In an period the place cutting-edge recording expertise is on the fingertips of practically each musician, Jerry Cantrell is taking a extra old-school strategy. The guitarist and lead singer of Alice In Chains has spent over 4 a long time perfecting his craft, however on the subject of recording, he prefers to depart the high-tech gear to others.
“I’ve stored myself deliberately ignorant with recording gear, computer systems, and ProTools in order that I can have anyone fly that half of the aircraft whereas I am doing all the opposite stuff,” Cantrell defined in a current interview with Guitar World (through Guitar.com). Regardless of developments in digital music manufacturing instruments, he stays devoted to the method of enjoying his guitar with out getting slowed down within the technical aspect of issues.
For Cantrell, being part of a crew is second nature. Since 1987, he is been an important member of Alice In Chains, and even on his solo initiatives, the collaborative spirit is a continuing. This was particularly evident within the creation of his 2024 album, I Need Blood, which, like his previous works, concerned lots of teamwork.
“For any file I have been concerned with – whether or not I am with Alice or alone – there’s three or 4 months of demoing shit in my home, with a pal of mine working all of the gear so I can simply play guitar,” Cantrell reveals. “I like working that method – in a tandem. I am a crew participant. I’ve all the time been extra comfy working in that regard.”
This strategy has allowed him to concentrate on the a part of the method he loves most – the music. Cantrell has persistently surrounded himself with like-minded collaborators who share his imaginative and prescient and assist carry his concepts to life. One of many key figures in his current solo work is producer and recording engineer Joe Barresi. Barresi, who had labored with Cantrell on his 2021 solo album Brighten and Alice In Chains‘ 2018 album Rainier Fog, joined forces with him as a co-producer for I Need Blood.
Reflecting on their partnership in a current interview with Kerrang, Cantrell mentioned, “Joe and I had the expertise of blending information collectively, with Brighten and Rainier Fog, however we might by no means gone the entire method, from starting to finish. I performed Joe demos of what I would been engaged on and mentioned I would like him to companion up with me, and after a track or two he mentioned, ‘I am in!’ Working with Joe is superior – he is bought this mad scientist ethos and I relate to that.”
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