Entrevista con - Ty Oliver

GL - Ty Oliver, thanks for your time!
TO - Thanks for asking me!

GL - What motivated you to want to learn to play the guitar?
TO - I actually started out playing Drums, and after about two years, I switched to Guitar. People I jammed with would leave their Gear at my house all the time and I would pick up the guitars and fool around when i couldn't play my Drums. I got to a point where I felt I could be more productive on guitar, and in the fall of 94' I made the decision to take all of my Drums and trade them in for my first Guitar Rig. I ended up switching back and forth about Four times, before finally settling on Guitar in 2000. Everyone thought I was nuts, I even started to wonder what the hell I was thinking ha ha..

GL - What do you like to play a lot?
TO - I love creating new material, when a song comes together, it's magical. The whole process, from that idea you hear in your head, to listening to the finished piece. It's great to see something come to life the way you envisioned.

GL - Tell us about your technique and how you developed it?
TO - Well, I'm self taught, and everything I've learned has come from watching and listening my favorite players. I also have to give a good bit of credit to the fact that I had a close friend who is an amazing Guitarist jamming with me since day one. He never gave me a specific lesson, but having that influence was a huge help. I'm very much still developing my technique, and feel I am a ways off from where I'd like to be.

GL - Who are your main influences?
TO - Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are my two biggest influences. I'm in complete fascination with Joe's ability to capture emotion. Not to mention his endless fountian of creativity, and huge bag of tricks. I feel his playing and music have rubbed off on my own the most. Steve Vai to me is someone who has reached the "ultimate" level of guitar mastery. He has such an incredible bond with his guitar and music in general, it's mind blowing. It's almost other worldly. He's in complete control of the instrument, it goes, does, and sounds like he wants it to, when he wants it to. Watching him play is awsome, I love how into it he gets, it's like this full on emotional outpour whenever he performs. He's in a class by himself.

GL -Who is your favorite guitar player?
TO - I honestly can't pick one, I mean Satch and Vai come to mind first, but there are tons of players I like and follow. I'm a big fan of alot of the Hair Metal Players , Reb Beach, Phil Collen, Vitto Bratta, George Lynch, Andy Timmons, Harry Kody, Steve Stevens, I could go on and on. There are the instrumental guys like Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Gary Hoey, Blues Saraceno. Plus I like a lot of the Heavier Players, Dave Mustaine, Dimebag, Chuck Schuldiner (R.I.P.) Those are just a few that came to mind right away, I really could write pages of players I like.

GL - Lets move on to your demo "Advance Tracks" that you make the favor to send to us, there´s a couple of songs called "Strings From Heaven" and "Driven" that we enjoy a lot,.. when will you have your full debut album?
TO - That's a good question! Ha ha...Kidding. It's down to some last minute mixing, and finally a Master. I actually have a burned copy of all 10 tracks that I have been listening to for a few weeks now, and I'm really happy with how it's turning out. It's now just down to getting a run of CD's manufactured. It'll be out this year, that's the best answer I can give right at the moment.

GL - What are your thoughts on the state of instrumental guitar these days?
TO - Well, as far as the mainstream goes, it's pretty non existent. You have Satriani and Vai, and even they are pretty under the radar. I do notice that the guitar mags give a fair amount of attention to Joe, Vai and Yngwie, and I think that is a really good thing. The young kids should know these guys are out there. The G3 tour does really well, even with the little amount of mainstream attention it gets. Other than that, I think it gets pretty overlooked. There are alot of guys out there that deserve more attention and exposure, and don't get it. I think Steve Vai stepping up and putting together Favored Nations was/is a step in the right direction.

GL - What do you think about the new crop of talented Guitar player's that are currently out there making music?
TO - There is a really good crop of Instrumental Guitarists online. I mean every time I turn around I'm finding some new player that's really good. There are a few guys that really stand out though, Tommy Merry, Niel Rambaldi, Chris Brooks, Doug Doppler, Andy Martin, and Jim Morris. These guys are making some really great music, and deserve a break. It's really inspiring to see and hear, and also quite humbling! One of the best things about it, is that most of the players and people involved are really friendly, enthusiastic, and very supportive of the genre.

GL - So what do you see happening right now in terms of guitar, and where do you see yourself in a few years?
TO - Right now, I'm just getting started. I feel I'm just starting to find my style, and make some decent music. In a few years, I would like to have taken the music on the road, gotten my name out there more. I'll probably be promoting the next CD, and working hard to continue growing and improving as a player.

GL - When all is said and done, years from now, how would you want people to remember Ty Oliver?
TO - I 'd like to be respected by fellow musicians, and be someone who's music appealed to more than just guitarists. This is a tough question, because of course I want to be really successful, but I don't want to come accross in a conceted manner. I'm realistic, I know that instrumental rock has a slim chance of selling a ton of records, but I feel that if the music is put into the right hands, it can be successful. I think more people would enjoy instrumental stuff if they knew about it. I think the problem lies in not enough exposure.

GL - What will be next for Ty Oliver?
TO - Getting the live act out, and really pushing the CD hard. Promotion, promotion, promotion!!

GL - And can we expect to see you in Mexico any time?
TO - Well, not soon, but it will happen for sure! Getting out on the road is one of my biggest goals. I'm not going away before I accomplish that.

GL - Is there anything else you would like to share with us that I have not asked?
TO - Thanks for giving me your time and support, it's truly appreciated!! Also a big thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this interview. Stop by www.tyolivermusic.com and drop me an email, I'd be happy to hear from ya.

GL - Thanks for your time Ty, we wish you all the best in the coming future!!

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