Los Angeles-based guitarist, producer, and social media sorceress Annie Shred combines her love of technical metal with electronic music, creating a sound that's entirely her own. Using her muscle memory of the guitar neck, Annie is able to integrate the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 seamlessly into her productions, playing screaming synth leads in a torrent of tapping, strumming, and bowing.
Artiphon caught up with Annie in her L.A. studio to get a closer look at her creative process, and a sneak peak at the forthcoming Dreameater EP.
Transcript
0:07
When I was growing up I was actually the only musical, artistic person in my family. So, it’s just something I naturally gravitated towards. I just got super intrigued with piano and then immediately just got obsessed with guitar.
0:39
I was always really excited to play technical guitar. I really just loved practicing things and really nailing it. Then I got introduced to Lamb of God, and that totally changed my life.
1:03
That’s awesome! I am very excited about that.
1:10
I kind of took a turn from being like a straight-up guitar player and really really delving into electronic music. That was something that really, really intrigued me. And Danny and I kind of both had that same revelation happen to us. So, we ended up creating Dream Eater.
1:34
I’ve tried other MIDI controllers, but there’s just nothing that matches being able to play a neck that’s a controller as well. It’s like exponentially helped me get my ideas out. I can think the way my guitar mind thinks, but then translate it to MIDI.
1:52
I’ve never had anyone be like, "You can’t do that" or "You shouldn’t do that". "Oh, you can do all of that on a guitar." Wouldn’t have stopped me anyway I don’t think.
