra, plus it was my father's mother’s name. Horizon basically means to me the Future and always looking and moving forward in your life....
Violet Horizon is my fourth CD and to me is a very important CD as an artist and as a song writer. As all of you music fans know, a lot of fourth albums have been killer as far as music history goes... Zeppelin 4, Van Halen 4, Stone Temple Pilots etc... the list goes on...
I feel this is an important step for me as a musician, my song writing is at its best. I feel this is the best sounding CD I have done. I think the guitar sound is amazing. I have to like my music. I must be excited by it. My test, as with any music, is if my fur rises! lol... I got that term from Eddie Van Halen. When I hear songs that I like, and this is any kind of music or feeling, the hair on my arms and the back of my neck stands on end. I must be excited about my own tunes if I expect anyone else to be excited. I am really excited Violet Horizon!
The inspiration for the songs on Violet Horizon, as with all of my music, comes from my own life. Living the day to day, getting inspired by the people around me, movies I see, the feeling I may get from watching the news. My wife and family play a big part of the inspiration.
This CD is special because what I see and hear when I listen to the new tunes is what got me interested in the guitar in the first place. The guitar players who got my juices flowing I feel I can hear certain influence of them in the new tunes...
For example:
The title track Violet Horizon and the Reprise both have a David Gilmour influence. So does the bonus track titled ILU 9-5
Friction, The Essence have a little Eddie Van Halen in it...
Liquid Soul and Devils Juice - Richie Kotzen
Trinity - Gary Moore, Prince
Float (I Remember...) - Jeff Beck
My Desire - Vai and Santana... – Rage against the machine !
Shine has a little Alex Lifeson influence in it.
Also throughout the CD there are Zeppelin. type of grooves... Sleestack - a little Randy Rhoads -- I actually doubled the whole solo break ala Randy. Randy did that on all his solo's. It def sounds cool. I also used some tri-tone stuff and diminished arps... which he is famous for.
Of course this is how I see it etc... but it is Balducci!! all the way...
This is what got me excited to play guitar and I hope you all will be as excited as I am...
I have recorded some videos with me playing some of each song and explaining and giving insight to the inspiration behind the tracks. I hope you enjoy them.
Thank you for your support!
1a. Intro
1.Violet Horizon
2. Friction
3. Devils Juice (guest solo by Dave Weiner)
4. The Essence
5. Liquid Soul
6. Shape-Shifter
7. Trinity
8.Choke
9. Float ( I Remember ...)
10. My Desire
11. Bal's Groove "Thang"
12. Shine
13. Sleestack (guest solo by Guthrie Govan)
14. Violet Horizon - Reprise
15. ILU 9-05 (bonus track)