"I’ve never been afraid to learn new things and have definitely had to up-skill in a lot of different areas!"

Photo credit: Blacklist Productions

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR | GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE TAMPA, FL U.S.A

Edward Schooley

Founded in 2021. GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE of Tampa, FL Guitar Thrills Magazine of Tampa, FL U.S.A. The GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE is excited to bring you some of the music industries finest talent. Including the world of entertainment. Our focus includes the long term goals and aspirations of artists of all sorts. We are an unbiased reporting platform. You are getting insight into the world of music. No, we are not your fathers website for music news. We have grown into our own, and rely upon decades of music experience and knowledge. Guitar Thrills Magazine is a hard act to follow.

What do you think of when someone says, “that individual is reckless”? Do the words irresponsible, unloving, and pathetic come to mind? Maybe the word pathetic is kind of strong. I guess it all depends upon the person and situation. The word reckless means that a person acts in a way which shows that they do not care about danger or the effect their behavior will have other people. How about now? Does the picture get a little clearer for you? It should. After all, there are countless times when someone has been physically or emotionally hurt, due to a reckless person. I couldn’t help myself from jumping on this topic. The actions of other people started to come to mind. A helpful article started to become bitter.

By nature, I am not a bitter person. Neither is anyone at Guitar Thrills Magazine. Therefore, I will try and keep this article positive, and helpful. Considering there are so many people that work for the music industry, an interaction with a reckless person is unavoidable. From a physical perspective this may not apply to anyone. At least we hope. However, from an emotional one, many of you can relate. A co-artist, agent, manager, label, etc. did something that was for personal gain, and acted unwise. Their recklessness damaged their reputation, and your perception of them. If this happens once, you get over it and move on. But what if it is a reoccurring scenario? Is the music industry to blame, or is it just people in general? Let me calm the waters for you. It isn’t just the music industry. It is people. There is a lack of love and regard for others. In the corporate world, much had to do with money and power. The same could be said about the music industry. Money, power, success, and popularity is the theme of the day.

Therefore, people will do what it takes to get ahead. Even if they must act recklessly. Emotional scars will develop. Wounds that will never heal. Relationships and reputations are damaged due to inconsiderate actions. I guess, the solution is just to avoid people all together. After all this will avoid pathetic and unnecessary behaviour. That could be the answer, depending upon where you live. However, there are other ways to handle it. It is extremely important to avoid responses that might tarnish your own career. Even if you have just cause for retaliation. Take the high road, adjust negative thinking and actions that can tarnish your career. Build traits, that will improve your self-worth and focus on a positive outlook. Yes, there is more to dealing with the negative effects of a reckless person. However, you must start somewhere.

Procrastination is not a solution. It is a definition to define the lazy. I am not a self-help guru, or a therapist of any kind. I wish I had the answers to everything. If I did, I would be writing more often. Books, blogs, magazines, and more. An endless supply of helpful assistance from me. Wouldn’t that be exciting??? Since, I do not have the answers, I go to the people that do. The artists, my guests. They have all the answers, I just have a lot of questions. Our guest for this interview is Andrea Krakovska. She is a very intelligent artist and is deliberate with everything she does. It isn’t a surprise that he is so successful in the music industry.

ABOUT ANDREA KRAKOVSKA

A rising star in the Australian music industry, Andrea Krakovská is a groundbreaking guitarist/aerialist that blends the rich emotive strains of her guitar work with captivating aerial choreography.

Born in Vienna (Austria) to Slovak parents, Andrea migrated to Australia as a child and grew up in the south western suburbs of Sydney. Andrea’s passion for performance began from a young age with training in classical piano and ballet. A few years later she picked up guitar and almost didn’t look back.

“I remember teaching myself to play on a tiny, quarter sized nylon string guitar that I shared with my brother. We bashed around on that thing for years before getting our first full sized electric!”

For the past 10 years Andrea has been gigging and touring in bands across the east coast of Australia (and even internationally). When she’s not on the road, Andrea spends her time developing an extraordinary talent as an ‘aerial guitarist’. Curiosity first drew her to the allure of aerial arts, and after her first climb she was hooked. Andrea dreamt of combining aerial and guitar, and her dream has seen her shred the stage while spinning 20ft in the air from a rope!

“I’m afraid of heights, so when I started aerial arts, I was absolutely terrified! It took me years to develop the confidence to take a guitar up there with me.”

Growing up, Andrea was heavily influenced by instrumental guitarists such as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

“Satriani was my introduction to instrumental rock. As a guitarist myself that doesn’t sing, I was really drawn to his playing and heavily influenced by this style of music”

In January 2024 Andrea released her first single ‘Elusion’ – a captivating, modern heavy rock/metal guitar track with an orchestral edge. The song showcases Andrea’s virtuosity with a blend of catchy guitar hooks, intricate melodies and otherworldly ambiance. The single was shortly followed by Andrea’s debut aerial guitar show in Sydney. The jaw-dropping display of guitar and aerial artistry was the first show of its’ kind, with audiences still raving about the performance today!

“Imagine you’re at a Satriani or Vai concert - but instead of just soloing on the ground, they actually climb a rope and play while spinning in the air!”

Andrea is gearing up to release her follow up single in the second half of this year (keep an eye out) and there are more aerial guitar shows in the pipeline too!

INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA KRAKOVSKA AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE

Guitar Thrills: Hello Andrea. This isn’t the first time; we had an opportunity to chat with you. It turns out to be the best time. As this is a fitting and timeless topic to refer too. It is important for Guitar Thrills Magazine to turn to an artist that may have insight on this topic of avoiding a reckless Personality.

Andrea: Thanks for having me back, it’s always great to hear from you!

Guitar Thrills: That is great to hear. So, what do you think about the topic today? It shouldn’t be that controversial. Afterall, many of us had to deal with the negative effects of a reckless individual.

Andrea: I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a lot of amazing people in the music industry! I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for those people. I’m grateful that my experiences in the industry have overall been very positive, it could have been a very different outcome otherwise!

Guitar Thrills: I often wonder if they consider their actions. I guess, if they did, then there would be more people that could be trusted within the music and entertainment industry. Don’t get me wrong, I continue to have wonderful interactions. There are some amazing professionals in the music and entertainment sectors. It is just the few, that create a reputation that is difficult to skirt. Despite the good things that are accomplished. Were you able to identify a reckless individual before establishing a business relationship with them? If so, how did you do it? What are some tips that you could share with other artists?

Andrea: When I started in the music industry I would work/play with just about anyone who wanted to work with me! I was just so keen to play and would say yes to any and every opportunity. You meet so many different people this way and it allowed me to build a great network. I’m now at the point where I am able to choose the people I want to work with which is great! Navigating the music and entertainment industry can be tough. If you’re an artist and are unsure about getting into a music/business relationship with someone you don’t know, the first thing I would do is ask your music peers/network! The thing about the music industry is that everyone knows everyone and news travels so if someone’s had a positive or negative experience with an individual you are sure to hear about it. If you do decide to meet up with the person it’s good to have clear expectations of what your goals are and how they fit into that. Most of all though, trust your intuition! If something feels off or sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is - don’t be afraid to say no!

Guitar Thrills: I really appreciate your candid and honest feedback. Afterall there is only one way to get the answers to these vital questions. You must lean upon the professionals. So, thank you.

Guitar Thrills: Regarding your music career. What have you been up to as of late?

Andrea: This year has been huge as I’ve launched my solo career with my debut single ‘Elusion’ followed by my first headline aerial guitar show in Sydney. I’m gearing up to release my second single (keep an eye out!) and I will be announcing more aerial guitar shows which I’m really excited about! This year is all about establishing myself as an artist and finding my place in the vast landscape of music today.

Guitar Thrills: Creativity at work, no doubt. We are end of the 3^nd quarter of 2024 respectively. What kind of projects are you working on? What do you have in store for your fans?

Andrea: This year I’ve been working hard on the aerial guitar show as well as my first EP! The two projects go hand in hand because all the songs I’m writing for the EP I’m writing with the aerial show in mind. The performance aspect is huge for me so every song I’m thinking about where I want the intensity to build or drop and how I want to make the audience feel at any given moment.

Guitar Thrills: Very nice. I enjoy your music, and it is small sampling of your creative genius. Which side of the family do you get it?

Andrea: My dad’s side is probably the more musical side, his uncles especially! I think every time I’ve met them at least one of them has had an instrument in their hand. I remember watching them sing and play guitar and accordion. My family is from Slovakia but dad’s uncles are Czech and even though the language is so similar his uncles would speak so fast that it was sometimes difficult for me to understand them. Music was something that we shared and we could all understand!

Guitar Thrills: How did you manage to become so proficient in all areas of the industry?

Andrea: I’ve never been afraid to learn new things and have definitely had to upskill in a lot of different areas! For example during lockdown I learnt how to record using a DAW and film on a DSLR camera. These skills have been invaluable as I was able to record and post a professional looking video with high quality audio almost every day during lockdown. This process of recording, listening and watching the videos improved my playing as I could really nitpick everything I was doing. Releasing my first single ‘Elusion’ was a huge learning opportunity as I had to do everything from writing and recording demos to coming up with promotional material and press releases. Working in the music industry is a constant journey of learning and adaptability and I love it!

Guitar Thrills: You mentioned that you want to continue performing music if you are able. That is love for music and love for entertaining your fans. You couldn’t ask for more from your Favorite guitar player.

Guitar Thrills: What genre would you say your style of music is classified as?

Andrea: I’m heavily influenced by rock and heavy metal so I’d say my style sits somewhere in between that. If I had to describe ‘Elusion’ to someone I would say imagine if Joe Satriani played with a metalcore band such as Parkway Drive or Bring me the Horizon. It’s that balance of melodic lead work blended with heavy guitars, intense drums and orchestral layers that I wanted to capture.

Guitar Thrills: How have you been impacted by your success in the music industry thus far?

Andrea: The interesting thing about my journey in the music industry is that I never expected any of it. Growing up it was always instilled in me that music was just for fun not a career. I remember when all I wanted was just to be in a band and play shows. I was so excited when I got the opportunity to play in my first professional band that I screamed in the car on the way home! I thought that was the pinnacle of success! Working and performing in the industry has been the best experience of my life. I don’t even know how to describe the impact it has had on me. I’ve gained so much self-confidence, grown so much as a player, made the best friendships and had more incredible experiences that I could ever imagine. The best part is that I know there is still so much more to come!

Guitar Thrills: What is your stage set up like? Is there particular brands of guitars or accessories that you prefer? If so, why? I know some artists are stuck on a specific brand or style for a reason. Could be sound, feel or just nostalgia.

Andrea: My stage set up is incredibly simple – when I’m touring with bands it’s usually one guitar and a digital amp. This makes it possible for me to get to the airport when we have to fly as I can carry my guitar in one hand, the amp in the other and then I wear a backpack with clothes and anything else. I know other musicians tour with much more stuff but I’ve always liked to keep it light. The digital amp is a Fractal FM3 and I love touring with this because it’s so portable and I know I’m always going to get the same sound no matter what backline is provided. My main axe is an ESP Eclipse. The story behind that guitar is that I spent a whole day guitar shopping in Canberra. We went to their biggest music store which had hundreds of guitars and I tried a bunch but nothing really stood out to me as my next guitar. We left the store empty handed and were about to drive back to Sydney but before we left we did a quick Google search and found there was another small music store a few suburbs away. We weren’t sure if it would still be open but we took the chance and when I walked in that ESP Eclipse was the first guitar that I saw. It was all the way at the back of the store but I swear it looked me as I walked in because I went straight for it and when I played it I just knew that was the guitar for me. I loved the way the neck felt in my hand, it fit me perfectly and I still use the stock pickups (EMGs). It’s been my main guitar ever since!

Guitar Thrills: You are different than most guitar players. You have an added means of entertainment. What made you decide to get into aerial choreography?

Andrea: I’ve always loved performance and dance but the thing I love about aerial is the added strength involved. Some of the things I’ve seen aerialists do are just amazing and you wouldn’t think the human body is even capable of that! Adding guitar playing to aerial has been an incredible challenge but that’s the great part of it. It’s always exciting to find new moves or tricks that I can do with the guitar, and it’s an ever-evolving performance!

Guitar Thrills: Are you concerned about the added element of danger involved with what you do?

Andrea: I’m actually afraid of heights so it took me a long time to get comfortable with the performance! Everything in the show has been rehearsed to the point that I know it won’t go wrong. Safety is everything so all the equipment is checked, tested and rigged up by qualified riggers. Anything you see me do has been rehearsed a million times and I won’t do anything I’m not super comfortable with.

Guitar Thrills: Besides your ability to play guitar, that is one of the elements that caught my attention. Thus, years later, you are still performing and now you are on the front of Guitar Thrills Magazine. Guitar Playing and Aerial Choreography, works for you. How long do you think you can continue doing it?

Andrea: I can’t imagine a time where I wouldn’t be involved in the music and entertainment industry. I hope I can always keep making music, performing and inspiring others to do the same! Thank you for all your support, I’m so excited to see where this will lead.

Guitar Thrills: That is awesome to hear. It sounds like you really have a connection to your audience, and what they want to see and hear. Stay safe.

Guitar Thrills: I know you are going to make continue to make huge impression on the music industry. Thank you again for joining us for this interview. Please stay in touch.

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