Israeli guitarist and composer Elad David presents us his latest song Puzzle from his latest EP The Big Picture. Puzzle is the second song from The Big Picture. Elad has been a prolific musician, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist. His last instrumental ukelele album earlier in the year, Uke Fever was a stunning record. He is the lead guitarist in the band KALBEI PAVLOV.
With the creative artwork featuring gritty chalk white, blue, and magenta tones over his visage, we get the sense of the fine balance between musicality and technical finesse that we are about to witness. With an analog guitar sound and mind dazzling guitar phrasing, we get some finely crafted fusion guitar based music to revel in.
The instrumental song begins with a synth melody which is intriguing and has a steady beat. The beat production and synth arrangement is captivating and contains the right amount of non standard jazz type progressions to allow some creative guitar shred flexing. This forms the arrangement template and background of the song. On this canvas, Elad David spins and waves his magic with his electric guitar in an extended solo. What a joy to listen to! This is a truly DIY project where Elad has performed, produced, recorded, mixed, mastered, and even created the cover art for the record. Elad David would inspire envy and respect from any independent musician.
David manages to blend his jazz, classic rock, blues rock, and classic synth pop influences into this banger of a track. Do not miss this fiery chiseled sculpture of warmly brewed rock and synth music.
We speak with David to know more about the song.
1. This is an intricate song with some interesting production with intense guitar on it. What was the writing process like?
Well, usually I start by playing the guitar, throwing ideas and riffs, and when I get something good I develop it. And only after I get a basic composition I start recording and all that… On this album, I took a more producer’s approach, I started by making a drum beat, decided on a tempo and structure, then added a bass synth and then everything else. It was even less guitar based this time.
2. What were the biggest differences in approach to writing this album from your previous Ukelele records and work with your band KALBEI PAVLOV?
These are completely different things. In my ukulele album, I just compiled my best fingerstyle arrangements, arrangements that I worked on for a long time, and really planned and wrote them. The truth is that they were also recorded and I simply re-mixed and rearranged them, especially for the album. With my band, the main writer is the vocalist. I am primarily a lead guitarist and ukulele player in the band. He usually writes everything and records a sketch. And than sends everyone parts to learn. Then when we meet, we make changes and arrange it together.
3. How would you describe your ideal guitar tone and how do you strive to achieve it?
The truth is that I am very old school in terms of guitar sound, I still use analog pedals. Relatively a very basic rig. I also strongly believe that the real sound is in the fingers and the phrasing. I also assume that you can hear different and varied influences in my playing, but I hope that I have something recognizable and unique, that when you hear my solo, you recognize that it is me 🙂
4. Who are your greatest musical influences from electronic/pop music and guitar respectively?
Like I said, I’m really old school, my influences are many and varied, starting with jazz and fusion, like Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, George Benson, Joe Fess, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Mike Stern, Miles Davis and more… through, classic rock like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Hendrix, Malmsteen and more… up to grunge and pop. I was a big fan of Michael Jackson as a child, I really like the Beatles, Phil Collins, Elton John and even punk and disco bands. It’s hard to choose who had the most influence, but if I had to narrow it down then I’d go with, Richie Blackmore, Malmsteen, Mike Stern and Joe Pass I think.
5. What is the difference in approach for you playing ukelele versus lead guitar?
A lot of people refer to the ukulele as a basic instrument for beginners or an instrument that is mainly used to accompany chords, but as far as I’m concerned, the ukulele is a crazy instrument with which you can do everything and can also be a leading instrument for everything. That’s why I also released my ukulele album.
Regarding lead guitar, it’s my first instrument and it’s just a part of me, like another hand. What’s more, the feeling of the neck and the wood and the different strings definitely affects the playing and the ideas that come to my mind when I play each of the instruments.
6. You have some very fiery shredding on this song. What is your appraoch to guitar phrasing and composition?
I always try to be very melodic. Of course, the blues is also a big part of the music. By and large, I try to be emotional and always play what I think fits the music. And I also like to put in strange things or deliberate “fakes”, if it’s appropriate of course. Most of the solos on this album are improvised, it’s different from track to track. Sometimes I do 2 or 3 takes and take the best one. Some I plan a little more. And when I really want to do something complex then I go more to the theoretical side and really plan.
7. How would you say you’ve most evolved in the span of time between this record and your previous work?
I am constantly learning new things and trying new things. I feel that I have improved the most in terms of production, and mixing. There’s still a way to go but it’s really a lot of fun.
Check out Puzzle here!
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