Entrevista con - Milan Polak

GL - Milan Polak, thanks for your time!
MP - You're more than welcome - thanks for the interview!

GL - Please tell us about your personal history and background for the fans at Mexico.
MP - I was born in Austria, grew up in various places such as Korea, Kenya, Saudi-Arabia, U.S.A and Germany which gave me an insight on a lot of different cultures. I always had a passion for music and wanted to become a drummer, originally. I got a guitar instead and started to learn by ear with a book called "Beatles Complete" around the age of 13. The rest is history...! :-) Or can be found at http://www.milanpolak.com/biography.htm

GL - What motivated you to want to learn to play the guitar?
MP - My passion for music, I guess. When I was about seven years old I would always answer, "A musician!" when asked what I wanted to become.

GL - I always figured you could play pretty much any style you wanted, but what do you like to play a lot?
MP - Thank you for the compliment! I think the way I grew up also had a huge impact on my music and the different styles I like to play. It's like with women - I can find beauty in almost every style. I go through different phases permanently. I'll give you an example: At the moment I am working with this amazing classical violinist. So, we are doing a lot of Tschaikovsky and stuff. After some time whenever I pick up the guitar I would play some Hendrix-like bluesy stuff. I have also just finished a CD called the J.A.M.-project, a heavy fusion/rock project with two other amazing guitarists Joel Rivard & Alessandro Benvenuti which will be released by the independent label "Liquid Note Records", soon. After having finished all my guitar solos, I got back into more funky rhythm pop-songs. It's as if my mind and body are craving for a balance because whatever I do I do REALLY intensively.

GL - Tell us about your technique and how you developed it?
MP - I basically use every technique that I have ever come across - picking, legato, string-skipping, a bit of sweeping, combinations with tapping, etc. I have even written a book that sums up all the different techniques that have been invented and used in the last couple of decades (Guitar Heroes - Real Technique/UE 31401). I don't really think in terms of technique that much. I rather think in sounds. Every technique has its own unique sound and if I hear that sound in my head I'll use it. Of course, to develop technique I did what every other guitarist also needs to do: practice loads of hours. The funny thing is, that when I picked up the guitar my dad used to listen to "Friday Night in San Francisco" by Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin. So, I thought it was totally natural to play like this. I hadn't heard it any other way. I mean, I knew it was fast but I thought it was the goal to reach.

GL - When you were a kid, did you ever think that you would someday be considered one of the best guitar players of the world?
MP - Wow, thank you! I feel really honored to hear this because I truly feel that there are so many great guitarists out there. Does anybody really say this about me? I am humbled. But, of course, when you pick up an instrument you set yourself certain goals (be it to play your favorite Beatles tune, to play your favorite Brian May solo or to be faster than Yngwie)! My goal always was (and still is) to know many different musical styles and to reach as many people as I can with whatever I do.

GL - Who are your main influences?
MP - At the moment looking back I'd say: Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather. But I had my Van Halen days, went through the Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore phase. Of course I know who Steve Vai is...! :-) Allan Holdsworth, Larry Carlton, the great Shawn Lane,... Randy Rhoads was my first big influence. And I'll stop here because I am probably doing someone very wrong because of forgetting to mention him/her. Basically, I think that everything you keep listening to for some time becomes an influence in one way or another.

GL -Who is your favorite guitar player?
MP - These days I tend to listen more to music - the whole package instead of guitarists. Sometimes I listen back to some stuff I thought was great 10 - 15 years ago and go, "Um, how was I able to listen to THAT...?!?" And then I realize the guitarist was great and that's all I had been listening to. I didn't really care about the rest of the music - the song, the arrangement, etc. Today, if I am listening to music, it's more bands: Queen, King's X, Toto, once in a while Pantera,...

GL - What projects are you currently working on?
MP - As I said before, I have just finished my tracks for the J.A.M.-project that will be released by Liquid Note Records, soon. I am also working together with this female violin virtuoso but I can't give you any details about that project at the moment, I'm afraid. And I will also start recording some songs that I have written which will also feature me on vocals as I have gotten more into singing in the last couple of years.

GL - Do you love doing live performances?
MP - Is there anybody out there who doesn't...?!? :-)))) That's the best part of playing - getting something back from an audience. It's been compared by many a lot of times and it's true: It's the only thing that feels as good as having sex.

GL - Where is the line between performer and musician for you?
MP - Well, I wouldn't do ANYTHING to become famous.... I do understand that show is an important part of entertainment but the music is definitely important as well and , unfortunately, that's too many times ignored by media and masses.

GL - Have you ever done a song or album that you wish you could go back in time and un-do? If so, which one, and why?
MP - No. If you find one write me, please...! :-)))

GL - What are your thoughts on the state of instrumental guitar these days?
MP - Well, the peak is definitely behind us. There are a few successful guitarists who were successful 10 or more years ago and not much came afterwards. The whole guitar-hero-thing has also been overdone, I have to admit. Certain "talent scouts" produced one or two too many and that was overkill.

GL - What do you think about the new crop of talented Guitar player's that are currently out there making music?
MP - I don't know exactly who you are referring to but there is always some talent out there. I mean, just because media is telling us "shred is dead" doesn't mean that the guitar industry is going broke, nobody buys guitars anymore and there aren't any fans of guitar music out there. Hey, we didn't just vanish up in the air because media says so.

GL - When all is said and done, years from now, how would you want people to remember Milan Polak?
MP - As a guitarist who was capable of playing and combining different styles, someone who also helped out other musicians (by teaching or featuring new talents) and who had something to offer to the guitar community.

GL - What will be next for Milan Polak?
MP - This year I will concentrate heavily on the project with the violinist and on recording my vocal songs.

GL - And can we expect to see you in Mexico any time soon?
MP - I would love to play there. I have some Mexican friends, the weather is nice - definitely a great place to stay!

GL - Is there anything else you would like to share with us that I have not asked?
MP - Yeah, it's great to know that I have fans in Mexico and there are people out there who care for my music. That's the fuel that keeps me going and makes me still want to get better everyday! A big "Hello" to all my fans in Mexico and thank you very much!

GL - Once again, Thanks for your time Milan, we really appreciated it!, we wish you all the best!!!.

No olviden visitar www.milanpolak.com