While Joe Satriani has had his music used in films and television before, he's not interested in doing a soundtrack, or writing music for anyone but himself for that matter.
In a new conversation with Q104.3 New York's Out of the Box with Jonathan Clarke, Satch said that he'd much rather write music true to his own muses than for someone else's purposes. In any case, he feels like he's got the better of the two gigs.
"I realized early on that I really liked writing music that was about my life and then walking onstage — stages around the world — and then playing it for the fans who already responded to the music," Joe said. "To me, it almost can't get any better than that."
He continued: "It's a sharing moment between you and your fans. So sitting in an office somewhere writing music for a movie that maybe has nothing to do with you ... I just thought I don't want that job. Yeah, this job is way better."
Joe's latest album, Elephants of Mars — his 18th overall — is available now on all physical and digital formats.
Despite the album's abstract title and its instrumental content, Joe considers his music autobiographical. Perhaps the most stark example is "E 104th St NYC 1973," which is the address at which Joe's father was born and raised. It's also a place where the Satriani family would gather for Sunday dinner.
In more ways than one, Joe grew up at that address. He explained how he went about depicting his experience at E 104th Street in a song with no lyrics.
"I got to this point where I wanted to create a soundtrack that would include everything that was happening in the city, everything I was exposed to as a young musicians, as a kid who had grandparents who were part of the city," he said. "I came up with that groove that is a mixture of rock and jazz and soul and funk. It's kind of all mixed together, but that's kind of like what that neighborhood reminded me of."
Watch the full conversation via the player above!
Go here to find out where to follow Satch on social and how to listen to Elephants of Mars.
1 of 2 Photo: Getty Images North America
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Check out the official music video for "The Elephants of Mars" via the player below: