Marco Sfogli is an incredible guitarist from Italy, who provided the blistering guitar work to Dream Theater Vocalist James La Brie's 2005 solo release "Elements of Persuasion" and whose 2008 solo CD, "There's Hope" gained wide acclaim.

Do Fret recently had the great pleasure of conducting an interview with this amazing musician:

Q: Marco, thanks for taking the time to do an interview for Do Fret! Let's start by catching up with your current projects and music. What have you been working on recently and what can fans look out for soon?

R: The latest project I’ve done is the new James LaBrie record which should be out very soon. Of course I did a few collaborations in the past months, like recording guitars for Ray Riendeau’s solo album and all the solos for a NY based band named “Creation’s End”. Trying to keep it busy you know!

Q: I've seen a few pictures of your new Rash Signature guitar (see above) - can you tell us a bit more about that, and the collaboration with Rash? How does it feel to have a Signature guitar?

R: The collaboration started in 2006, I was looking for the right guitar and came across this video which featured these beautiful Rash guitars. I contacted Ruggero and he was very kind to send me a prototype he had in stock. He knew me already since he was at one of the gigs I did with James in Italy. I think having a signature model and getting good reviews and words from people who tried and eventually bought it is the ultimate compliment. We worked hard to make the best, most versatile and gorgeous looking guitar I could have ever desired. The new model is basically an MT Monster Standard with an inlay at the 12th fret, a smoother low horn profile to get a better access to the last frets and a mother of pearl binding on the neck sides.

 

Q: Your solo CD, There's Hope, was extremely well received. You must have been very happy with the results. Can you tell us a bit about the recording process? It's a great sounding CD with some really well crafted songs, as well as some high energy shredding - who are your influences in music as a whole - not just guitarists?

R: Thanks man, I appreciate it! “There’s Hope” was recorded mainly in home studios except for the drums. I recorded guitars in my apartment and so the rest of the guys, had a very low budget and couldn’t even afford an engineer so the only way to pull it out was to learn how to mix and try to make it sound as if it was recorded in a real studio. Of course the troubles were endless, first of all living in an apartment I couldn’t crank the amps to a decent recording volume so everything was done at bedroom levels, recording small chunks per day, from 5 to 8pm...it was a bit painful you know, had to deal with a lot of tech stuff I hadn't encountered  before, checking that the microphones were in phase, crossing fingers that the mic stand wouldn't move to get a constant tone. Hopefully the result was not bad, there are tons of mistakes if I listen to it today but I don’t complain. That’s what I could really do back then! The influences were of course bands I listened to intensively during my formative years, mostly rock and prog bands like Rush or Def Leppard to name a couple.

Q: Like many people, I was introduced to your playing on James La Brie's solo CD - can you tell us how that came about?

R: I was recording Alex Argento’s “Ego” when he introduced me to Matt Guillory who was one of his internet friends. We instantly felt on the same wavelength, shared the same passions and loved the same music, you know like two brothers from a different mother. Andy Timmons was originally hired to record guitars for Elements of Persuasion and by the time they scheduled the studio he wasn’t available anymore. Matt suggested my name to James, I was auditioned and hopefully it worked out!

Q: To me, and many other people, one of the main things that stands out about your playing is your superb phrasing - is that something that you have always been conscious of and is it something you practise?

R: Not really, I think that’s one of the few things that comes from the inside, that has probably bring with me since I was born. I mean I never practiced the melodic aspect, the so called “notes choice”. That comes naturally for me probably due to the fact that I grew up surrounded by music, hearing my mom singing and my father playing. Can’t really give a detailed answer about this.

Q: The guitar scene here in the UK seems to be really picking up at the moment and feels like it is going back full circle to the days when being technically proficient on guitar was something to be proud of! Players like Guthrie Govan, Rick Graham, Tom Quayle and others seem to be taking technical (and musical ability) to a new level. Are you familiar with any of these players? Does the scene in Italy compare? Which guitarists and bands have caught your attention recently?

R: I know all the guys you mentioned, three monster players. Had the pleasure to talk briefly with Guthrie before a clinic he did here in my town and he’s equally the coolest guy and the most unbelievable guitar player I ever watched playing. I love Rick and Tom as well, you know I always liked tasty players and those are easily three of the tastier and finest players on the scene today. Also I just got Rick’s solo record “Inside Out” (reviewed here on Do Fret) and he did an amazing job, so tasty! There are a lot of great guitar players from my country, too many to mention. I don’t really listen to instrumental music today as much as in the past, I prefer listening to bands. Loved the latest Nickelback record as well as Karma from Winger.

Q: Going back, can you tell us a bit about your formative years? You must have put some hours in to get to where you are today?

R: You know what, I’ve never spent hours and hours on the instrument like others did. Of course I had my practicing schedule especially about technique, but it was always very natural for me and is so today, I practice mostly while giving private lessons. It’s all a matter of concentration, being very focused on what you’re doing. Better to play for 10 minutes every day with the right mindset than unleashing the fury for 8 hours one day thinking about what doing next. It’s something I try to teach to my students too.

Q: The Axe-FX seems to be taking over the world! I've read that you use it quite extensively. Tell us a bit about that?

R: Oh the Axe-FX is my machine right now. I still use real amps for some stuff but think about this, I don’t have an acoustically treated studio nor a place where I can crank the amps up and the Axe FX let me to have all the sounds I could think of without killing my neighbours. Sounds great either paired with a power amp or direct in the PA. For me it is the ultimate piece of gear in terms of ease of use and tonal possibilities.

Q: What are your interests outside of music?

R: I have many, first of all everything computer related. I setup and repair computers for friends every now and then, I was an intense videogame player too but now I have a daughter to take care of thus I like to stay with my family as much as I can.

Q: What advice would you give to young players starting out, or players that have been playing for a while, but feel stuck in a rut?

R: To play everything and to play everything using ears, not tabs. Most guys rely on tabs exclusively, even for super easy parts.

Q: Finally Marco - any plans for live dates or clinics in the UK soon?

R: Probably in the future, maybe with James supporting the next record who knows!

Thanks again Marco!

 

Do Fret June 2010

http://www.marcosfogli.com