STEVE VAI and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group present the official music video for “Teeth Of The Hydra.”  Vai shares, “The idea for this guitar and track came to me roughly seven years ago.  I envisioned composing and performing a piece of music on a multi-neck instrument where all of the sound emanated from that one creation with the exception of some keyboards and drums.  I sent my ideas to Ibanez, and their builders delivered this astonishing wooden creature.  I was stunned.  It was awesome.  When I first laid eyes on it, I named it the Hydra, and instantly knew the name of the song would be ‘Teeth of the Hydra.’  A Hydra is a dragon-like creature from Greek mythology possessing various heads.  For every head chopped off, two would grow in its place.  I then set out to write a piece of music that utilized all the features of the Hydra, but could also stand on its own as an enjoyable composition with a sultry melody and heavy dynamics.” 

He continues, “When I finally sat with the Hydra and started to contemplate writing this piece and how I was to navigate the instrument in a seamless way, for a moment it seemed impossible.  I just started slowly, and it all began to unfold very naturally.  Things that can seem impossible don’t seem so impossible once you just start doing them.  Every new discovery and accomplishment were treated as a joyous victory, even if it only involved figuring out one bar of music.  The overall inner vision was the guide through the process, but with every accomplishment, the process became more and more addictive.  I became immersed in the splendors of the Hydra.  It was a meditative experience, and on the day that it all finally clicked, performing the song felt like stillness in motion—that’s when the performance becomes virtually effortless, and the freedom of present-moment expression has you feeling as if your feet are about a foot off the ground.  The exhilaration can be overwhelming at times.  I’m very happy with the way the video came out, and having BJ McDonnell as director, along with his amazing crew, was vital. Enjoy!”

The performance clip was directed by BJ McDonnell, and produced by John Heller and Jason Salzman. The Director of Photography was Eric Leach, with art direction by Michael Mesker. Greg Wurth was the Sound Engineer and Assistant Editor.
 
Vai’s new studio album Inviolate debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Current Hard Rock Albums chart. Cumulative streams exceed 5 million, with “Teeth Of The Hydra” accounting for more than one million.

The Inviolate World Tour will commence with a European leg of appearances beginning in Glasgow on 4 June, 2022. The itinerary will stretch in to mid-July, staging performances in the U.K., Ireland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. Steve Vai’s North American performances supporting the new album will start on September 28 at The Magnolia in El Cajon, CA. The final show is planned for his hometown of Los Angeles, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on December 3.  For tickets and a variety of EVO Experience VIP bundles available visit https://www.vai.com. 
 
Vai will be joined by his long-tenured ensemble members Dave Weiner (guitar / keys), Philip Bynoe (bass), and Jeremy Colson (drums).  Vai shares, “It’s amazing to realize that after three years of not performing our show on a stage, that it’s now on the horizon, and will start to unfold in Europe this summer.  I can feel the road now and the enthusiastic audiences that we will be connecting with.”

Confirmed appearances include:
04 June – Glasgow, UK – o2 Academy
05 June – Manchester, UK – The Ritz
07 June – London, UK – Palladium
09 June – Bristol, UK – o2 Academy
10 June – Dublin, Ireland – Academy
11 June – Belfast, Ireland – The Limelight
13 June – Paris, France – Le Trianon
14 June – Strasbourg, France – Laiterie
16 June – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
17 June – Bergen, Norway – USF Verftet
18 June – Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
19 June – Stockholm, Sweden – Fållan
20 June – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio
22 June – Lille, France – Splendid
24 June – Bordeaux-Cenon, France – Rocher de Palmer
25 June – Nimes, France – Paloma
26 June – Lyon, France – Transbordeur
28 June – Nuremberg, Germany – Hirsch
29 June – Linz, Austria – Postof
01 July – Udine, Italy – Castello
02 July – Macerata, Italy – Sferisterio
03 July – Bari, Italy – Teatro Petruzzelli
04 July – Firenze, Italy – Ultravox Arena
05 July – Gardon Riviera, Italy – Anfiteatro del Vittoriale
06 July – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex
08 July – Berlin, Germany – Columbia Theatre
09 July – Weert, Netherlands – Bospop Festival
10 July – Antwerp, Belgium – Open Air Amphitheater
12 July – Toulouse, France – Le Bikini
14 July – Sancti Petri, Spain – Concert Music Festival
15 July – San Javier, Spain – San Javier Jazz Festival
16 July – Valencia, Spain – Jardin de Viveros
17 July – Vigo, Spain – Auditorio Mardo Vigo
19 July – Barcelona, Spain – Festival de la Guitarra

STEVE VAI has announced that the Inviolate World Tour will now begin with a European leg of appearances beginning in Glasgow on 4 June, 2022. He’ll be on the road into mid-July, staging performances in the U.K., Ireland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. A detailed itinerary follows below.

For tickets and a variety of EVO Experience VIP bundles available visit https://www.vai.com.  Vai will be joined by his long-tenured ensemble members Dave Weiner (guitar / keys), Philip Bynoe (bass), and Jeremy Colson (drums).  Vai shares, “A performer thrives on performing.  It’s been my life for the past 49 years, with the exception of the last two years, so we are chomping at the bit to get out there and play for people. A music concert has the ability to dissolve the many challenges we face, and celebrate one of the good things in life, live music.”

Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group released his new studio titled Inviolate on 28 January (The LP will follow on March 18). Later this year, Vai will stage 52 performances in the U.S. from 28 September in El Cajon, CA through 3 December in Los Angeles, CA. The excursion will take him coast to coast.

Confirmed appearances include:
04 June – Glasgow, UK – o2 Academy
05 June – Manchester, UK – The Ritz
07 June – London, UK – Palladium
09 June – Bristol, UK – o2 Academy
10 June – Dublin, Ireland – Academy
11 June – Belfast, Ireland – The Limelight
13 June – Paris, France – Le Trianon
14 June – Strasbourg, France – Laiterie
16 June – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
17 June – Bergen, Norway – USF Verftet
18 June – Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
19 June – Stockholm, Sweden – Fållan
20 June – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio
22 June – Lille, France – Splendid
24 June – Bordeaux-Cenon, France – Rocher de Palmer
25 June – Nimes, France – Paloma
26 June – Lyon, France – Transbordeur
28 June – Nuremberg, Germany – Hirsch
29 June – Linz, Austria – Postof
01 July – Udine, Italy – Castello
02 July – Macerata, Italy – Sferisterio
03 July – Bari, Italy – Teatro Petruzzelli
04 July – Firenze, Italy – Ultravox Arena
05 July – Gardon Riviera, Italy – Anfiteatro del Vittoriale
06 July – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex
08 July – Berlin, Germany – Columbia Theatre
09 July – Weert, Netherlands – Bospop Festival
10 July – Antwerp, Belgium – Open Air Amphitheater
12 July – Toulouse, France – Le Bikini
14 July – Sancti Petri, Spain – Concert Music Festival
15 July – San Javier, Spain – San Javier Jazz Festival
16 July – Valencia, Spain – Jardin de Viveros
17 July – Vigo, Spain – Auditorio Mardo Vigo
19 July – Barcelona, Spain – Festival de la Guitarra

STEVE VAI and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group have released his new studio album titled Inviolate.  The LP will follow on March 18. The album’s mesmeric opener, “Teeth of the Hydra,” is a sinuous, Latin-fusion-tinged composition that Vai wrote and recorded with a one-of-a-kind custom guitar he coined the Hydra. Built in conjunction with the designers at Hoshino and based on a “steampunk motif” idea of Vai’s, the Hydra is a beast of an instrument – a one-bodied, two-headstock-ed, three-neck-ed creature that encompasses, among other things: 7 and 12-string guitars; a 4-string ¾ scale length bass; 13 sympathetic harp strings; half-fretless necks; single-coil, humbucking, piezo, MIDI and sustainer pickups; floating and hardtail tremolo bridges; phase splitters; and much, much more.  Director Garson Yu and his team at yU+co were brought on to capture a deep look in to this magnificent creation which can be screened here: https://youtu.be/1ehGGTS83m0.

Vai shares, “It’s an incredibly-built machine.  I told the guys at Hoshino, ‘Anything that you think is conventional, don’t do that.’ This was an opportunity to exercise brutal creativity. And they went beyond.”  As did Vai in his performance. Throughout the track he employs the Hydra’s full range of tone and timbres to craft a guitar part that sounds, in its expansiveness and expressiveness, positively alive. “The interesting thing about the song and the guitar is that it all came at the same time,” Vai says. “It was one of those ‘inviolate’ inspirations – boom!  I knew that I needed to create something with the Hydra that sounded like a real piece of music. It couldn’t be just a novelty. Because if you knew what my hands were doing, and how I’m using my left hand to create phrasings that work when I can’t pick a note because my right hand is off somewhere else…my god. But the finished piece had to stand on its own. It couldn’t sound like I was just trying to juggle stuff.” 

Inviolate presents his most focused, streamlined and perhaps invigorating music in years. “It’s very ‘Vai,’ whatever that means,” he says, and then laughs. “Someone else might be better than me at explaining what that is. But it’s just very honest music. Because a lot of my records, they’re long and there’s a lot of concepts and playing around with stories. This one has none of that. This is nine pretty dense all-instrumental compositions that I wanted to capture and record so I could get out there and play them live for people.”

“An inviolate inspiration is one that comes to you completely pure,” Vai explains. “It appears almost in its completeness, and there’s a recognition of it as being right for you – perfectly right for you. There’s no excuses in it. There’s no fantasy in it. There’s just a recognition of ‘yes.’ And then you capture that in a way that’s authentic to your unique creativity. Hopefully, that’s what I’ve done with this record.”

Track list
Teeth of the Hydra
Zeus in Chains
Little Pretty
Candlepower
Apollo in Color
Avalancha
Greenish Blues
Knappsack
Sandman Cloud Mist

STEVE VAI and Ibanez have revealed “The Hydra.” This one-of-a-kind instrument is the realized vision of a collaboration that’s been five years in the making.  It is a beast of an instrument – a one-bodied, two-headstock-ed, three-neck-ed creature that encompasses, among other things: 7 and 12-string guitars; a 4-string ¾ scale length bass; 13 sympathetic harp strings; half-fretless necks; single-coil, humbucking, piezo, MIDI and sustainer pickups; floating and hardtail tremolo bridges; phase splitters; and much, much more.  Director Garson Yu and his team at yU+co were brought on to capture a deep look into this magnificent creation which can be screened here:

Steve Vai offers, “We absolutely respected this instrument by having the brilliant Garson Yu and his team at yU+co create this phenomenal Hydra reveal video. The guitar geek in me is stunned every time I see it. This video captures the splendor and mystique of the Hydra in intimate detail. The conception and construction of the instrument was a monumental feat of creativity by a whole group of inspired people, and I could not be more happy with the way this video came out. Imagine being a half an inch tall and exploring the Hydra as an adventurer. It would be like exploring an alien planet. Sign me up!”  
 
yU+co’s Garson Yu shares, “When I first saw the instrument at Steve’s studio, I was stunned. I thought this was a creation that didn’t belong here on earth— it looked Extraterrestrial to me. When Steve played a track that he composed with the Hydra, I told him that it sounds so transparent and open, complex and spiritual on many levels. When we were filming, I put the guitar on the turntable and looked through the lens: It looked like an alien spaceship. It’s epic. I told myself we need to create a video that has the same transcendent feeling of this instrument. My team and I are honored to be part of it.”

Ibanez Artist Relations Manager Mike Orrigo states, “’The “Hydra’, as Mr. Vai has appropriately dubbed it, started off as a concept that Steve approached Ibanez with several years ago. While it was understood then that the task to turn Steve’s vision into reality would be a tremendous undertaking, we were undeterred by the challenge. Fueled by Steve’s inspiration, our team of designers, engineers, and luthiers worked tirelessly together in order to create a truly one-of-a-kind instrument, remaining as true to the initial vision as possible. This incredible reveal video, produced by yU+co, perfectly captures the same feeling of awe and amazement that this magnificent beast of an instrument imparts on to all who are able to witness it in person!”
 
On January 28, the day of the release of Vai’s new studio album Inviolate, a ONE-OF-ONE NFT of the Hydra reveal video will be auctioned via OpenSea.  The highly coveted collectible features the video, plus unlockable bonus content that will be revealed to the buyer. Additional assets will be added over time for the winner to access.  The opening bid has been set at 1 ETH. Once the auction is live, interested parties can access to bid here: https://opensea.io/collection/steve-vais-guitars.

This is Steve Vai’s first foray in to the NFT space. There is consideration to broaden offerings in the future encompassing a deeper initiative to continue collectible drops focused on his vast collection of iconic instruments played throughout his career. Keep an eye on Vai.com for more detail.
 
“I feel this instrument has the potential to be historical. It’s unique in various ways and its construction is inspired. And there’s a song that was written on it that honors the potential of the instrument. This “Hydra reveal video” is the first video made that intimately details many of the unique aspects this guitar embodies.” says Vai.
 
Over the course of a more than 40-year career, Steve Vai has routinely transformed what would appear to be outrageously impossible into something very, very possible… and still also pretty outrageous. From his days as Frank Zappa’s “stunt guitar” player to his more recent expansive and exploratory solo work, Vai has continually challenged notions of traditional guitar playing and composition – and on more than one occasion even reimagined the very instrument itself.

Vai’s newest and 13^th solo album, Inviolate, is a nine-song opus that pushes the boundaries of instrumental guitar music.  The body of work presents his most focused, streamlined and perhaps invigorating music in years. “It’s very ‘Vai,’ whatever that means,” he says, and then laughs. “Someone else might be better than me at explaining what that is. But it’s just very honest music. Because a lot of my records, they’re long and there’s a lot of concepts and playing around with stories. This one has none of that. This is nine pretty dense all-instrumental compositions that I wanted to capture and record so I could get out there and play them live for people.”                                                                                                                
ABOUT STEVE VAI
Steve Vai is a virtuoso guitarist, composer and producer, considered by many as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. In over 40 years in the industry, Vai has sold over 15 million records, received three Grammy Awards, and recorded with music legends like Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake and many more.  Vai has also toured extensively and recorded live projects with G3 (collaborating with different touring lineups including Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Steve Lukather) and Generation Axe, a supergroup Vai formed with Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi. Vai is the author of Vaideology: Basic Music Theory for Guitar Players (Hal Leonard), his inaugural music theory book designed to help both beginners and veteran guitar players.  For a complete discography and more visit www.vai.com.
 
ABOUT IBANEZ
Ibanez always strives to offer outstanding, top-performing instruments that deliver excellent sound and playability. It’s a brand known for guitars that continually meet and exceed these benchmarks by adhering to design principals that focus extensively on players and their creative goals. Learn more at www.Ibanez.com.

STEVE VAI and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group have presented an official visualizer for “Zeus In Chains.”  The composition is featured on Vai’s upcoming studio album titled Inviolate which will be released digitally and on CD January 28, 2022.  The LP will follow on March 18. 

Steve Vai shares, “The title for this track ‘Zeus In Chains’ was told to me by the track when I was listening back and asked it… ‘What’s your name’?  This happened during the heavy guitar breakdown with the dissonant high note that happens right before the solo. It sounded like Zeus in Chains. Hey, it’s art. You can make up anything you want and it’s legitimate.”

Just prior to the new year, Vai and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group presented an official music video for “Little Pretty,” which captured the artist performing in his inner sanctum also known as “Harmony Hut” which can be screened here: https://youtu.be/bkrmzVMWlLo.

Over the course of a more than 40-year career, Steve Vai has routinely transformed what would appear to be outrageously impossible into something very, very possible… and still also pretty outrageous. From his days as Frank Zappa’s “stunt guitar” player to his more recent expansive and exploratory solo work, Vai has continually challenged notions of traditional guitar playing and composition – and on more than one occasion even reimagined the very instrument itself.

Vai’s newest and 13^th solo album, Inviolate, is a nine-song opus that pushes the boundaries of instrumental guitar music.  The body of work presents his most focused, streamlined and perhaps invigorating music in years. “It’s very ‘Vai,’ whatever that means,” he says, and then laughs. “Someone else might be better than me at explaining what that is. But it’s just very honest music. Because a lot of my records, they’re long and there’s a lot of concepts and playing around with stories. This one has none of that. This is nine pretty dense all-instrumental compositions that I wanted to capture and record so I could get out there and play them live for people.”

“An inviolate inspiration is one that comes to you completely pure,” Vai explains. “It appears almost in its completeness, and there’s a recognition of it as being right for you – perfectly right for you. There’s no excuses in it. There’s no fantasy in it, just enthusiasm. There’s a recognition of ‘yes.’ And then you capture that in a way that’s authentic to your unique creativity, and I feel as though that’s what I’ve done with this record.”

Track list
Teeth Of The Hydra
Zeus In Chains
Little Pretty
Candlepower
Apollo In Color
Avalancha
Greenish Blues
Knappsack
Sandman Cloud Mist

Pre-Order Here: https://smarturl.it/steve_vai

STEVE VAI and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group will release a CD and digital release of his new studio album Inviolate, coming out on January 28th. LP will follow on March 18th. Pre-Order Here: https://smarturl.it/steve_vai

Today Steve Vai shares a new official video for ‘Little Pretty’ from the album, watch it below.

The recording is a dark-toned fusion-funk workout.  Steve Vai shares, “In writing the chord changes for the solo section, and the solo itself, I dug deep into my academic music theory mind to create a set of chord changes where the harmonic atmosphere shifted on every change. The dense chord structures required a series of synthetic modes to navigate. This approach is along the lines of jazz and fusion players, but I knew I did not want it to sound anything like that and the solo had to be totally melodic. The results were pretty powerful in that the entire solo section evokes melodic atmospheric changes that shift dramatically but work together well.” 

Looking towards the holidays and a new year, he shares, “I am also wishing all a very happy and restful holiday season. You will need it because I predict in 2022, we will all be out there working together again and blowing up that bridge!”

Over the course of a more than 40-year career, Steve Vai has routinely transformed what would appear to be outrageously impossible into something very, very possible… and still also pretty outrageous. From his days as Frank Zappa’s “stunt guitar” player to his more recent expansive and exploratory solo work, Vai has continually challenged notions of traditional guitar playing and composition – and on more than one occasion even reimagined the very instrument itself.

Vai’s newest and 13^th solo album, Inviolate, is a nine-song opus that pushes the boundaries of instrumental guitar music.  The body of work presents his most focused, streamlined and perhaps invigorating music in years. “It’s very ‘Vai,’ whatever that means,” he says, and then laughs. “Someone else might be better than me at explaining what that is. But it’s just very honest music. Because a lot of my records, they’re long and there’s a lot of concepts and playing around with stories. This one has none of that. This is nine pretty dense all-instrumental compositions that I wanted to capture and record so I could get out there and play them live for people.”

In essence, it all comes down to finding your own voice, and then having the courage and conviction to follow your musical and creative instincts wherever they may take you – something Vai has never been shy about in his playing. “One of the great things about the guitar is you don’t need to be a virtuoso to express your creative vision,” he says. “I mean, Bob Dylan plays the guitar perfectly well for his expression. So does John McLaughlin. You just need to decide how much technique you want or need to get there. For myself, I came out of the chute wanting it all. When it comes to my music, I don’t feel like I have to prove anything or conform to anything. I just love to think up creative ideas, and then use whatever skill I have to manifest them.”
 
“An inviolate inspiration is one that comes to you completely pure,” Vai explains. “It appears almost in its completeness, and there’s a recognition of it as being right for you – perfectly right for you. There’s no excuses in it. There’s no fantasy in it, just enthusiasm. There’s a recognition of ‘yes.’ And then you capture that in a way that’s authentic to your unique creativity, and I feel as though that’s what I’ve done with this record.”

Steve Vai will begin an extensive tour of the U.S., with 54 scheduled appearances on January 27, 2022 at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.  It is the first leg of appearances that begins a World tour planned for the next several years. Vai will be joined by his long-tenured ensemble members Dave Weiner (guitar / keys), Philip Bynoe (bass), and Jeremy Colson (drums).  Vai shares, “A performer thrives on performing.  It’s been my life for the past 49 years, with the exception of the last two years, so we are chomping at the bit to get out there and play for people. A music concert has the ability to momentarily dissolve the many challenges we face, and celebrate one of the good things in life, live music.”

Track list
Teeth Of The Hydra
Zeus In Chains
Little Pretty
Candlepower
Apollo In Color
Avalancha
Greenish Blues
Knappsack
Sandman Cloud Mist