JERRY CANTRELL On Preserving It Outdated-Faculty When Recording: “I’ve Saved Myself Deliberately Ignorant With Recording Gear, Computer systems, And Professional-Instruments”

In an period the place cutting-edge recording know-how is on the fingertips of practically each musician, Jerry Cantrell is taking a extra old-school strategy. The guitarist and lead singer of Alice In Chains has spent over 4 a long time perfecting his craft, however relating to recording, he prefers to go away the high-tech gear to others.

“I’ve saved myself deliberately ignorant with recording gear, computer systems, and ProTools in order that I can have someone fly that half of the airplane whereas I am doing all the opposite stuff,” Cantrell defined in a latest interview with Guitar World (through Guitar.com). Regardless of developments in digital music manufacturing instruments, he stays devoted to the method of taking part in his guitar with out getting slowed down within the technical aspect of issues.

For Cantrell, being part of a group is second nature. Since 1987, he is been a significant member of Alice In Chains, and even on his solo initiatives, the collaborative spirit is a continuing. This was particularly evident within the creation of his 2024 album, I Need Blood, which, like his previous works, concerned plenty of teamwork.

“For any file I have been concerned with – whether or not I am with Alice or by myself – there’s three or 4 months of demoing shit in my home, with a buddy of mine operating all of the gear so I can simply play guitar,” Cantrell reveals. “I like working that means – in a tandem. I am a group participant. I’ve at all times been extra comfy working in that regard.”

This strategy has allowed him to give attention to the a part of the method he loves most – the music. Cantrell has constantly surrounded himself with like-minded collaborators who share his imaginative and prescient and assist convey his concepts to life. One of many key figures in his latest solo work is producer and recording engineer Joe Barresi. Barresi, who had labored with Cantrell on his 2021 solo album Brighten and Alice In Chains‘ 2018 album Rainier Fog, joined forces with him as a co-producer for I Need Blood.

Reflecting on their partnership in a latest interview with Kerrang, Cantrell mentioned, “Joe and I had the expertise of blending information collectively, with Brighten and Rainier Fog, however we might by no means gone the entire means, from starting to finish. I performed Joe demos of what I might been engaged on and mentioned I might like him to companion up with me, and after a tune or two he mentioned, ‘I am in!’ Working with Joe is superior – he is acquired this mad scientist ethos and I relate to that.”