[Download the song, "Sidedoor Charlie" by The Sean Baker Orchestra]

 

 

 

 

IC: For the readers who may be unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your music?

Sean: I would say heavy, melodic shred with a touch of musical hook thrown in for good measure. I wear my influences on my sleeve, so hopefully it's fun for the listener!

IC: What inspired you to play the guitar, and how old were you when you first started?

Sean: I started playing guitar around the age of eleven or so, but didn’t really get serious until around fourteen or fifteen. It was Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption" that made me think to myself, "I wana do that!"

IC: And what was your first guitar?

Sean: First guitar? Cheap-ass SG copy. I believe it was a Magnum.

IC: So aside from E.V.H., who were your initial influences and how did that change over the years?

Sean: In my early years it was guys like Angus Young, George Lynch, and Vivian Cambell - great guitarists in great bands. Then my influences moved towards guys like Paul Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet, Jason Becker, and Yngwie.

IC: So it was their stuff that led you to play instrumental music?

Sean: Well to me, in instrumental guitar music, it seems like the guitar has a more unique voice than it does in your basic band setting. So I think my love for the instrument (and also the players that I love to listen to) led me to do instrumental music myself. The guitar is one of the greatest instruments on the planet, and I'm the biggest fan of guitar!

IC: Could you tell our readers a little bit about your previous releases?

Sean: Well, if ya look real hard you'll find that I played with a Detroit-based metal band by the name of ‘Vinyl’. We released an EP around the summer of 2000 I'd guess. Not much of a shred-fest, because Vinyl was more vocal-oriented, and I wanted to play for the song’s sake. Next up would be my debut instrumental CD, "The Sean Baker Orchestra"! Probably the most fun I've ever had creating and recording music. I'm very proud of that CD, and since it was released many unreal things have happened to me!

IC: [Read InstruMentalCase.com's review of Sean's debut album here!]  So now you’re working on new solo material?

Sean: Yeah, I'm currently working on my second instrumental release, which promises to be my best work to date. There will be guest appearances by Bruce Bouillet, Joe Stump, Marc Rizzo, and Rusty Cooley. I also did some guest appearances on Matt Mills’ recent instrumental release, as well as my son's band, ‘The Mongoloids’, out of New Jersey. Both are rocking CD’s, and I had a blast playing on them!

IC: Very cool! It sounds like your new CD is shaping up to be quite a star-studded affair.

 

(Sean, Rusty, and Bruce)

So could you tell us a little about your guitars? I know you’re a big Ibanez fan…

Sean: I've been playing Ibanez guitars since I was in high school! I have a preference for the PGM models. I have three of them: PGM100, PGM200, and the PGM300. I also own two guitars that I bought off Paul Gilbert. I own the Racer X ‘xoxoxo’ guitar, and a baby Fernades that his ex-wife gave to him. I also own the Bruce Bouillet model, prototype Epiphone guitar. Bruce is my best friend, and I'm lucky to own this one-of-a-kind fiddle!

IC: Wow, you have quite a collection! What other gear do you use?

Sean: I'm endorsed by VooDooAmps, and these guys rule! Great people who just happen to make the sickest amps around! I've gone back to using some of the old-school Boss pedals that I threw away years ago. For picks I use Dunlop sharpies in 2mm. Ernie Ball has hooked me up with a s***load of their strings, and I love them (thanks, Ernie Ball)!

IC: What instructional material did you use to help develop your technique when you were younger? Did you have any favorite instructional books or videos, or a teacher?

Sean: All of Paul Gilbert’s instructionals are great for young players. I spent days on end practicing to those video tapes! … Video tapes? Remember those?

IC: [Laughs] Well, I’m a young player, and my Intense Rock 1 & 2 came on DVD!

So how much time do you spend practicing and playing nowadays and how does it compare with your practice schedule when you were younger?

Sean: A lot less now than when I was younger. When I was full-on into learning guitar I practiced close to eight hours a day, but now with life's responsibilities I'd say I'm lucky to get in two hours a day.

IC: Could you describe how you typically go about practicing?

Sean: Right now I'm more into playing to backing tracks than I ever was before! The backing tracks keep time for me, and I like to try new ideas while playing along to actual music. I seem to just wank-off in the modes when I’m not playing to tracks. So… it kinda kills two birds with one stone, timing-wise and phrasing-wise.

IC: Are you a guitar instructor as well as a musician? If so, do you have any particular philosophies or approaches to teaching?

Sean: I taught for many years, but I lay pretty low now. So many different things work for some students that don't work for others, so I think the approach is different for every student, but the best common denominator is that every student is having fun. My best student? I taught Joey Gaydos jr., the kid that plays guitar for Jack Black's kid band in "School of Rock"!

IC: Earlier this year you contributed a cool lesson to the site. Do you have any full-on instructional releases planned?

Sean: I've been approached, but nothing is planned... yet.

 

(The Sean Baker Orchestra plays "Skit Skat Wah")

IC: I know this is kind of a though question to answer, but what is your creative process like, and what inspires your songwriting?

Sean: Just a lot of noodling and trying to throw riffs together. I try not to use any theory when constructing a song - I mean, I try to use my ear. I just try to relax and let the tuneage flow out. Nothing is forced. Just let it happen...

IC: Then do you listen to your own music for personal enjoyment very much?

Sean: I listen to it when recording, and when everything is mixed. Other then that… not very much. By the time I released my first instrumental, I'd probably heard it a thousand times! You have to get away from it sometimes or it'll drive ya nuts!

IC: How important a factor is improvisation in your music / recording?

Sean: I think improvisation is the coolest part of music. Not always knowing what’s gonna come out and just "going for it"! I did a lot of improvising on the first disc, and a lot on the new one, too. But when playing live I tend to stick the recorded versions.

IC: Speaking of playing live… do you have a favorite song of yours to play, and do you perform any covers?

Sean: Favorite song live? It's a new one called "Steve's Blackout". We do a cover of Deep Purple's "Highway Star", and I do all the vocal melodies on guitar! That tune is a blast to play!

IC: Is there anyone you’d especially like to play or collaborate with someday?

Sean: Well, Bruce Bouillet and I collaborated on a song on my new CD, which was a dream come true! But how about Paul Gilbert? He's a pretty good guitar playa!

IC: [Laughs] That might be the understatement of the century!

Okay, since this is an instrumental guitar website, what instrumental albums have you heard recently, and which are your all-time favorites?

Sean: Bruce Bouillet's "Unspoken" to me is one of the freshest instrumental CD's to date. Paul Gilbert's "Get Out of My Yard" is a awesome CD as well. My all-time favorite is probably Jason Becker's "Perpetual Burn". Beautiful piece of work...

IC: Hey, thanks for reminding me - I still need to check out Bruce’s new album!

So do you have any advice for aspiring young guitarists who want to pursue a career in music or just better themselves as players?

Sean: Get out there and make it happen for yourself. Practice like there's no tomorrow, and ENJOY every second of it. Be the best that YOU can be. Put love into your craft and it will pay you back ten-fold.

IC: Great advice. And what are your technical and musical aspirations?

Sean: To be able to pick like Paul Gilbert! My musical aspiration is to play the loudest, heaviest, most melodic, head-banging music on the planet!

 

(Baker and Gilbert)

IC: Are there any guitarists who you still look up to?

Sean: All of the greats like Van Halen, Page, Stevie Ray, Angus, and everyone who has written a great song or a great solo inspire me.

IC: Which newer guitarists have caught your attention?

Sean: Guthrie Govan is da man! He makes me wanna quit playing. He's sick as hell! Also, Mattias "IA" Ecklundh is one hell of a guitarist. Both these guys can play in any style fluently. Great players...

IC: [Laughs] Agreed, but I’ve gotta stop asking that question because I keep getting the exact same Mattias / Guthrie answer!

Well, do you listen to any non-guitar oriented music? If so, which artists, bands or genres do you like?

Sean: Everything from ABBA to Zeppilin! I'm pretty open-minded musically.

IC: If you could visit any musician or group in history, who would it be?

Sean: No question... The Beatles!!

IC: Looks like you and Gilbert have even more in common (I know he’s a huge Beatles freak).

So what are some of your hobbies outside of guitar and music in general?

Sean: I collect autographs in my spare time, and I love going to Detroit Tigers’ ball games!

IC: Okay, last question… what’s the one thing you want people to know about you?

Sean: I DIG WOMEN! … And guitars, of course.

IC: Thanks for the interview Sean – I had a good time talking to you!

Sean: Thanks, Dave!