- Interview - SJM Online Zine

Wednesday Elektra: Well, I feel bad for taking
sooooooo long to getting around to interviewing you,
don't take it too personally though! I guess, I shall
start off with the good stuff, your music! What can
people expect from your latest album, "Polyphony
Overload?" Do you have any other albums in the works
or past albums you can give us some information on?

Scott Landers: Oh no problem Wednesday, I understand you are busy! Well as far as Polyphony Overload goes, it's a collection of mainly guitar instrumentals. I am an old metal head and this is what I grew up listening to. I understand it's dated, but I gotta be me! haha If you enjoy Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, I think you won't be disappointed. I also included 3 collaborations as well on this CD with my good friends John Simoes (http://www.atomic.one), Lana J Albert (http://www.soundclick.com/lanajalbert), and Brad Fresharra (http://www.soundclick.com/bradfresharra) I had such a blast with those tracks! Also I would like to add that 10% of the profits I make off of CD sales is being donated to MDA because of the generosity of my good friend John Simoes...  Past Works... Well I was in a band in Nashville called Blue Collar. I played lead guitar in that band it was during the late 80's and early 90's... As far as new works, I am just experimenting right now, but I keep coming up with new material and have more collabs lined up, and probably will have enough material for second Cd not too long from now!

Wednesday: What type of process (mental or other) do
you go through when writing and composing tracks to
getting them to the final production and distribution
stages of an album?

Scott Landers: Well I wish I could say in the middle of night I hear music and I'm inspired and I must start immediately to write, but usually it's just a matter of me just jamming to something I Iike and then I start laying the tracks. Since I am a one man band I have to layer the song. First I have to program the drums right, then record the bass, rhythm, leads, etc. Then I mix it down on my PC and usually upload it to an OMD like mp3.com Soundclick, etc... It certainly makes it much simpler to come out with CD than it was in my day lol I feel old now...

Wednesday: I see you had a "Track Of The Day" on
GarageBand.com, what track was it? How did you feel
about that? Have you been awarded for or been
spotlighted on any other websites?

Scott Landers: That was my track called 'Flying High'. Well it was great, people seem to really that like track. Also I was a featured artist at Starpolish and artist of the week at mp3 college radio network. I was on the front page at godsofmusic.com as well - I received a 10 for my track 'Polyphony Overload'! When I read that review I almost fainted! haha

Wednesday: What originally got you into writing guitar
music? How old were you? What style did you start off
learning and what style do you play now?

Scott Landers: I started playing when I was 16 - I bought a cheap acoustic guitar. I was horrible.. haha I was living with brother at that time and he hated my playing so much he hid my guitar so I couldn't play it.. LOL Eventually I got an electric. I learned as I went. I have always been a fan of guitar oriented rock and metal so that's what I concentrated on learning how to play - I'm self-taught.

Wednesday: Did you ever get around to composing a
track with our buddy Seismic Anamoly? Have you done
any collaborations with other artists in the past, if
so who were they? If not who would you love to
collaborate with in the future?

Scott Landers: Well me and Mike (Seismic Anamoly) have only talked about it so far, but I still want to do something with him! I love collaborations!! To me, that is what is so fun about being an independent artist. I have been blessed to meet some great musicians and they are great people as well. I have collabbed with a Christian Rock band called Justlot, a singer/songwriter Brad Fresharra, a awesome hard rock singer John Simoes, a wonderful keyboard/piano composer Lana J Albert, Jason Didner - another great songwriter. I do have many collabs lined up in the future, I'm excited about it!

Wednesday: What are some of your personal influences?
How have they helped you create the music you do
today?

Scott Landers: Well my main influences are mainly great rock guitar players - Joe Satriani, Eddie Van Halen, Tom Scholz, Ace Freeley, Neal Schon, to name a few. But I do love all types of music and I appreciate different genres more than I used to. If it is well done musically, I am a fan!

Wednesday: (If this is too touchy of a question, you
don't have to answer it!!) I was reading your
biography when you were spotlighted in SJM (vol 2,
issue 15), you seem to have had some extreme ups and
downs over the years, how has being diagnosed with
Muscular Dystrophy effected/affected your music
career? Can you explain in better detail what
muscular dystrophy is (for those that don't know or
are curious about it) and how it effects you?

Scott Landers: Nope I don't mind at all! Well most people know about Muscular Dystrophy from Jerry Lewis. Yep, I'm one of Jerry's kids. A 36 year old one.. hehe. The specific condition that I have is called Polymyositis - it is very rare. Mainly it is inflammation of the muscles - my immune system attacks them. Basically I have a lot of muscle weakness - in my legs and yes, even my arms. I noticed problems when I was about 18. Later I found out it was MD. I was in the band Blue Collar at the time, and when it first started I could walk and I could stand up and play. Then I became weaker and I had to sit on a stool. Then finally it got to the point I couldn't get around without a wheelchair and I played in that until the band broke up sometime in the mid 90's. I quit playing for a while after that and I'm just starting to get back into it... I can't play live at the moment, my arms are too weak to hold the guitar in the right position in my wheelchair. But I have been able to play in my easy chair at home and record, and I'm thankful for that!

Wednesday: How would someone interested in your
musical services get a hold of you for more
information? Do you have any genre limitations or
other limitations they should be aware of before
contacting you? How can the general public contact you
for more information? Any websites, email address etc.
you'd like them to check out before hand?

Scott Landers: Yes, well of course they can contact me through my e-mail scott@scott-landers.com or scott_landers@yahoo.com and at any of my websites: http://www.soundclick.com/scottlanders , www.scott-landers.com also I am an admin of a messageboard at www.indiehangout.com where I am a lot as well. Well I would ask that you listen to my work at those above websites to get an idea of how I play, which is mainly hard rock. But I am not afraid to try new things, and I have done solos for many artists in many different genres. Just recently I have had 3 of my songs used for a promotional DVD for a motorcycle stunt group, you can see what it looks like here: http://www.fereinc.com/DVD.html

Wednesday: What has been your biggest accomplishment
to date? What do you hope to accomplish by the end of
the year or the end of next year?

Scott Landers: Well it's hard for me to say... Really good things have been happening for me! I guess the biggest accomplishment is finishing Polyphony Overload - for me, it is a statement, that all things are possible, no matter the circumstances. It's been the #1 metal CD at mp3.com for some time now. Flying High has been #1 in Instrumental Rock at mp3.com as well, actually several times now.

Wednesday: I'm curious to know what your favorite
guitar is? How long have you had it and why is it
special to you? What are some of your favorite brands
of guitars/strings/etc?

Scott Landers: Well over the years I have owned several brands of guitars - Jacksons, Hamers, offbrands, etc..but really I have never been the type to like get attached to a guitar so to speak.... if it stays in tune and has a good tone, it's good enough for me... but I guess my brand of choice is Ibanez - I have 2 but my main guitar is the Ibanez Prestige Model, I've had it only for about a year! I always liked D'addario extra light strings.

Wednesday: What are your plans for the future?

Scott Landers: Well I guess my goals are to continue to make music, to collaborate, come out with with more CD's... To have have my music used in games, movies, commercials... To be a session player with a reputation of excellence.

Wednesday: If you have anything else you'd like to
share with us about your music, website, or other
interests please do! Any websites you'd like for us to
visit or other ways we can get in touch with you,
please share!

Scott Landers: Well my official website is at www.scott-landers.com ... You can hear my music at htttp://www.soundclick.com/scottlanders and I run a messageboard for musicians and fans of independent music at www.indiehangout.com

Wednesday: Thanks for taking the time to do this
interview for us here at SJM! We wish you the bestest
of luck in the future!

Scott Landers: Well Wednesday, thanks so much for everything!!