Animals As Leaders Interview
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- Опубліковано 20 кві 2022
- In this episode I interview Animals As Leaders (Matt Garstka, Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes).
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Respect to Matt for coming in right after painting the house
Hes morphing into Troy from Mastodon and I'm cool with it.
Superior comment lol
This comment caught me off guard, lol!
LMAO
He killed Gritty
These dudes have a whole harmony while talking. Tosin is the low end, Javier is the mid range and Matt is the high end
🤣😭
Lmaooo
A good drummer is always an inspiration for guitarists.
This isn’t said enough
This new AAL album truly felt like a Garstka coming out party. What a beast.
Coming out to ruin the album
@@jdjdjdjjc6535 you should get your ears checked
@@jdjdjdjjc6535 weak bait
@@jdjdjdjjc6535 what do you mean?
It feels like this album was very matt centric. Previous one was Javier centric. One before that was Tosin-centric.
Tosin is helping us see the future of music. Rick is helping us remember what got us here and reminding us what it takes to create real music. Thank you guys for the time and effort. Don’t get enough of it now a days. We just saw Animals at the house of blues in Orlando.
Legendary and one of the best shows I’ve ever seen at a venue where I’ve seen so many people. They made it feel like we were somewhere else.
Universe is on the way. 🌌
Music lives forever.
Just spend time with your Instrument
Most powerful words ever said to me
🎶
Speaking of which... I'm a producer working on my first EP and I need to get my arse back in thr studio now and knock this writers block 🚫
I love that Tosin speaks like he plays. Rhythmic, melodic, contextual, flowing so intuitively. It's like he's always exactly in the moment with all of his being. He is truly a treasure. He is a beautiful person, both to look at and to listen to, both when he plays and when he talks.
Not to downplay the amazing skills and chemistry of and between all of them - there's a reason they're still together and lifting each other up. Like Universe hinted at: there's a past and a future that got us where we are. The more we are aware that we are a part of this universe and are at ease with it, the more likely it is you'll recognize good chemistry that lifts everyone up.
I guess the biggest differences are that Tosin has no distortion on his voice, Javier doesn't nod at every word Tosin says, and when Tosin speaks, Matt isn't trying to break the fabric of spacetime with his drumming. But in their looks and smiles you can see that even in silence they're very together :D I fucking love that!
I can’t believe stuff like Rick’s channel exists… and it’s free!! Hell yes. I’ve listened to AAL since their first release - to have Rick’s mind intertwined with this band is like a dream come true. I’ve watched all his tosin interviews (also Aaron Marshall and Tim Henson). Thank you so much Rick!!
Matt is a genius btw
all four guys are mega-geniuses!!
I saw them Monday at house of blues and Matt's drumming had everyone screaming. Anyone who can step out after Intervals plays and increase the energy like that is a living legend.
They were the first concert I had ever been to in my life, it was also the first House of Blues I had ever been to. I remember when Javier told us to shut up and then when we all got quiet he slowly raised his hands up and we all screamed. Best night of my entire life.
Just saw them last night in AZ. Hadn’t heard of Intervals prior to the show, was VERY impressed by those guys. Great energy, looked like they were having a blast up there. All smiles through both bands, Animals are on another level 👊🏾
@@elezoetrope that's a tight first show!
@@iancampbell5493 man, I would've seen just intervals if I knew they were going to be there. I was so pumped when I found out they were opening. The bass slap is intense!!!
9:39 I'm glad Tosin has the same tough time as I do trying to remember the track names lol
Remembers the riff tho. It’s funny 😂
I was able to talk with Aaron from Intervals during his VIP session at the Orlando show. One thing he told us was “protect Rick Beato at all costs”. And I couldn’t agree more 😂 love his musical insight
love that they talked about inner assassins that song is fantastic.
Tosin is able to explain his thoughts so well, excellent vocabulary
I love how interested Rick is and his appreciation of what these guys do
And everyone is so chill, its awesome
Also, these dudes are all super buff
I love how these are all absolute wizards at their craft, I've heard Matt literally practices 40+ hours a week, Tosin is a huge name in both the guitar and metal scene, and Javier is such a foundational piece to what this band is, and they're all just regular dudes. Got to see these guys live in Dallas and it was the best show I've ever been to hands down. Props to Rick for having them, props to the band for being amazing.
Apparently he did nearly 60 hours a week at Berklee
@@blopenshtop jeez. I love music but I could never 😂
@@iangillies711 Yeah I'm the same haha. The way I see it, people that stand out like Matt play drums like others watch TV or play games. It becomes second nature. I try to have good practice but it just isnt as natural for me
AAL are top of the Pyramid. Insane arrangements, and the technical skill involved is mind blowing.... Big love
New album is a snooze.
As far as I'm concerned, Animals As Leaders, Intervals and Plini are the Top 3 if you like Guitar centric heavy stuff
and at a given time, any of the 3 can be at the top of the Pyramid. It's happening in phases for me.
Of course during the 6 years AAL hadn't released new material, I've been into Intervals and Plini more.
Super stoked AAL and Intervals are touring together - gonna see them tonight.
New record is dope !!
I don't think they could write a memorable riff or melody to save their lives.
@@jonbongjovi1869 Actually I think all their fans feel that all their best tracks are loaded with memorable riffs and melodies.
I'd even go so far as to say their music pulls you into activating a different kind of memory - deeper, more intuitive and more detailed - but it's not for everyone obviously. A lot of musicians who are no longer satisfied with playing 90s influenced Rock and Metal are really digging the direction these guys and a few others are pioneering.
You could even say that some parts of AAL's music has a lot in common with Electronic music = do you want to hum to it, whistle or sing ? Probably not, but does it hook you ? Absolutely.
To me they have more in common with Aphex Twin than Metallica, sonically.
Just a matter of perspective.
They WERE at the top. That was in like 2009-2010. After that, it got old
Didn’t think it was possible for matt to level up… but he did and it’s FILTHY 🔥
Matt’s goal in life is to never stop leveling up. Don’t expect anything less on any future albums with him on it. He’s an alien, by all accounts.
@@1Second1Day1Step He's driven as fuck. I feel lucky to be able to meet him in Kraków a while ago. What a great day that was...
I did FOH for AAL at their show in Kyiv, Ukraine 4-5 years ago. Great human beings and top of the shelf musicians. Thank you for the experience!
Javier Reyes is such an amazing player. I love AAL but I love Mestis even more. Javier and Jose Macario are the reason I got into 8/9 string guitars.
I had no idea he was one of the guitarists in Mestis! That's so cool.
@@willyhickmon he is the guitarist in Mestís, mate. Javier Reyes *is* Mestís. That's his own side project besides AAL.
I feel like they’re not even scratching the surface. When they were talking about future music and the way Tosin just says “it’ll be better” and “I have some ideas” at 29:50 just gives off that kind of vibe… True greatness these guys are.
Animals As Leaders was one of the most incredible shows I've been too. I love Tosin's "hybrid" rig approach, the presence of his tube rig is so glorious, adds this extra visceral component to their live set
Hybrid i.e. what? What's the other part? Fractal? He's changed what he's doing frequently so I'm curious what his rig is now.
I saw these guys a few nights ago in Austin and I can’t believe the difference in hearing it live. Blew me away
So who do these guys appeal to mostly?
@@SystematicMechanic guitar nerds...that's it really
@@Dobis86 nono, I love them, and im not guitar nerd
@@SystematicMechanic people who enjoy amazing music, I can't play an instrument to save my life but have loved there music since the first album came out can't remember if that was 2009
@@Dobis86 Garstka didn't exist
I ran sound for a gig at VMI in VA for Tosin's band Reflux along with Glass Casket (BTBAM Members), Coliseum, and Psyopus MANY years ago. I got to chat with Tosin out in the hallway with his massive pedal board. He was a stand up dude then and already a mind blowing guitarist at the time. This had to be maybe 15 years ago. I remember the looper work and the Ibanez Universe being used like I hadn't heard before. I'm super happy with what you guys have achieved and look forward to every new album.
To this day, "Behaving Badly" is my favourite AAL track, and "The Joy of Motion" is my favourite album. All their albums are crazy awesome.
Can't beat CAFO in my eyes, but agreed! They're such wildly talented musicians putting together some amazing tunes.
Behaving Badly is my favorite as well.
On impulse and the first album, behaving badly is awesome too!
Great track! Can't pick just one. Every AAL album is a *ｇａｌａｘｙ* 🌌🖤
Agreed with The Joy of Motion! Will never be beat. New album has great moments but Joy is always the one
I love listening to bands writing processes. That magic that happens is one of the best feelings in the world.
are u a musician yourself?
First time seeing Matt speaking his thoughts and I am not disappointed at all, really a cool guy!
He's a bit of a Dirty D.
He has his own channel. He speaks, a lot
No good music these days? Some of the greatest (literally) music ever made is being made today. It's nice to be reminded of that. And isn't it great that such lovely human beings are making it?
People who say they don't make good music any more aren't looking hard enough.
@@danielseale9636 I feel like people who say that only look at the most popular spotify playlist charts or something, its weird
@@danielseale9636 True fact, that.
I think of 'the music industry' as mining.
It used to be that the 'miners' (A&R guys) had to go out into the 'mines'(bars/clubs/etc) to find the 'gems'(good artists), then polish them up and sell them to the public.
Now, that mine is just dug up whole and dumped in the town square. Anyone can just go dig through the pile to find the gems, it's not hard, but you'll have to sift through a ton of gravel
@@fatpad00 I'd say that's a very good metaphor for what happens. I've found all sorts of musical diamonds I would never have found, but for UA-cam, for instance. (Not everyone would agree that they're diamonds, but that's another aspect of it. The pile is in the town square, and one man's diamond is another's broken beer bottle. Because it turns out we really are individuals.)
Of course there also surely has to be case for the proposition that AAL is some strange and wonderful durable trans-Uranium element. As a fact, not an opinion. Or maybe there's a kind of hybrid version of that, too. They're great, but it's still subjective. You can't just have one or the other. There's a mixture of things with different forms of validity. (And now I'm starting to sound like some crazy person, so I probably need to shut up. :-) )
Javier’s sound is really good on this album. It’s the 2nd guitarist’s (don’t wanna call him rhythm guitarist, really) curse to kinda disappear into the background, but Javier deserves some huge props for this album too. I love the tiny arpeggio, chord-driven section in Monomyth, the back-and-forth on Micro-Aggressions’ main riff, the big ending to Gestaltzerfall. Javier’s sound is unmissable in these parts
In a way, he's the John Paul Jones + Rick Laird of this band: The formally educated musician who keeps that whole ensemble together and makes the other guys sound fantastic, but isn't noticed as much himself - with Matt being the John Bonham + Billy Cobham, Tosin being the Jimmy Page + Johnny Mac (and no Robert Plant).
Gestaltzerfell gets me every time
Javier honestly is a monster guitarist himself. Sure, he might not be able to play the same stuff as Tosin, but on the other hand, he can play stuff that Tosin can't play as well (he's a pretty damn good Classical and Flamenco guitarist). Tosin just gets most of the attention because "OMG, SICK SWEEP PICKING AND TAPPING!".
I agree ☝️ Javier is a big part of the AAL sound. Gorgeous big killer riffs. Dude can play his ass off. I saw them recently and I was astounded. The sound was tremendous.
Taking this opportunity to say listen to Mestis, it's good stuff.
Lmfao Matt said next album won't be this good lolol. The honesty is to be admired! Such humble and down to earth dudes for being a trio of GOATS. I love it.
Thank you for interview, we need more like this for bands
@@nothattommy Only slap that eight string for it!
There is a reason Rick's channel is up there in the youtube ratings. Content and guests like this makes it a premium!
I know everyone raves about Abasi (rightly, he's obviously excellent) but the drummer is something else. Absolutely incredible.
I saw them this same day in Atlanta at the Buckhead theater, right up front and center. Got to meet them and get my vinyl copy of The Joy Of Motion signed by all three. I feel so fortunate to have met my favorite band.
🥹🤙🏻
Matt is such an animal, that he joined a band known as a band of guitar gods, and became not only a drum god but completely changed the band’s characteristics.
Another great interview. Relaxed intensity. Everyone was so comfortable that the deep dive into detail and esoterica was so open and shared. Wonderful.
Absolutely LOVE these guys! Instrumental only bands are hard to come by that are this unique and innovative. The new record is awesome.
Tosin is one of the greatest guitarists of all time and has great vibes too
I love this band and how the complement each other. Also Rick, you're a treasure for our community, your content is so good always. Thank you!
Agreed, thought it was cool how they can acknowledge what each member brings to the band as a whole.
These guys are in a complete league of they’re own.I’ve gotten so much inspiration from these guys it’s ridiculous.They are the pioneers of what they do.I can’t wait to see them live.
their* (no offense)
Tosin is such an articulate bastard . A great listen all the time
at the top of their game rn. saw them a few days ago and they sound SO FUCKING GOOD!
same they were relly good (cafo at the end was fun too!)
I saw them in New Hampshire a couple weeks ago, been listening since debut so it was a dream come true to see them. And WHAT A TIME to see them, with Matt playing the way he is. Absolutely unreal. What a time to be alive
despite the slight tension, Tosin was super relaxed and honest. Great energy.
Yeah things got much more chilled as they went, but this tends to happen I've noticed with interviews. It was the case with the Sting interview in the beginning as well, but I guess this is due to the people not knowing each other.
AAL new album (every time). First listen - I don't know what's happening. Six listens later - This is fucking amazing. Fifteen listens later - Wow I never noticed that bit before.
ty for the interview Rick been jamming Parrhesia and Meshuggah's Immutable since they came out, Rarely do I get to hear both Matt and Javier as much as Tosin's approach on things so it was nice to hear the diversity especially when they talk about editing, and Matt doing a hybrid of natural with sample very cool stuff!
Sick interview - Tosin by chance if your reading this, for Dubstep, check out Kahn, Gantz & Commodo. Kahn makes insanely heavy Phrygian bassweight, lots of triplets and polymeter stuff. Commodo is very hip-hop inspired and next level creative, still insanely heavy low frequencies and Gantz is making some next twisted stuff, time signatures all over the place, insanely creative stuff and all some of the heaviest sub frequencies out there, can fully imagine you being into it
Saw them Friday night in LA. Life changing show!!!
Matt Garstka is an incredible musical drummer.
Omg thank you! Such a great interview. Also, imagine Animals As Leaders + Meshuggah on tour! I'd kill to go to that tour! But seeing Meshuggah recently in Albert Hall was sick. Short but so sick!
Saw these guys last weekend in Orlando. Mind blown. Another dimension. And adding to what they hit on, I walked away even more in awe of Matt and what he brings to the table. It's almost like Tosin has become Matt's vehicle for expression.
As someone whose guitar skills max out at playing an open F chord, it actually makes me appreciate their music even more to learn a bit about the technique behind the playing. It's one thing to think, "Wow, that sounds amazing." It's another to be able to say, "Wow, that sounds amazing, and I sort of understand what they're doing and why it's so impressive."
So much camaraderie and respect within this band. Thank you Rick!
The ones which hit you gently (as you're practicing a self-composed technical lesson) but then won't let you go are the one's which develop themselves as you replay and re-react to what was there before. Technical awkwardness is the clue you're growing still in reacting to what you hear - even if you just played it.
freaking happy you have interviewed this geniouses, you my friend are a true hero for us all!
I really like how you just let these guys riff. All your interviews are about eliciting good answers, not about grandstanding with questions to prove how much you know to kiss butt. I really enjoyed the Sting and Metheny interviews, and this one was great as well.
Your non-subscribe rate just improved to 53.99%.
Rick, thank you so much for these amazing interviews!
Great interview!! I love the way Rick asks a question and lets people talk.
YES!!! Thank you Rick for having these guys. Saw them a few weeks back in KC and they were so freaking amazing and made it look effortless!
Tosin reinvents guitar and just waltzes into high fashion and revolutionizing guitar design. AND he swol AF
Abasi 2024
To hear this guys talking is just as amazing as to heard the play…
Outstanding as always, Rick. I was fortunate enough to see Animals a few weeks ago with Intervals and it was amazing. Definitely a journey.
Tosin has been a beast since long before AAL. Check out his old band Reflux.
Great interview as always Rick! Thank you!!
Take it as you will, but i remember when I showed Mestís to someone and they said "It sounds like AAL rhythm" (meaning Javier), then TRAM to someone else, they asked "Is that Tosin?" (It wasn't a video btw). Then again, showed GEM to someone, didn't take long before they knew it was Matt.
GEM?
Respect to Tosin, such a great guy!
Had a little chat with him when he played in Norway a couple years ago.
Man went out of his way to let me snap a photo before rushing for the locale.
I saw your clip about 9 strings on IG and freaked out. I'm so stoked you got all the boys in the studio! Cheers Rick!
They outdid themselves again on the new album, can't stop listening
Never underestimate the value of clarity - in tone, concept and execution. It is both the product of and the environment of musicality.
seen them live several times all the way back to their very first tour. mind gets blown every time.
Love these guys. Please keep playing music and writing. I played Monomyth to a group of family members (most of which never heard of Animals as Leaders) and the results were amazing. The video kinda scared them, but they couldn’t look away. Music hit them differently, I think.
New album is insane. Love these interviews. Keep them coming Rick. Long time subscriber.
Like electric drums in the '80s, the first AAL album showed how programmed drums could imitate and develop an excellent feel for a band. Matt has demonstrated that an actual musical drummer can make more exciting and diverse music.
Though I found their latest album not really enticing, I still thoroughly enjoy their back catalogue and this interview was really cool!
When Tosin doesn't remember the name of your favorite AAL song :((
Gotta love AAL, great group and Tosin is a full-on genius
Seriously my favorite channel on the whole youtube
Rick is a wonderful human.
I have been hoping for this for ages!
Thank you for finally interviewing my favorite band of all time Rick! When should we expect an animals as leaders edition of "what makes this song great?"
Thank you Rick! One of my favourites bands, this was a treat!
i saw them on this tour it was awesome
great energy, these guys seem really in a good place right now
I've been looking forward to this!
Hell yeah, Rick!! These three dudes are the largest sounding small band in the world. Killer interview once again. You made my day. You are blessed. 💯
Animals as Leaders is one of not so many bands/guitarists that have incredible technique, and there songs don't just sound like backing tracks for their guitar. Like Satriani, Vai, Giovanni, and some others. Al Di Meola also has memorable songs.
Interesting to hear so much discussion about eh difference between the recorded experience and the live experience. Rick, I think it would be interesting to do a bit on how watching a band play has a totally different impact to just listening. IMHO, the demise of MTV actually playing the film clip had a lot to do with the demise of rock. UA-cam is bringing it back, and a lot of bands are inviting in vision for promotion. So many bands I never really "got" until I saw live footage of them playing, then bam, I got them.
A great interview. My young shredder just ordered Javier's 8 string guitar. Can't wait to hear it.
Great interview, keep the good work Rick!
Love what your doing!!! You inspire me!!!
Fantastic interview. Thank you!
Just saw them live 2 days ago they were my bucket list band to see just rarely come to my state let alone city. Just an amazing band the musicianship between all 3 of them is amazing great band
I saw AAL in Oklahoma City back in like…. 2011, when Navene was still their drummer, and that show was insane. I talked to Javier after the show and all I recall him saying was something about how his landlord was watering his weed plants, and how that is such a foreign concept in Texas.
They seemed like cool dudes, with much cooler music.
Ending made me smile, glad you guys all got together in a room.
yes to every single second of this interview. i love AAL, i have fallen in love with them immediately when i first heard CAFO and with every different record, even though the sound changed a lot, i was mind blown again and again.
i really hope i will finally get to see them live, because i've been listening to them for years but never got the chance to see them. please come to europe soon!
cool shout-out at the concert Rick !! and a great interview. what a stellar bunch of chaps
Wouldn't have expected this mashup haha, awesome interview!
You bring in the most talent trio ever. You got my sub! Good interview!
This was great! Love these guys
This is amazing man.. Saw these musical geniuses support Meshuggah in London. Was brilliant. This is so cool...
My favorite band! Awesome musicians!
Matt "there's things I can pick up on that I don't know if other people can" Garstka. The part where even HE realizes he's from another universe.
Yes, he is in another universe. In the context he was talking in, I think he’s referring to picking up on edits/mixes. It’s safe to say that most people feel that way when recording. There are a lot of things the performers are privy to that the listeners may not pick up on. In this context, I don’t think he’s referring to playing. For example, I think it’s fun to hide things in a mix. Only the band knows it’s in the mix because they were there.
javier's beard is legendary
This is the one I’ve been waiting for
Parrhesia is one of the greatest records ever made imo
All three of them at the top of their game: technical, creative, feeling, heavy, melodic, atsmospheric, complex, a whole range of influences throughout the album.
I am in awe of how serious these musicians treat their music, pushing their craft in the most incredible ways.
I get some are put off at how challenging it is too understand Parrhesia; but, if you give it time and actually study it a bit, listen to professionals break it down, the things you notice are utterly incredible.
At the moment, I have been focusing on Matt's rhythmic and compositional ability on the drums; I haven't even started going into the guitar melodies and scales explored.
I love just listening, too. I get so excited at so many parts and I just can't help wanting to comprehend what is going on.
I am so grateful this record exists.