45. Steffen Schackinger - Pursue you dream even when it's not the "sensible" thing to do!

Send us Fan MailThis episode was great for me! I've been playing guitar since the 5th grade. It's been more of a hobby and something I have dreamt about doing professionally but it wasn't on my path. I track lots of guitarists and about 8 years ago I came across Steffen. I was blown away by his style, technical ability and composition. There was something very unique and fresh to his music. Shortly after staring Titans of Transition I made a list of people I would love to interview. Steffen was on the list but it took me months before I worked up the courage to ask him. I thought it was a long shot. After all I am quite far away he is in Denmark and I am in the USA. Also I am quite a few years his senior. He graciously accepted.  Thanks Steff!As with all my episodes, I explore Steffen's career and life transitions, from his classical training on violin, cello and piano leading up to his discovery of guitar. He went all in on music and left Gymnasium (High School) to devote more time to his passion and gift-music.Unlike other interviews, I have to admit I geek out a bit with him on guitars, guitar tone and music. Through it all we had a great conversation about transitions, life, music and lessons we have learned along our respective journeys. - Joe MillerThe video version is available HERESteffen's Contact Information:Website  Youtube channel Instagram Facebook Twitter Steffen Schackinger was born right in the centre of Denmark - in the capital of the island Fyn - Odense. He started out on the violin as a kid, and moved on to cello and classical piano. With the classical and electric guitar he finally found his right instrument. At the age of 13 he started out as a band guitarist, and he soon earned a reputation, as an extraordinary guitarist.Steffen completed his education as a rhythmic guitarist at The Carl Nielsen Academy of Music, and the self-released cd with the band GRACELANDS - where Steffen sang the lead vocal and played guitar - got major airplay on the Danish radio stations with the songs "Electrified", "Climbing Into Space" and "Supersonic View".Steffen has been recording countless of records as a session musician, along with being a theatre musician on several occasions. He also found himself in a bowtie playing with Symphony Orchestras as well as representing several guitar- and FX producers at guitar clinics. Steffen started out as very young composer, writing classical songs. Now he is writing pop- and rocksongs as well as instrumental songs. For the past years Steffen has been focusing on ethnic music and been finding inspiration in both Irish folk music an Indian Rhythms. The Indian Sitar and the Bouzouki has been added to the list of instruments he's playing. Steffens guitar playing contains elements from rock/hardrock, blues, jazz/fusion and country. He has found inspiration from several of the major guitar heroes - amongst others: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Jeff Beck, Robben Ford, Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Bill Frisell, Van Halen, George Benson, Eric Johnson, Frank Zappa, Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Pat Metheny, Albert Lee, Paco De Lucia, John Mcloughlin and Larry Carlton. Also, classic music and composers like Bach, Beethoven, Paganini, Stravinsky and not least Stephen Sondheim have had major influence on the musical development of Steffen Schackinger - as a guitarist and as a composer.Support the show