Denny Cordell, the famed producer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, once said about Tom, “either you’re a true rocker….or you’re not. He was.”  The same distinction can be given to the subject of this week’s “Behind the Music.” Let it be known that she….is a true rocker. Ladies and gentlemen….

Holly

This interview could have gone in a number of different directions. I could go on and on about her years of discipline playing piano. I could wax poetic about her legit experience behind a drum set. I could gab gab gab about the time she *for reals* made me cry with her wonderfully effortless and celestial singing voice. (She was singing “Your Song” by Elton John and unless you’re a robot, you would have cried too.) But for this interview, I’m just going to talk about her chops as a guitar player. 

She’s been a musician since age four, but her journey with guitar began more recently in 2016. Listening to her play, it might be hard to believe that such grace and ability has only been incubating for four years, but I’ve triple checked the numbers and the math holds up. 

For one of her first recital performances, she whipped out a little ditty called “Blackbird” by a band you might know called The Beatles. And not only did she play a flawless rendition of the aforementioned paragon of 60’s acoustic balladry…she also sang it. Spectators at the event, mouths agape in disbelief, didn’t know whether to pinch themselves or beg for an encore. I believe a video of this exists somewhere. Comment below if you have any leads. 

(She also plays a great rendition of “When We Were Young”, by Adele. So if you need a good cry, Holly can make that happen.)

Every great artist is the sum of their work ethic, their natural ability, and their influences. With an overabundance of the first two, Holly lists as influences some of the finest examples of songwriting and musicianship in the rock ’n roll canon. Only the best for Holly’s ears. Who makes the cut? Eagles, Steve Miller Band, Billy Joel, Elton John, REO Speedwagon, and of course The Beatles, to name a few. With such a combination, it was darn near inevitable that Holly would become such a superstar. 

What does Holly see herself doing in the future? After a brief yet thoughtful deliberation, she replied, “history teacher.” This makes total sense to me. Artists observe. They collect the sounds, images, and sentiments that swirl around us every day, absorb them, process them, then reflect them back into the world as art. Holly has been doing this since forever. I can think of no better person than Holly to tell the human story. 

I asked her what her favorite movies are but stopped listening after she said Back to the Future. This beloved franchise is the pinnacle of movie making in my opinion and there really are no other movies, if I’m being perfectly honest. I could sing Holly’s praises based on this alone, but I digress. 

We are living through unprecedented times. So much of the good stuff that life has for us is only found when we’re all together and we haven’t been able to be “together” for what’s starting to feel like an eternity. I want this dark period to end for so many reasons and one of those reasons is so we can have recitals again. All of you are invited and all of you will be transformed by the magic that Holly radiates on stage. She may have started playing music when she was four, but she’s quickly outgrowing the small stage. Pretty soon, she’ll be the one out there making history and we’ll just have to be thankful that we were there while she was waiting for her moment to arise. 

I am regularly impressed with my students; either by their talent or their humor, their wisdom beyond their years, or for some, their superhuman ability to lift my spirits and solidify the confidence within me that the future is in good hands. If you’re our next student, you exhibit all these qualities daily and don’t even break a sweat. 

Ladies and Gentlemen…..Arlene!

She’s only been playing for a year and a half, but her repertoire reads like a greatest hits album. She’s a practical one-stop-shop for everything from The Everly Brothers, to Green Day, from Ricky Nelson to Billie Eilish. Lately, she’s been jamming “Yellow”, by Coldplay. A powerful and sincere song expertly performed by a powerful and sincere player. 

“What’s your favorite song to play?” I asked, but just as the words were leaving my lips, I gathered that spoken language was not sufficient for a question of such import. Arlene grabbed her guitar and began playing her answer, digging into her strings and chiseling out the unmistakable intro to “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” An excellent choice. 

When she’s not playing, she’s listening to Arctic Monkeys, Wallows, Rex Orange County, The Neighborhood, and many more. If I ever feel like my record collection is getting a bit stale, Arlene is always there to open the window and let in some fresh musical air. 

Are you tired of not recognizing any of the band names on music festival posters? Are you still listening to the same Hootie and the Blowfish CD that’s been in your car since Carson Daily was on MTV? Do you know who Carson Daly is? If so, Arlene is here to help! She’ll bring you into the 21st century and help you move on from all those embarrassing boy bands and Santana collaborations. For a little extra, she’ll wipe your memory completely, forever erasing the lingering and unwanted tunes of yesteryear. Experience the calm of not knowing all the moves to “The Macarena” or the perfect joy of never having wondered who let the dogs out. 

Call today! (Faxes not accepted.)

She’s still narrowing down her career options, but one theme prevails: Arlene wants to help people. At just thirteen years old, she has already put a hefty amount of good into the world. She’s worked with pandas in China, sponsored school kids in the Himalayas, and she’s even been blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. You heard me. Not too shabby, huh?

Her favorite movie is “The Breakfast Club”; a film about five high school students from completely different walks of life that form a bond through their disdain of injustice, their desire to be understood, and their dismantling of stereotypes. I can’t imagine a movie that’s more on brand for Arlene. 

If she could go anywhere in the world, she’d go to Greece. Santorini, to be exact. Something about all the pretty buildings. I can’t remember. I was still thinking about how she’s been blessed by The Dalai Lama. 

Whether it’s settling down with a John Hughes classic or tearing into a punk rock masterpiece, Arlene always has a smile on her face. And just like “The Breakfast Club”, she’ll always be there to help us learn a little about ourselves and a little more about each other, all while listening to a perfect soundtrack. 

Have you ever met someone who just seemed like they were running on all cylinders? Or like there’s less gravity holding them down than there is everyone else? Somebody who knows exactly who they are, what they like, what they don’t like, and what they want to get out of the world? If you haven’t, today is your lucky day. 

Meet Simone. 

Years ago, my boss at the New York City Guitar School told me, a fresh-off-the-boat transplant to the city and a noob to the world of teaching guitar, that only about one in a hundred of my students are truly going to love playing guitar. Only one in a hundred will remember to practice, will come to each lesson with five new songs they want to play, will obsess over their favorite bands, will have a steadily expanding collection of concert merch, and will hunt down rare import CD’s from Ireland. Simone is that one in a hundred student.

Simone LOVES music. Genuinely. For reals. And her passion is contagious. She even helps me remember everything that made me fall in love with music when I was learning to play. It’s easy these days to feel a little down and out, especially with the state of the world, but did you know that music is awesome and that maybe all we need is a little more pop punk???

Wanna know how to stump a music lover? Ask them what their favorite band is. Simone balked, stunned that I would dare submit such a crude and insensitive question. She started naming, “All Time Low, Waterparks, 5 Seconds of Summer, Green Day, One Direction,…” These enumerations would clearly have continued long into the night had I not hastily moved us along to the next question. 

She has two axes; a Fender Precision bass (legendary and revered instruments found slung over the shoulders of some of the world’s best players) and a short scale Ibanez (a calculated choice, no doubt, removing all potential for her to be portrayed as average, ordinary, or unremarkable). 

Her favorite song to play is “English Love Affair,” by 5 Seconds of Summer. As she attacks the strings and wrangles the fretboard, she leaves no doubt that for her, space and time have fallen away and all that remains is her and her bass. 

What’s her favorite movie? “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Well, it’s settled then. She has impeccable taste. 

If she could go anywhere in the world right now, where would she go? “Italy,” she replied. “For the cheese. And because my best friend lives there.”

Italy. Come for your friends. Stay for the cheese.

I sarcastically mentioned that you can get cheese anywhere, but Simone quickly pointed out that the only acceptable cheese found outside the aforementioned boot shaped republic is the goat cheese at Costco. In fact, this goat cheese is the only real reason worth going to Costco at all. I dunno, I’ve got a 96 oz. tub of mayonnaise that says otherwise.

Whether she’s curating a cheese plate or a record collection, Simone will bring out the best in all of us. And she’ll do this with a kind reminder that life moves pretty fast. If we don’t stop and look around once in a while, we could miss it. 

We weren’t sure if we’d be able to get ahold of our next guest. He’s had to lay low for awhile after skyrocketing to fame following his riveting performance in the “Three Little Birds” music video. He can sing, he can play guitar, and he even speaks a little Latin. Ladies and Gentlemen….

Aarav!

Despite only playing guitar for three years, Aarav could give any career musician a run for their money. A quick glance at his repertoire reveals an artist who revels in rock and roll while celebrating classical music at the same time. It’s not unusual to see Aarav pivot from Beethoven to Queen without losing a step. 

His favorite song to play is “Hey Jude,” by The Beatles. This isn’t the only tune by the Liverpool foursome that Aarav has up his sleeve, however. He’s done everything from “Yesterday” to “Eleanor Rigby”, from “A Hard Day’s Night” to “Here Comes the Sun.” As a lifelong Beatles fan myself, I can always sniff out a fellow Beatlemaniac and Aarav has all the classic symptoms. While it’s really difficult to pin down the reasons for liking something, Aarav had this to say about his love for The Fab Four, “They have so many songs. Sad songs, happy songs, and songs that teach moral lessons.” A sentiment I couldn’t agree with more. 

He also really enjoyed the “Three Little Birds” video collaboration. “It was fun playing along with everyone else and it was the perfect song for the situation we’re in right now.” Aarav, a man with his finger on the pulse of a generation. 

Beyond music, Aarav has his eyes set on law. “My mom said I should become a lawyer because I like to argue a lot.” 

Have you recently had your screen time reduced for no apparent reason? Is your Halloween candy being held in escrow with no end in sight? Contact Aarav and Associates. We’ll get you that candy and triple your screen time. Guaranteed. 

And what does Aarav do with his screen time? His favorite movies are “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “The Lord of the Rings”, and “The Hobbit.” I cannot imagine a swath of cinema more appropriate for a man of such boundless and ambitious tastes.

Now I know everyone out there is champing at the bit to hear more from this cherished Sammamish icon. At the moment, Aarav is hard at work on another classic rock gem, David Bowie’s sci-fi masterpiece “Space Oddity.” Details to come. 

The world is a little crazy right now and it’s not certain what the future has in store, but Aarav will always be here to take a sad song and make it better. And if he can’t, he’ll sue for damages. 

This week, we’re coming at ya with a very special international Edition of “Behind the Music.” All the way from India, Ladies and Gentleman……..

Shiva!

2020 has been full of surprises and “never-in-a-million-years” kinds of circumstances. Last year, I had no idea what Zoom was, I’d never heard of murder hornets, and the thought of stockpiling toilet paper was about as remote as my chances of batting cleanup for the Seattle Mariners. There are countless things I wish had never happened over the last seven months, but the uncontested silver lining of this whole crazy situation has been meeting Shiva. 

He’s ten, sharp as a tack, and a guitarist par excellence. “Ode to Joy” is his favorite song to play and his reasoning is the pinnacle of practicality; “I’ve played it a lot.” No argument there. I prodded a bit more. What could set this classic tune atop the repertoire of such an esteemed musician? He finally relented, “It’s melodious.” A statement as true as it is succinct. 

Despite the lean responses he supplied to my questions, Shiva has aspirations of becoming an author. While he hasn’t officially published anything, he has already completed a few short stories. One such story is of a young boy named Cable who endeavors to save his town from financial ruin; a premise lightyears beyond the pedestrian drivel that most of us were churning out in the fifth grade. The New York Times Best Seller list is ready and waiting. 

When he’s not doing research for his next book, Shiva might be enjoying the fantasy adventure classic “Jumanji” while diving into a nice hot bowl of Maggi. So this is the fuel that powers the mighty dynamo of our young prodigy: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and instant noodles. I guess you can’t argue with success. 

If he could travel anywhere in the world, with all the necessary resources provided for such a journey (a stipulation which had to be arranged in advance of this little thought experiment), he would go to a coral reef. Some additional prerequisites were laid out during this exchange: sharks no, turtles yes, and a secret passageway back to the surface must be provided prior to all underwater escapades. Seems reasonable. 

Hopefully, life under the sea isn’t all that grand because the rest of us up here on dry land need kids like Shiva to write us all into the pages of a bright new future. Just don’t expect there to be any sharks. 

I am beyond honored to introduce somebody with whom I’ve shared thousands of songs, countless laughs, and an incalculable number of pumpkin cookies. 

Ladies and gentlemen…..

Carrie!

This edition of “Behind the Music” is unique because Carrie is a *former* student. Hi-Fi alumni, so to speak. Hey that rhymes….

It’s an impossible task to reduce into a few short paragraphs the 8+ years Carrie and I have been jamming. We’ve scoured the pages of the Christopher Parkening Guitar Method (that guy sure knows how to rock a turtleneck), pored over the finest details of the Sonic the Hedgehog soundtrack, and basked in the uncompromising riffage of the Arctic Monkeys. There’s so much more, but we’ll save it for the anthology. 

When I crossed paths with Carrie, she had already been playing for a couple years. Even at age ten, her talent and capacity for greatness were on full display. Not only was she reading music and fingerpicking, she had a genuine curiosity that seemed to be the driving force behind every piece of music she approached.

Some classic tunes from Carrie’s repertoire include “Girl with One Eye” by Florence + The Machine, “Live and Learn” from Sonic the Hedgehog, and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar. Try to show me a broader collection of songs. I dare you.  

Every great show deserves an even greater encore and Carrie is not here to disappoint. She is currently pursuing a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Honors Liberal Arts with a minor in Physics. She is smart. Like, bend a spoon with her mind smart. Have you ever wondered what kind of people work at CERN? Carrie’s kind of people. They don’t let just anyone hop in the driver’s seat of the Large Hadron Collider. You have to know what you’re doing before you start smashing subatomic particles together. We can all rest easy with Carrie behind the wheel. 

If she could go anywhere in the world right now, she’d go to New Zealand. Her reason? “They’re done with Covid.” Uh…..can I come too????

In a non-covid world, Carrie would travel to Peru. She’s had an extensive relationship with South America for years; often volunteering and doing humanitarian work. At this point, her awesomeness should come as no surprise. Her generosity is as potent as her musicality. 

Carrie was a one-in-a-million kind of student. The opening act is finished, Carrie is set to headline, and the whole world is on the edge of its seat. 

This week we have the Colossus of Chords, the King of String, the Goliath of Guitar. Ladies and gentlemen, the one, the only…..

Aditya!

At just ten years old, Aditya has established himself as a true powerhouse in the Hi-Fi universe. He’s been playing for just two years, but he already has the confidence and proficiency of a seasoned professional. 

Don’t assume however that this level of mastery is accompanied by ego. No way. What’s an ideal gig for Aditya? Answer: He just wants to lay back and strum chords. No showboating, no backflips off the drum riser. “I don’t want to be the soloist at the front of the stage. I mean, if they need me to shred a hot solo, I’ll do it. It’s just not my preference.” Such modesty. 

He’s a huge fan of the band Coldplay and was lucky enough to catch one of their shows a couple years ago. “It was loud and they opened with ‘Paradise’”. What else can you ask for???

Despite his early dabbling in paleontology, Aditya envisions a future in coding. Perhaps there’s an industry out there that combines both? A social media app for dinosaurs? Dino-gram? Fossil-book? One of his favorite songs to play is the theme for “Jurassic Park”, so I think there’s some real potential here.

From terabytes to triceratops, Aditya has you covered. And if you’re in need of a face-melting guitar solo, all you have to do is ask.

If you’ve ever been to one of our student showcases at Soul Food Coffee House, then you’ve most likely witnessed the limitless talent exhibited by this student. Ladies and Gentlemen…..

Tessa!

Tessa just started her freshman year in high school.  She has been playing guitar for six years and it definitely shows. The confidence and musicality she brings to each of her performances makes it look like what she’s doing is easy, but let me tell ya…it’s not. One of her favorite songs to play is “Blackbird”, by the Beatles. That song is no cakewalk. Only a true guitar hero can handle that tune and Tessa knocks it out of the park. 

Her favorite band at the moment is Rex Orange County. “It’s so hard to choose one,” she commented after I asked. I can totally see where she’s coming from. Over the years, Tessa has played everything from Taylor Swift to Ok Go, from Weezer to Bryan Adams. With such eclectic tastes, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one band. 

The precision and focus Tessa displays while playing guitar is unrivaled. So naturally, what does someone with an overabundance of precision and focus want to do when they grow up? Be a SURGEON, of course! There’s nobody more qualified to perform heart surgery than Tessa; she’s already been breaking hearts for years at her recitals!

Her favorite movie is Grease, yet we’ve somehow never played any of those iconic songs. What should Tessa play at the next recital?? “Greased Lightnin’”? “You’re the One That I Want”? Comment your answers below!

And check out her newly acquired axe! A sea foam green Fender Mustang. An extraordinary guitar for an extraordinary player! 

Whether it’s with a guitar or a scalpel, Tessa is here to rock your world!