|
|
Michael Mucklow is a dazzling, potent guitar player from Yucca Valley, California (U.S.A.) who expresses his style as new age fingerstyle, as can be heard on his latest release, "Clearly".  His guitars of choice include a Breedlove (1996 SC/R) and a Walden G Series Model. Mucklow has played guitar since 1974, and frankly confirms his career goal, "I want to continue recording one CD each year. I'm not really looking to "make it" in the music industry, or at this time even wanting to make music a full-time career. For me, having a "day job" brings balance to my life - keeps things real. I enjoy playing on weekends at coffee houses around the SoCal area; and plan on enlarging that area to include the Western Region. I would like to see if some of my songs can make it into movie soundtracks; several people have commented that my music lends itself to that."
When requested to name his ideal effect for the guitar, Mucklow responded with, "Chorus," and submitted his musicial goals, "I don't recall that I had anything I specifically wanted to express - partly because of my music being instrumental. But as I've gone out and performed and now made a CD it's the response of the listeners that has indicated to me what I want to be conveyed through the music. The best way I can put it is this analogy: The deep emotion I feel when I sit outside during the sunset while softly playing my guitar, orange-red's fill the western horizon, rich blue sky above lightly cloud populated, eye's closed, a spring breeze gently brushing my face. At the same time though I don't want that to be what guides me with regard to what I write and record in the future - I'll always want the music to be what it is when it comes to me. In other words, I don't want to "formulize" what I do." He would like to someday study how to play the bouzouki, and is currently listening to Acoustic Alchemy (any of their CDs), Neil Young (Prairie Wind), Jamie Bonk (My World, A Perfect Tomorrow) and the Dave Mathews Band (Stand Up)
. His utmost satisfaction? "When someone tells me that my music helped them be relaxed, especially during or after a tough day; or they fell asleep or woke up listening to it; or they were soothed or healed," he answers indisputably.
Mucklow mentions ongoing and upcoming projects in his own words, "Actually, my day is spent working the "day job". My music fits in and around the "daily life" scenario and I prefer that. Typically I will rehearse current material 2-3 times a week. New material comes just about anytime I'm playing, which I do every chance I get. I tend to play a lot in the early morning before heading off to work. I will also take a guitar to my workplace and play during my lunch break. I will begin recording my next CD in June. Having a day job kind of allows me - in a forcible way - to take my time recording and I actually like that. I figure I can take a couple of months to record the guitar tracks, a few months to add in whatever other instruments will be involved, another few months to mix the tracks then get the disc pressed and packaged. So in about a year I will have another CD out. Right now that makes sense to me."
|
Vol. 17, No. 2: Feb.-Mar. 2012
