Published by Niels Guns | Guitar Interview Podcast
Music Interviews
Music
More than just a music podcast, Sixty Scales and the Truth reveals the human struggles, triumphs, and profound life lessons behind the strings of exceptional guitarists. It's an invitation to discover the truth behind the scales, one unforgettable face-to-face conversation at a time. Whether you're a die-hard guitar enthusiast, a casual music lover, or simply someone who appreciates craftmanship, resilience and creativity, this podcast will leave you inspired, enriched, and eager to uncover more of the wisdom and artistry that these guitar icons have to offer.
Andy Timmons — guitarist's guitarist, known for instrumental rock, jazz, bossa nova and his Chopin-influenced nocturnes — joins us backstage on his European tour, recorded one hour before he walks on stage. In this episode, Andy Timmons explains why he treats every gig as the most important one he'll ever play, how he recovers when things go wrong mid-set, and why he believes "the gift is the hard work." He breaks down the difference between shredding and intentional note choice, introduces his concept of the "auralect" (learning music by ear rather than theory), and traces his path from a shy kid with three older brothers to the University of Miami and beyond. We also get into his obsession with Chopin's nocturnes and Django Reinhardt, the role of jazz in shaping even his rock playing, his daily practice routine, and how an hour with coffee and a guitar became essential to his mental health and his album "Recovery." Topics: Andy Timmons, guitar, jazz guitar, instrumental rock, guitar technique, Pat Metheny, Django Reinhardt, Chopin, songwriting, practice routine, music and mental health. Follow the show and tap the bell so you don't miss new guitar interviews. A note for the Spotify text: I've written it to front-load searchable terms (the guest's name, "guitarist," genre keywords) in the first lines, since Spotify weighs early description text and title/show consistency. The most reliable algorithmic levers on Spotify are completion rate, save rate and follows — copy alone can't move those, so I kept the claims accurate to the episode rather than over-promising.
Yes, you're listening to this on Spotify, Apple Music or one of the other big boys probably. Alex Machacek's music, however, is not here — and in this episode he explains exactly why. The Austrian-born, LA-based fusion guitarist quit school at 16 for the Vienna conservatory, got his break when Shawn Lane started telling everyone about his debut album, and went on to play with Terry Bozzio, Marco Minnemann and Chad Wackerman. He once composed an entire album over a 51-minute improvised drum solo. We talk about discovering Joe Pass at 14, why Allan Holdsworth sounded like "an alien landed on Earth," what big band taught him about staying in your lane, moving to LA knowing nobody, the economics of being a fusion guitarist in 2026, and his life mantra: question everything. Recorded on tour with Chad Wackerman & The LA All Stars (Jimmy Haslip, Steve Hunt). 🎸 Find Alex's music on Bandcamp.
This episodes guest is Drew Goddard, guitarist and songwriter of the Australian band Karnivool. The conversation takes place during their tour, after the release of In Verses (2026) – the band's first album in thirteen years, following Asymmetry (2013). Goddard talks about his life in Coolgardie, a small former gold-mining town about six and a half hours east of Perth, and about the trips that took him out to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, where he works with young musicians. He looks back on his childhood: moving around Western Australia, the influence of the Kimberley region, his parents' records (CCR, Elton John) and his father's twelve-string folk playing. Nirvana was the moment the spark caught for him. For the first time publicly, Goddard shares that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2021 and how it forced him to make changes, particularly around stress. The interviewer shares the same experience, and together they add a short message encouraging men to check themselves. The conversation also covers the difficult process behind In Verses : taking over Foxhole Studios in Perth, producer Forrester Savell's role in structuring the work, Guthrie Govan's guest solo on "ReAnimation," and the emotion and relief around the release.
Kiko Loureiro spent almost nine years as the lead guitarist of Megadeth, co-wrote the Grammy-winning album Dystopia, and composed over 15 songs with Dave Mustaine. In this conversation, recorded backstage during his European solo tour, Kiko shares the full story of why he decided to step away — and what came next. We talk about the reality of touring five months a year with newborn twins at home, the moment he knew it was time to leave, and why freedom over his schedule became more important than the biggest stage in metal. Kiko walks through his entire creative process as a composer: how he collects ideas, when he puts on "the judge hat," and why he tells his students that creating your own music is more fulfilling than playing fast. He also shares the story of being rejected from school because he wrote a metal festival essay, his first guitar — a Brazilian-made Giannini SG — and what it was like having dinner with Allan Holdsworth. We explore how Brazilian music quietly influenced everything from his Angra compositions to his solo work, and what Dave Mustaine's focused approach to songwriting taught him about the difference between creative freedom and creative discipline. Whether you play guitar or simply care about the choices that shape a creative life, this conversation delivers. Topics: Kiko Loureiro interview, why Kiko left Megadeth, Dave Mustaine songwriting, Megadeth Dystopia, Angra guitarist, creative process, guitar composition, Allan Holdsworth, Brazilian guitar music, instrumental guitar, guitar podcast, Kiko Loureiro solo career, prog metal, Kiko Loureiro tour 2026, guitar academy, music and family
Greg Koch is one of the most unique voices in modern guitar — blending blues, rock, jazz, funk, and country into a style that's entirely his own. On the first day of his European tour, we sat down in a bar in Belgium to talk about what it really takes to make it as a musician. Greg opened up about growing up with a 14-year-older brother who introduced him to Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, how his dad tried to talk him out of a music career, and why he believes you need an almost dysfunctional obsession to succeed. We got into the roots of rock and roll, why so many players focus on technique but miss the magic, and what it's like to tour the world with his son Dylan on drums. Plus: his unexpected love for Oasis, ADHD, Buddy Guy, and why there's not enough rock in the world. Greg Koch is a guitarist, educator, and host of the podcast Chewing the Gristle. He is known for over 8,000 demo videos for Wildwood Guitars and his signature Fishman Greg Koch Gristle-Tone pickups.
He calls himself a cave troll and Swedish Viking metal god — and after one conversation, you understand why. In this episode, Mattias Eklund sits down for a wide-ranging talk: guitarist, composer, free thinker, and builder of his own universe. We dive into the world of Indian classical rhythms and how they completely transformed his approach to progressive metal and eight-string guitar playing. Mattias explains why time signatures like 81/16 and 65/16 aren't as crazy as they sound — and why most prog bands are still just scratching the surface. His collaboration with percussionist BC Manjunath from Bangalore opens a window into a rhythmic language that goes far beyond Western notation. But this conversation is about much more than music. Mattias speaks openly about his parents — a father who listened to train sounds and did LSD at Harvard, and a mother who took him to see Kiss and Iron Maiden at age ten. About how Frank Zappa put him in his place during a concert in Gothenburg when he was just eleven. About the choice to never borrow money, to build everything himself, and to live financially free as a musician in a niche genre. He shares his perspective on fatherhood — how the birth of his son Gabriel didn't distract him, but actually sharpened his focus. About his home in the Swedish woods, where life costs 200 euros a month. About his Ulf guitar, built with Swedish wood, Swedish steel and pickups by Johan Lundgren — named after both the Old Norse word for wolf and a dear friend who passed away. And running through it all is one thread: gratitude. For the simple things. A cookie and a cup of coffee, as his mother would have put it. An evening walk with the dogs through the forest. The studio floor under your bare feet. The creative freedom of Freak Guitar Camp, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together through music. "Music protects me from all the nonsense," Mattias says. "Jet lag, missed flights, bills — none of it matters. As long as I have music, I smile until my head is about to crack." A conversation about letting go, creating, and embracing life — the Eklund way.
What happens when a guitar obsessed teenager practicing 10 hours a day suddenly can't play for over four years?In this honest conversation, Swedish guitar virtuoso Per Nilsson talks about the injuries that nearly ended his career, the dark period of depression that followed, and the unexpected discovery that transformed his playing forever.From filling in for Fredrik Thordendal in Meshuggah to building Scar Symmetry from his home studio, Per shares the untold story behind his unconventional path and why, at 51, he's never been happier.Whether you're battling your own playing injuries, questioning your musical identity, or simply curious about what drives one of metal's most underrated shredders, this episode will change how you think about practice, patience, and purpose.🎸 Recorded live at Guitar Summit 2025
What does it really take to build a modern instrumental band—without labels, without shortcuts, and without burning out?In this episode of Sixty ......Intervals and the Truth, Intervals guitarist Aaron Marshall opens up about independence, touring economics, creative burnout, health scares, and why balance—not speed—is the real long game.#AaronMarshall #Intervals #GuitarPodcast #IndependentArtist #MusicBusiness #TourLife #ProgressiveMetal #InstrumentalMusic #GuitaristLife #CreativeBalance
I’ve known Ruud Jolie since the short time I spent at the conservatory in Tilburg. I still clearly remember his graduation show, where he closed his exam by absolutely nailing Steve Vai’s Tender Surrender . Years later we reconnected, and since then Ruud has released his book In Spotlight and Shadow , in which he openly shares his journey in the music industry as guitarist for @wtofficial. He also speaks candidly about living with a functional tremor — a constant challenge for any guitarist — and the mindset that helps him keep moving forward. In this conversation, we catch up and dive into music, resilience, and turning obstacles into fuel.
Only about a minute or so after Joey and I met, we were sharing photos of our kids. Hey, that's what us proud dads do. No airs and graces for this talented Canadian. Joey said a lot of things during this episode that hit close to home. He shared openly about his role as a father besides being a musician. Conversations like this make this series worthwhile for me. Just as Joey would be making music regardless, I'm making this series regardless. In fact, damn, I'm only losing money making it. But I'm winning too. True connections, albeit brief—about 42 minutes in this case. Thanks so much, Joey, for sharing your story. And folks out there: thanks a lot for watching and listening. It means a lot!
Please note: this interview was recorded just a few days before Brent Hinds sadly passed away. I waited a while to publish because of that. 🎸 "If you're writing for the fans, you've already sold out." Bill Kelliher from Mastodon opens up about the band's biggest transformation in 25 years, the painful decision to part ways with their founding guitarist, and how sobriety saved both his life and his creativity.In this raw conversation, Bill reveals:- The REAL reason Mastodon made their lineup change- Why Nick Johnston was the only choice to join the band- How a $100 guitar changed everything at age 15- The hospital visit that forced him to quit drinking- Why punk rock (not metal) taught him how to play guitar- Writing music sober vs. drunk - the brutal truth- What happened at Ozzy's final show before he passed away- The moment his wife said: "What are you going to do with your life?"From basement studios to Grammy wins, from alcoholism to redemption, from underground Atlanta sludge to touring with Metallica - this is the unfiltered story of one of metal's most respected rhythm guitarists.
In this episode, I sit down with Richard Hallebeek - 8-time winner of Best Fusion Jazz Guitarist in the Netherlands and a guitarist who's played alongside legends like Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane, Scott Henderson, and Frank Gambale.Richard shares his journey from discovering guitar at age 10 watching Talking Heads on TV, to becoming the youngest student ever admitted to the Amsterdam Conservatory at 17, to studying at GIT in Los Angeles during the golden era of fusion guitar.We dive into:- His morning guitar ritual and the never-ending tone quest- Transcribing 300 Wes Montgomery solos to find his voice- The reality check he got when moving from Holland to LA- Unforgettable stories about Shawn Lane (including the legendary recording session where Shawn fell asleep, then nailed it in one take)- His long friendship with Allan Holdsworth and what he learned from his stubbornness- The philosophy of "feel over flash" and why he prioritizes story over speed- How guitar practice is meditation and the importance of surrendering to the momentWhether you're a guitarist looking to develop your voice, a musician struggling with the balance between technique and feel, or just a fan of fusion guitar history - this conversation is packed with wisdom and incredible stories.
Andy McKee, the fingerstyle guitar legend who went viral before the term even existed, shares his incredible life story in this in-depth podcast. From metalhead to acoustic master, from high school dropout to world star who played with Prince - but refused his iconic 50-foot cape!In this conversation, Andy reveals:-The moment Prince asked him to perform (and why he said NO to the cape)- His journey from Iron Maiden fan to fingerstyle innovator- Why he quit university after just one day- Tour stories with Tommy Emmanuel- The YouTube video that changed his life- His biggest influences: Michael Hedges, Preston Reed, Eric JohnsonAndy's percussive fingerstyle technique and melodic compositions have inspired millions worldwide. His tune "Drifting" was one of the first truly viral guitar videos on YouTube, leading to world tours, collaborations with music legends, and a lasting impact on the modern acoustic guitar world.
Learning jazz can feel like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen. In this episode, I sit down with Danish-born, Netherlands-based guitarist Jens Larsen, who started learning jazz at 22—when many thought he was "too old." From discovering Charlie Parker in a Danish library to busking on Copenhagen streets, from getting rejected by conservatories to building one of YouTube's most successful jazz guitar channels with over 500,000 subscribers, Jens shares his unconventional path to mastering bebop guitar. We discuss: Starting "too late" and practicing 8 hours a day The reality of studying at conservatories Teaching yourself vs. finding the right mentor Breaking down complex jazz into digestible chunks Building a sustainable career as a modern musician "I wish I had myself as a teacher," Jens reflects, explaining how he transforms overwhelming jazz concepts into approachable lessons. Whether you're a guitarist feeling stuck in your progress or simply curious about the dedication required to master jazz, this conversation offers valuable insights into persistence, learning, and finding your own path in music. Jens Larsen's YouTube channel has helped thousands of guitarists worldwide understand jazz guitar fundamentals and beyond.
If I were ever banished to a deserted island and could only bring one artist's complete discography, it would be Adrian Belew's. Why? Because then I'd have music from Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Talking Heads, King Crimson, Nine Inch Nails, Paul Simon, and of course, his own incredible solo albums. For me, Belew is the complete musician: he sings beautifully, plays otherworldly guitar, and writes stunningly beautiful and fascinating songs. He's someone who dares to color outside the lines. Or better yet: someone for whom there are no lines at all. "You better make sure there's electricity on that island," Belew said right at the start of this candid conversation. It set the perfect tone for a wonderful discussion that I truly treasure, and I hope you'll get as much out of it as I did.
One of Europe's finest guitarists opens up about his musical journey - from singing Renaissance music with his family in Austria to becoming a jazz master in America. Wolfgang shares the moment his teacher Mick Goodrick told him "You sound exactly like Pat Metheny," how he learned to embrace discomfort in music, and why he believes playing fewer notes changed everything. Featuring stories about Gary Burton, Lionel Loueke, and insights on bridging classical and jazz guitar. Plus, Wolfgang discusses his new album "Etudes & Quietudes" - where technical exercises become concert pieces. Wolfgang gives authentic perspectives on mastery, collaboration, and finding your own voice. Episode Highlights: The "Unitar" method for learning scales Why good comping is the highest art in jazz Breaking free from musical heroes The power of space and silence From Austria to Boston: a musical journey
From the flat lands of Almere to the stages of major Dutch festivals, guitarist Eelco van Zanten has crafted one of the most diverse musical careers in the Netherlands. Eelco's journey reads like a masterclass in creative resilience and musical exploration. This conversation reveals the man behind albums like "Passion and Software" - a part-time librarian who's managed to work with hip-hop legends, create viral covers of guitar classics, and maintain an incredibly prolific output across genres from fusion to electronic to stoner rock. We dive deep into pivotal moments: the hand injury that forced him to rethink his entire approach to music, his formative years studying with renowned guitarist Richard Hallebeek, and his unexpected entry into Amsterdam's hip-hop scene working with acts like De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig. Perhaps most fascinating is Eelco's philosophy that "there are no boundaries" in music - a belief that's led him to create chiptune versions of Joe Satriani songs (which got Satriani's own approval), produce meditation music, score films, and now record a fusion album with some of the Netherlands' top jazz musicians. This is a story about finding your voice through adversity, the importance of creative community, and why sometimes the most interesting musical journeys happen when you're not trying to make it as a full-time musician.
One of the greatest gifts of discovering Frank Zappa’s music is the network of brilliant artists it leads you to. Mike Keneally is one of those rare musicians—virtuosic, funny, adventurous, and completely in his own lane. In this episode, I speak with Mike the day after he premiered The Moth with Devin Townsend in Groningen. He shares his musical journey, how Frank Zappa shaped his path, and what it means to stay true to your own artistic voice. A heartfelt and inspiring conversation filled with stories, insights, and a few goosebump moments. Enjoy listening.
The first bassist to grace this guitarist-focused series, Henrik Linder of Dirty Loops proves that bass can be just as captivating as any shredding guitar. Known for elevating pop music to new technical heights, Henrik shares the story behind Dirty Loops' unique sound and his journey as a musician. This conversation explores Henrik's collaborative relationship with his bandmates, the valuable lessons learned from playing with guitar legend Tim Miller, and his philosophy on continuous improvement. With characteristic honesty, he discusses his competitive nature, the importance of constructive criticism, and how Dirty Loops became what he calls "the geekiest way of doing a rebellion ever." An episode about growth, collaboration, and the art of turning pop music into something extraordinary.
🎸 Alex Skolnick — guitarist for thrash legends Testament and leader of his own jazz trio — joins Sixty Scales and the Truth for a deep, honest conversation about identity, improvisation, and breaking musical boundaries. We talk about: Life on the road with Testament vs intimate jazz tours Discovering jazz in his 30s and studying in New York Almost joining Ozzy Osbourne’s band Why improvisation requires full presence The meaning behind his new album Prove You’re Not a Robot Bridging the gap between metal and jazz audiences Parental acceptance and finding his own path Writing his memoir Geek to Guitar Hero Whether you’re into heavy riffs or complex harmonies, this episode dives into what it means to follow your true musical voice — no matter the genre. 🎧 Stream now and don’t forget to follow Sixty Scales and the Truth for more guitarist deep-dives. #AlexSkolnick #Testament #JazzGuitar #ThrashMetal #GuitarPodcast #ProveYoureNotARobot #SixtyScalesAndTheTruth
