Sixty Scales and the Truth with Niels Guns

What does it take to carve out a unique voice in the world of progressive metal and jazz? In this episode of Sixty Scales and the Truth, I sat down with Joseph Anidjar, a guitarist whose journey from jazz school rejection to headlining major shows is quite inspiring. Born in Paris and raised in Montreal, Joseph has built a reputation for his intricate polyrhythms, unexpected grooves, and expressiv...

‘Standards is the gradual process of me tryingto accept who I am.’ Yes, we dove deep in this episode featuring Marcos Mena of ‘fruit rock’ band Standards. Marcos was kind enough to invite me to his home in Long Beach California. There we had an extended chat about many things: his youth, family, discovering your voice, doing what you really like and need to do in life and finally just trying to ac...

One of my favorite things to do is visiting guitarists in their own space. Allen Hinds was kind enough to welcome me into his home in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles. Not only did he treat me to the strongest coffee I’ve ever had, but also to a deeply honest conversation where he shared his life’s journey in a raw and vulnerable way. Allen has been through some of life’s darkest moments—and he came out...

In this episode of Sixty Scales and the Truth, I welcome the incredibly talented guitarist Alex Misko. From his roots in Krasnodar, Russia, to finding a new home in Germany, Alex opens up about his personal and professional journey. They discuss his transition from classical guitar to fingerstyle, his unique approach to composing music, and the struggles of being a musician in difficult times. Ale...

Recently, I picked up my 4-year-old son from school and struck up a conversation with the father of one of his classmates. Before long, we found ourselves talking about this podcast series. The father mentioned that he was also a guitarist and, moreover, the son of a professional musician. "In my opinion, there’s one guitarist who stands head and shoulders above everyone else," he said. "And that’...

Every now and then, I still discover guitarists the old-fashioned way—not through Instagram, Facebook, or Spotify's algorithm, but simply because they take the stage like a jack-in-the-box, completely unexpected. The phenomenal German guitarist Joscho Stephan is one such artist. I had never heard of him until he joined Tommy Emmanuel for a few songs during a concert in Eindhoven. I don’t often lis...

Every guest on this podcast is a legend in their own way, and Al Di Meola is undeniably a living legend. Mention "Friday Night in San Francisco" to any guitarist, and you'll likely spark memories, anecdotes, and a deep sense of admiration. For my conversation with Al, I had planned to gently ask about the heart attack he suffered on stage in Romania last year. However, after simply asking, "Al, ho...

Where I used to discover new artists through friends and often by reading the credits in CD booklets, these days I mostly rely on algorithms. It might not sound as romantic, but it does lead to some fantastic discoveries. That’s how, sometime last year, Oz Noy came onto my radar. His name sounds like a character straight out of L. Frank Baum’s famous book. His playing is just as imaginative and ad...

Some bands make you smile, give you energy, and make you feel alive. For me, that band is High Fade. 🎶 Playing as a power trio (drums, bass, guitar), they bring raw energy and chemistry to every performance. Guitarist Harry Valentino doesn’t just play; he’s part of the rhythm section with his dynamic, groove-driven style while also shredding incredible solos. 🎸High Fade often takes to the street...

"This is actually my favorite guitarist," I remember Plini saying these words during a show in Nijmegen (yes, the town where Eddie Van Halen grew up) and thought, “Hm, I should check this guy out.” I’m glad I did! "I'm trying to be less melancholic." These were the words Jakub spoke just before our interview during a workshop at the Guitar Summit in Mannheim, and they resonated in my mind. Why? I...

News alert! Scoring scoops isn’t exactly my goal during the conversations for this podcast. When Nick Johnston announced two new projects during the recording, my initial reaction was simply excitement. It wasn’t until the editing phase that I realized: “Hey, this is news!” Nick revealed that he has started a band with superstar drummer Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson). He’s also comi...

It kind of makes sense to release an episode with Tom Quayle right after one with Jack Gardiner in this podcast series. After all, the latter guitarist calls Tom his "second father." After every conversation in this series, I always need a moment to come back down to earth. With headphones on, it feels like we're diving into our own little microcosm together. I find myself in a sort of hyperfocus,...

Subwoofer Alert! You might want to turn down your subwoofers because when Jack Gardiner speaks, he brings all the bass you need! But if you choose to keep them on, watch out—they might just explode! 🎸 In this latest episode of "Sixty Scales and the Truth," I had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredibly talented Jack Gardiner during the Guitar Summit in Mannheim. We shared some great laugh...

How do you find focus while life keeps rushing by in all its chaos? How do you keep learning fun and, moreover, interesting? And how valuable is it to make music with real friends? These are just a few topics that came up in the conversation I recently had with Richard Henshall, the guitarist of the fantastic British prog rock band Haken. Richard also releases albums as a solo artist—music I perso...

From Conservatory to Rock Legend: DeWolff’s Pablo van de Poel Shares His Musical Journey!  In this Podcast interview, DeWolff’s frontman and guitar virtuoso Pablo van de Poel talks about early struggles at the conservatory, to crafting iconic songs with DeWolff, Pablo opens up about his shift from complex music theory to trusting his gut and instinct. #DeWolff #PablovandePoel #ClassicRock #GuitarL...

After a period of playing less guitar myself, I’ve recently dived back into it with renewed enthusiasm. It’s been fantastic to explore new styles and follow online lessons from guitar legends, trying to catch even a small part of their brilliance. While browsing through True Fire’s offerings, I came across a name that seemed distinctly Dutch: Theo van Niel Jr. Intrigued, I downloaded his course an...

Many consider Tommy Emmanuel to be the greatest of all time (GOAT), and while music isn’t a competition, I wholeheartedly agree. Tommy is not only a phenomenal musician but also a remarkable human being. I had the privilege of meeting him once before this interview, and what struck me was his presence. He truly connects with everyone around him, which, as he told me, is no coincidence. It’s a stat...

The more music you’ve heard and the easier it is to access, the harder it is to be truly surprised and captivated by something that you find completely refreshing. Maybe that comes with getting older. Or perhaps it’s a deflation of your listening experience, given that you can hear almost any imaginable music with just a few clicks. This contrasts with the romanticized version etched in my memory...

What if you are told that you are ‘the best in the world’? A nice compliment. But one that burdens you with a lot of responsibility. At least, that’s how the fantastic Italian guitarist Matteo Mancuso experienced it when the hype around his playing reached its peak. Matteo wanted to practice even more than he already did, he told me during this podcast interview, prior to the Bridge Guitar Festiva...

Music embeds itself in a special way in your brain. Many interesting studies have already been conducted on this topic. Thinking about this, I also recall videos of elderly people with dementia who can do very little. However, one thing they can still do is flawlessly sing or play songs they stored in their memory during their youth. I experienced the powerful way all that music is etched into you...

Music is a game of tension arcs. Of fulfilling expectations. Or of going in the completely opposite direction. Reinier Baas is good at the latter. Very good. When I first heard the music of the Dutch jazz guitarist, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. One surprise followed another. It quickly became clear to me that I was dealing with a free spirit for whom composing is an adventurous journey...

What is a mistake? Do mistakes even exist? I pondered this before speaking with jazz guitarist Julian Lage for the podcast series Sixty Scales and the Truth. Two days before the conversation, a remarkable moment occurred on stage at the beautiful venue De Roma in Antwerp: together with bandmates Jorge Roeder (double bass) and Dave King (drums), guitarist Lage had already been on a roll for about t...

Pesos, passion, prestige, and pleasure: Reflecting on my conversation with Nili Brosh, these words come to mind. Many people will recognize this: in everything you do, one of these ‘p’s’ resonates more strongly. It's key to find something where all the ‘p’s’ align. Without being a pessimist: this is granted to only a few. Meanwhile, us mortals continue to struggle with finding a balance continuous...

For this podcast series I have roughly three conditions: 1. I must love the guest’s music. 2. The guest must excel at guitar. 3. I must be able to speak with the guest face-to-face. How important the last condition is, I realized during my interview with Paul Masvidal, the guitarist, singer, and composer of Cynic. With this band, Paul created the groundbreaking album Focus, where he masterfully bl...

Ariel Posen is a fascinating musician. He is an amazing guitarist, but he seems to masterfully measure his skills. With Ariel - who is also a fantastic songwriter and singer - the song always takes the lead. Every note has expressive power and just enough breathing room. In this episode, Niels talks with Ariel about the way he plays with tension building and giving space. It's an art that he himse...