Interview - Ty Oliver
Ty, thank you for taking a break from your busy schedule,
Firstly, how did you get into music, and more specifically the guitar?
Well before I actually got my hands on an instrument, I wanted to play drums. One of my friends had just got a Bass, and I remember picking it up having so much fun just making noise with it. I then got the opportunity to sit behind a drum kit at school one day a couple months later and that was it, I knew I needed to get my own set and get myself involved in music. Several weeks later, I got my first kit and started jamming with friends after school. Guitar came later. People would leave their guitars at my house after we’d jam and I’d fool around on them at night. After a couple years of that I could play ok, and decided I wanted to pursue it more. I traded in my drums for a guitar rig. I switched back and forth between drums and guitar for a few years until settling on Guitar exclusively in 2000.
There’s clearly an 80’s instrumental rock influence in your music, Vai and Satriani are two names that certainly spring to mind. Would you say these are big influences of yours, and what other artists do you look to for inspiration?
Oh yeah absolutely. The “Healed Through Time” CD is basically a direct reflection of my influences at that time (the newest track on there is from 2003, the oldest from 2001) I was a total hairband fanatic, as well as a Satch/Vai fanatic. Nowadays, honestly it’s a different story. Satch and Vai are still a huge inspiration, but I’m definitely listening to and being influenced by some different artists. The Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse, Matchbox Twenty, stuff like that. The new material I’ve been working on for the next CD will move a bit more towards those influences and away from the whole 80’s thing. It’ll be more true to where my head and heart are at now, than when I wrote and recorded my first CD. It’ll still be very much a from the heart melodic rock guitar CD, but just a bit more modern sounding.
Melody plays a huge role in your music and you play with a lot of passion it has to be said. How hard do you find it to write something refreshing every time, and how often do you write and record?
Writing with heart and feeling have been something I’ve strived for since the beginning. That’s a big part of what inspired me in the first place. Songs like “Love Thing” or “Cryin’” from Satch, I love that stuff. Playing with feeling, focusing on big melodies, and strong songwriting I think are a magical combination. It is a challenge to keep it fresh and not repeat myself at times. I write and record more often than ever these days, as I now have a home recording setup. It’s great, whenever I have an idea, bam I can capture it. I’ve got two brand new tracks I’m putting on the next CD that I recorded at home over the last couple of months. It’s great to have the tools to capture inspiration right when it happens.
Writing music rarely comes easy though, and I may be a dry well creatively for months at a time. Then all of sudden I come up with two or three new Ideas over a weekend. I may come up with a good riff, and song structure quickly, but finding the melodies and solo’s I like usually takes a while.
An Ibanez man I see? (Good boy!) Tell us about your guitars.
Oh yeah, Ibanez for life! I love Ibanez Guitars, RG’s in peticular. I currently have 4 Ibanez Electrics, an Ibanez Acoustic, and a Jackson electric as well. My main guitar these days is a Blue Ibanez RGT42DXFM. It’s a neck through loaded with Stan Hinesley Pickups extra hot just the way I like ‘em
You have an absolutely sweet lead tone. Can we have a little insight into how you achieve it? Pickups, amps, strings, anything you use. Your entire rig basically, haha.
Hey thanks! Well for the “Healed” CD, it was very different from what I’m using now. I used to run the following Rig: Carvin Solid state power amp, Digitech GSP 21 Legend, BBE Sonic Maximizer, Elesis Compressor and EQ, Marshall Cab and I had an old Ibanez RG with EMG’s in it. For the sound I was after then, it did fine.
These days I like something more warm and organic, and less saturated with effects. I’ve ditched that old rig entirely and now run the following setup: ENGL 570 SE Tube Preamp,
Now, down to a question that makes all guitarists feel guilty at some point – how much do you practice? Did you have much of a strict practice regime as you were learning or were you like me, more of a jammer?
Honestly, I have never had a specific practice routine. I’ve always just focused on working on songs. For me, that’s practice. I play everyday, whether it’s for 20 minutes, or 3 hours or more. It’s consistent, and that’s what I think matters. I don’t read or write music, or know any scales, so sitting and running through scales for hours on end has zero appeal. I used to practice alternate picking to a drum machine for a while. My right hand is definitely my weak point and needs the work. But I can only do that for so long before I lose interest. I’d rather work on a song ya know? I’ll play along to my backing tracks when I’m not rehearsing with the band for practice as well.
So what’s next for you?
Finish the new CD, and play as many shows as possible. I’ve been juggling both for the last year. Had some hang-ups with the new recording and funding for it (got burned by a record label, but that’s another story) but things are finally back on track and moving forward. I am really excited about getting the new CD done and out there for everyone to hear. Trust me, the best is yet to come!
Ty, thanks again for your time, best of luck for the future.
Thank you for the interview, my pleasure!
Check out Ty and his music here!
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