Hello Steve! Would you like to introduce your new solo-effort?
Steve Lukather: Hi everyone! This is my first vocal-Rock singing recorded in 10 years. I felt it was time to stretch out as a songwriter and artists. I had my fun with Fusion and instrumental guitar music and I had some great success with Larry Carlton on our recording together which won a "Grammy" a few years back. After a 2 years and a half tour with Toto I needed to make this new solo record. Randy Goodrum, my old songwriting partner and executive producer brought this to me, we went in and wrote a bunch of songs and here it is... Ever Changing Times!
In which ways is Ever Changing Times different from what you do with Toto? And in which way is it similar?
SL: Well, I am a key member and the ONLY original member from day one till now in Toto, and as I am the songwriter, singer, guitar player and co-producer on all the Toto records, there may be some similarities. Toto has been a huge part of my life and all things I learned from Jeff Porcaro and David Paich about recording and producing have rubbed off on me after all these years!
What can you tell us about the production which you shared with Steve MacMillan? What did you want to achieve?
SL: Steve brought so much to me. He kept me honest and organic. I used a lot of old vintage amps and mics and we all played live together on the sessions with great players. I LOVE the way he works and the sounds he gets and he pushed me real hard, especially on the vocals, and came up with brilliant little synth parts. He was a major part of the record!
How hard is it to get free from Toto's influence while working on your solo stuff?
SL: It's not like that. I do records cause I can't STOP making music and the freedom of a solo-record is fantastic. Toto has been very very good to me, but it's time for me to break free and be an artist in my own right.
How come it took so long for you to release a vocal solo album?
SL: I needed to get out and play some guitar, and I did. Then Toto has taken a lot of my time up with the last record Falling in Between and a two years and a half tour!
Any memories about working on Ever Changing Times you'd like to share with us?
SL: It's the most fun I have had in a long time and I really feel I have grown as an artist and a songwriter. But I did NOT do this alone. It was a group effort from everyone involved.
You always have outstanding guests on your solo-albums. Whose turn is it this time? How did you choose who to invite on this record?
SL: I always use different players on my solo-records and I do that on purpose, so I can have the opportunity to play with diverse great players! Jeez, a lot of people played on this record: Abe Laboriel jr. on drums, Lee Sklar and John Pierce on Bass, Jeff Babko, Steve Weingart, Greg Mathieson, Steve Porcaro, Randy Goodrum, me and Steve Macmillin on keyboards, Lenny Castro on Percussion, my son Trevor on rhythm guitar, backround vocals are me, Randy Goodrum, Trevor Lukather, Tina Lukather, Bernard Fowler, Bill Champlin, Sharlette Gibson. And I know I am forgetting people. Sorry! A great cast of people and I am very honored to have them all on it!
Any young talent you've just discovered who got your attention and could be you next guest?
SL: Not yet but I am open!
You have your daughter and your son with you on this album; what do they do and on which songs?
SL: Trev played and co-write Tell Me What You Want From Me and New World, and Tina sang background vocals on Stab In The Back.
Are they involved in the music scene?
SL: Trevor is and he is gonna be HUGE. Check out his Myspace, so you can dig his music (Myspace.com/Trevbabay).
Have you already chosen the musicians you'll bring on tour with you?
SL: A few, but I am still in search of a few as well...
About the tour, when, how long and where is it going to happen? Are you going to play only your solo-stuff or some Toto songs as well?
SL: Yes, this will be a HUGE world tour over the next 2 years. It's time for Toto to rest and all the guys agree. I will do songs from all my vocal Cd's and some obscure Toto stuff that I wrote and sang... not Africa and Rosanna and Hold The Line, ha, ha, ha... but my stuff that I feel good about, and some other songs or covers I have done by other musicians I dig and some jamming too, but this will not be a Fusion-tour I promise! No 20 minute solo's, ha, ha, ha! But lots of songs and surprises for y'all!
Is there anything you still wish to achieve as a musician?
SL: To stand alone outside of Toto, no offence to the guys but I need to stretch out as an artist and have the time and freedom to do so. I am excited and looking forward to the next chapter of my career. Thanks and see you on the road!
(Fulvio Bordi, Melodic Rock Fanzine, Jan/Feb 2008)
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