Thomas Muster, Guitarist for Hard Rock & Heavy Metal band Shakra from Switzerland.
Shakra Interview
How was the writing process for the new Shakra album PowerPlay?
I started writing new songs right after the recordings for our previous album “Back On Track” and within a few months I had a bunch of cool new ideas. Everything felt so easy, I was highly motivated to write new music like never before. That has a lot to do with our new singer John. He’s not only a great person but also a fantastic singer. When I wrote the songs for “Back On Track” a few years ago I didn’t know who’s gonna sing them later. And when John joined the band then in October 2009 he had to sing a lot of vocal lines that I’ve created not especially for his voice. So that was completely different now. Meanwhile I know what John loves to sing, what he is really able to do. So I created all the vocal lines always with his voice in my head.
What were some of the influences used for this latest album?
I don’t know. Really, I don’t know where all the inspiration is coming from. I just play guitar as much as I can and then often I create a cool guitar riff or a vocal line… or maybe I don’t. You never know what comes to your mind. Sometimes it just happens and sometimes not… I just love to write songs on and on and if you love something it’s definitely easier to handle than if you hate something.
Any tours coming soon for Shakra?
Yeah, the tour starts in March in Germany. After working such a long time on “Powerplay” we’re really looking forward to get out and play the new stuff live! We would love to play overseas too, but let’s see first how the albums sellings will be.
To record the guitar tones in Shakra what do you use?
Thom, our lead guitarist and producer created the guitar sounds on “Powerplay”. While other bands are using tons of different gear, we only used one amp: a Fryette Sig:X head with two Mesa cabinets loaded with V30 Speakers and miked with 2 Shure SM 57. I played my Schecter guitars and Thom was using his Les Pauls. That’s it. No secrets. But it sounds great!
What do you think of promo videos nowadays with everything going on YouTube?
Better on YouTube than on MTV! What a fucking channel! In the 80’s you had to make real “big”, expensive videos, but nowadays it’s not a big problem to put some self made stuff on YouTube. I just saw a first preview of our upcoming “Save You From Yourself” – video. Man, it’s actually not that expensive as it looks! Watch out for that one!
What were your earliest influences?
At the age of 13 or something my parents signed me up for classical guitar lessons at the local music school. That was in 1977, right when AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock came out. Well, I started to play all the cool riffs of that album and I was no longer interested in my classical guitar education. Then in 1979 AC/DC played in my home town Bern/Switzerland, with Bon Scott! And Judas Priest supported them. Holy shit, what a concert it was! So, of course AC/DC and a lot of these NWOBHM-bands influenced me hugely.
What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
Huu, I’m actually not a collector. And I don’t listen to that much music nowadays. But as I’m a huge RUSH fan I guess all the Rush stuff are the most precious pieces I got here.
Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician on tour?
You know what? Nothing is more boring than a day on tour. Either you sleep all day long or you do some sightseeing. But actually you‘re just waiting for the show. And finally at 10 pm you go onstage and that’s definitely the best part of the day!
Where do you see Metal in 100 years from now?
No idea man! There is a song on “Powerplay” called “Life Is Now”. And as the title says, live now not in the past and not in the future. Ok, sure we do some plans for maybe next two years or something but I’m definitely not thinking about what will be in 100 years!
Extra questions for Shakra guitarist Thomas Muster
Life without music would be – Life without passion
Favorite movie – Forrest Gump
Favorite sport – Tennis
Favorite food – Greek Food
Favorite drink – Red Wine
Favorite saying – Better No.1 than No.2!
Favorite car – Ford Edge. I used to drive one on my last US vacation. Great car!
Favorite book – I prefer music magazines
Favorite band – Rush!
Star Wars or Star Trek – Star Man!;-)
PC or Mac – PC
Cheers!