Interview with Blues guitarist and vocalist Mike Guldin. An interview by email in writing. 

JazzBluesNews.com: – First, let’s start out with where you grew up, and what got you interested in music. How exactly did your adventure take off? When did you realize that this was a passion you could make a living out of?

Mike Guldin: – I grew up in Lansdale, Pa. In the USA. I started playing Guitar when I was 16. I was really swept up by American roots and blues music. I got in my first band at 18. I have been performing professionally for the last 45 years.

OUR US/EU Jazz and Blues Festivals 2023

JBN: – How has your sound evolved over time? What have you been doing to find and develop your own sound?

MG: – I started playing acoustically. I then subsequently started playing electric and got my first sideman gig. I then decided to start my own band and that’s where my sound really started to evolve along with my writing.

JBN: – What routine practices or exercises have you developed to maintain and improve your current musical proficiency, in terms of both rhythm and harmony?

MG: – I try to pick up the guitar every day. Sometimes just noodling or playing scales. I do practice songs for later performances. I pick out harmony parts while driving in that car and sing them to help with my ear training.

JBN: – Have you changed through the years? Any charges or overall evolution? And if so why?

MG: – I believe my guitar playing has become more lyrical to compliment my song writing. My Rhythm has also evolved to be come more authentic. This is in part because of playing and recording with higher level players.

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JBN: – In your opinion, what’s the balance in music between intellect and soul?

MG: – Music is an integral part of my life. I can’t imagine my life without music in it. I am very fortunate that my collaborators are also my good friends.

JBN: – There’s a two-way relationship between audience and artist; are you okay with delivering people the emotion they long for?

MG: – We feed off the energy that comes back from an engaged audience. There really is nothing better than when you know they are with you on the journey.

JBN: – How can we get young people interested in blues when most of standard tunes are half a century old?

MG: – Supporting new and young contemporary Blues Artists is probably the most direct way to get younger people introduced to the blues. Young artists like Kingfish Ingram, King Soloman Hicks and Gabe Stillman will be very influential in introducing younger generations to the blues community. Once they come into the tent they usually fall in love with the recordings of the masters like we all did.

JBN: – John Coltrane once said that music was his spirit. How do you perceive the spirit and the meaning of life?

MG: – To use the chorus from my song Alabama Pines. Life is good here with my friends …. I hope this day will never end …. Lets get up tomorrow and do it again.

OUR US/EU Jazz and Blues Festivals 2023

JBN: – If you could change one single thing in the musical world and that would become reality, what would that be?

MG: – Streaming Royalty Rates /bad/ paid to artists for streaming their intellectual property. Streaming has effectively made it nearly impossible for artists to be properly compensated for creating their art.

JBN: – Whom do you find yourself listening to these days?

MG: – I listen to my peers in the industry especially when they release new music. I try to support them and purchase their music. I also listen to a lot of other music. Roots, Soul, Blues, R&B Americana.

JBN: – Let’s take a trip with a time machine: where and why would you really want to go?

MG: – I never got the opportunity to see Muddy Waters or The Allman Brothers. They toured together back in the day. That would be my number one stop.

Interview by Simon Sarg

Note: https://jazzblues.eu/2023/03/19/useu-jazz-blues-association-festivals/ You can express your consent and join our association, which will give you the opportunity to perform at our Jazz and Blues festivals, naturally receiving an appropriate royalty. We cover all expenses. The objectives of the interview are: How to introduce yourself, your activities, thoughts and intellect, and make new discoveries for our US/EU Jazz & Blues Association, which organizes festivals, concerts and meetings in Boston and various European countries, why not for you too!! You can read more about the association here. https://jazzblues.eu/2022/11/19/useujba/