Joe Satriani – comic book protagonist, action figure muse and occasional guitarist – has teamed up with Oklahoma composer Kitt Wakeley for an orchestral, shred-infused new single, Conflicted.
The track is one of two appearances from Satch on Wakeley's forthcoming studio album Symphony of Sinners and Saints – due out May 21 – the other being a track entitled Forgive Me.
Like Wakeley's previous album Midnight in Macedonia, Symphony of Sinners and Saints includes the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded at London's world-renowned Abbey Road Studios.
On the track's theme, Wakeley explains: “Am I a sinner or a saint? I think we all struggle with that at times.
“I start with an uplifting, melodic arpeggiated string part, coupled with a guitar that gives the listener an idea that I’m contemplating. When the song chorus kicks in, it has an anthem vibe. Almost a cleansing tone. 'Here I am, take me for what I am.' When you listen to the song in this context, it resonates quite well.”
He continues: “[Joe] asked if it would be okay to take some creative liberties. And who am I to say no to Satriani? What he came up with was pure Satriani magic.”
“Playing guitar on Kitt's new album has been a fun, exhilarating experience, and a musical challenge, too,” Satch says. “Kitt's huge, cinematic sound makes each one of his songs a powerful sonic journey.”
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Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.