Hello Maciek,
Hello! I'm ready!
What types and brands of guitars do you play? And do you customize anything on them?
I play the guitars which I can afford... All of my instruments had been customized by my friend. The equipment which I use is not a secret so I can tell you one after one:
GUITARS
A/Fender Stratocaster '62 (Japan) - with "Custom Shop" Texas Special pickups
B/Fender Stratocaster '54 (Japan) - with locking keys, LSR Nut, EMG David Gilmour set pickups
C/Epiphone Les Paul Standard - with locking keys, Classic 59' models of pickups (Gibson & Seymour Duncan)
D/Samick Custom Pro Shop "Valley Art" - with Floyd-Rose tremolo; pickups: Classic 59' & Hot Rails (Seymour Duncan) and HS-2 (Di Marzio).
E/Yamaha FG461S 6-string acoustic
F/Epiphone Jumbo 12-string acoustic
AMPLIFIERS
A/Sunn Model T
B/Roland Jazz-Chorus 120 (in studio)
C/Rivera Fifty-Five Twelve (in studio)
D/Engl Ritchie Blackmore (in studio)
EFFECTS
I don't use special effects in studio before the mix (only wah-wah), but during live concerts I often use them, especially: Boss (delay,tremolo,chorus,noise suppressor), Ibanez (compressor,tube screamer), Dunlop (MXR phase 100,cry baby wah-wah).
I hope that this answer satisfied your curiosity :-)
The song- `One Small Tear,' on the Angel's Dreams album, you play both acoustic and electric guitars, what do you prefer, the softer acoustic or the more powerful electric?
I prefer sounds that in a given moment fits the composition best. If for example, it was a mandolin sound I would learn to play it or better yet I would ask somebody who would do this better (on our new album- played by Robert Amirian from COLLAGE). The truth is that I feel the electric guitar best and I like very much the acoustic sound.
What does music and your musicality mean to you?
Music is my hobby and something I can do best in my life. I'm very keen on listening to some good music too. I do it with a great passion!
Who influenced you as a musician?
This is a difficult question. I'm sure that some important factors have a great influence on my music. Most of all I was inspired by music I used to listen to or I listen to these musicians I used to play with or I play with now. I think these are many factors.
What guitarists influenced your style of playing the guitar?
I think that my playing style is still being shaped and I would like to keep this going on. All that matters for me is to develop as a musician and guitarist. Many magnificent guitarists inspired my playing technique hugely. I'm open-minded for different music styles and I try to learn from those, who have something interesting to say in music. I appreciate Robert Fripp (KING CRIMSON), as a musician and a leader, for his consequence and his feelings about music. I feel the same about Steven Wilson from PORCUPINE TREE (he's an excellent producer). Besides, both of them are great guitarists! But most of all I feel Andy Latimer and Dave Gilmour deep in my heart and fingers: beautiful melodies and splendid tones. There are many magnificent guitarists. Here are the names very important for me (in accidental order): Steve Lukather (TOTO), Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson, Vernon Reid (in LIVING COLOUR), Steve Hackett, Warren Haynes (GOVT MULE), Pat Metheny, Mark Knopfler (DIRE STRAITS), Reine Fiske (LANDBERK), Steve Vai, Dominic Miller (STING), Steve Ray Vaughan, Adrian Belew (KING CRIMSON), Jimi Hendrix, Trevor Rabin (YES) and more...
If you could define your band Quidam in a few sentences, what would it be?
It's difficult to describe band with six different persons as a member. We are simply a group of people who like music and we want to create something called "QUIDAM music". Sometimes lazy but consistent. It lasts ten years now...
If you were stranded on a desert island (With a CD player and batteries), and you could have any ten albums, what would you choose and why?
Every day it would be another ten of the best on my "hit list". Today this list appear as it follows:
1) David Sylvian - "Dead bees on a cake" or "Secrets of the beehive"
2) Seal second album
3) Peter Gabriel "Secret world live"
4) Talk Talk "Spirit of eden" or "Laughing stock"
5) Landberk "Indian summer"
6) Roger Waters "Amused to death"
7) Camel "Harbour of tears"
8) Bobby McFerrin "Medicine music"
9) Pearl Jam "Ten"
10) S.Rachmaninow- "Third piano concert" or I.Strawiñski Symphony of psalms".
What do you think about the newer generation of progressive bands? What is was your favorite band/performer of all time?
To be honest with you I must say that I don't follow new art rock bands, so I can't evaluate them. There were just a few albums and bands that impressed me so deep. But these were sporadic chances. The rest in my opinion is drowning in a shower of tones. Unfortunately they copy other older bands discoveries in music and we still call it "progressive rock". Well...The band has the right to exist until fans want to listen to their music. I respect that of course. Here are my favorite neo-progressive albums (in accidental order):
1) PORCUPINE TREE Signify"
2) COLLAGE "Moonshine"
3) DREAM THEATER "Images and words"
4) LANDBERK "Indian summer"
5) SPOCK'S BEARD "Kindness of strangers"
6) RITUAL "Ritual"
7) TOOL "Lateralus"
8) FLOWER KINGS "Stardust we are"
9) PAIN OF SALVATION "The perfect element"
And some more...
Is there any pressure to venture in to more harder or commercial territory?
There isn't and never has been such pressure.
Do you do any work outside the group?
I work as a musician only but I have started to look for another job. It's because I can't live and survive working in QUIDAM only. It isn't a profitable job so far, but it brings me a lot of pleasure.
What do you think of the future of Quidam?
I'm an optimist. I think positive. I'd like to finish our new album and then promote it in Poland and abroad.
There was rumored a new Quidam album to be released this summer, is it out yet and if not, when will it be released? Any insight into the new album?
Our new CD will be released in February and in my opinion it'll show another face of our music. But it is still QUIDAM with it's own characteristic climate and melodies. You must listen to it and then evaluate it!
Thank you.
Many Greetings, Maciek.
