What’s your equipment setup for recording in the studio?
It all depends on the situation. For recording vocals, we’ve used a Neumann U47 run through a Neve preamp using a 003. [Pro Tools] HD has a ton of plugins available that other DAWs just can’t beat. Could also use a C12 or even a Shure 57.

Guitars, I will usually use a Marshall full or halfstack. I slapped some Russian tubes in one of them which seemed to make a slight difference in the punch of it.

What do you record with?
I have a few tape machines, a few Tascams, digital DAWs and stuff I’ve picked up over the years. This one Tascam old 4-track I have strangely enough acts as a good preamp, the EQ on it fattens things up really well without clipping even when you crank it. The high-end gets some really good fidelity in the 8k-16k without any hissing or room noise.

What about your live rig?
My tour setup is pretty regular. Right now, I’m running three 4×12 half-stack cabinets with Marshall heads (JCM2000/TSL100) and those are the 1960 AV/BV cabs. Sometimes I’ll run just one unit as a fullstack, but it depends on the gig. In the past I’ve even whipped out one of my Peavey Classic 30s and that gets decently loud with a nice creamy vintage blues tone and alot of 60s reverb.

Favorite guitars or amps?
My favorite guitar is still my vintage Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, but I picked up an epiphone Les Paul for a good deal and that plays better than some real Les Pauls I’ve jammed on.
Amps, not really any favorites. The Fender Princeton gets some really good late 60s Eric Clapton/ Cream-sounding tones though.

Any special mods or configurations to speak of?
I have an epiphone junior that has some cool post-factory mods like some Seymours I slapped in it. Anything with humbuckers will usually be bigger than the weaker single-coil designs. The thing about single-coil guitars though, like the Stratocaster, is that since they run less hot, you can actually crank the amp a slight bit more with less gain, getting more of the amp tone like Stevie Ray Vaughan style if that’s what you’re going for.

Favorite Studio you’ve recorded in?
Favorite or best? Two different things for me. The best studio I’ve recorded in was Mike Daly’s studio in Los Angeles. Nice Pro Tools rig and great vintage gear. Josh Groban’s drummer came in and did a few tracks for me which was cool. Favorite studio was a tie between Wire Studios run by Stewart Sullivan in Austin, TX and Dave Feeny’s place called Tempermill in Ferndale. Dave is an amazing producer/engineer, he just has a way on the mixing console that gives you goosebumps.

We were able to catch up with Cetan and get him to reveal his more terrifying secrets…

You had an extremely busy 2008, 2009 and 2010. Why the break-game?
Cetan: Well, I wish that I could call it a break, because an actual real break would be nice. I’ve actually been working harder than ever. What you don’t see is all of the behind-the-scenes activity. I just got back in from some heavy writing and recording flying between Los Angeles and then head down to Nashville. We also shot some video in Chicago and now I’m back home for a bit as I prep the next round. Believe me when I say that 2011 has actually been the most productive period in my life thus far, it’s just that we are holding back on releasing all of that material.

Why are you holding back?
Cetan: I’m not really holding back, it’s just that for awhile now we have been doing pure blues. That’s all well and good – I love Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan – but I feel I’ve got a bit more to say. I feel I have a certain place as an artist where I want to go. I listen to Dylan, Bowie, Beatles, hell even some Conor Oberst, Sting, Green Day – I love these artists because they have some really intriguing messages. I feel I do as well. But I refuse to go forward without truly digging deep and finding truths within myself to express. I won’t fake them. They have to be for real.

There aren’t any tour dates on your calendar and you don’t have any shows coming up. Why are you taking a break from touring?
Cetan: You know alot of people ask me about that. We regularly get all sorts of offers to play out or hook up with other bands as our most recent tour was very well attended to say the least. I turn them all down. I don’t want to play out right now. We’ve done quite a bit and before I go back out and hit the road again there are some projects here at home I want to finish up.

What are your touring plans?
Cetan: You know, all in all, we’ve toured the U.S. about four times and have done thousands of dates in total, including sessions, studio work, appearances, dates with other groups, etc.. I’ve flew to L.A. and Austin in the recent past for studio and sessions, also Nashville (which to me is perhaps the new music capital of the world, not LA). So believe me when I say that when I’m ready to announce anything new, I will.

Do you have any new tunes, videos or recorded material to showcase?
Cetan: Yes, absolutely! Right now I have about 17 mastered and fully completed albums in my archives at home. I have a full studio setup, lots of rooms, about 20 very nice high-quality microphones, tons of amps, gears, vintage pedals, you name it. It’s very comfortable and I can work at my own pace. I’ve been making some tunes and videos but I haven’t released any yet.

Alot of people are probably wondering. What exactly have you been up to this past year?
Cetan: Alot of people have been asking what I’m doing. I love people, but I also like to keep to myself.
I will say that I couldn’t be happier where I am in life. There is so much to appreciate, from people and family and friends, and times shared. I’ve been very, very blessed and I don’t mean just in career or finances. Actually, I would say that your achievements, social prestige, your possessions, and money should matter the least in life. The very least.

But if you want details, here are a few. I now own pretty much every piece of equipment I’ve ever wanted to own, which has always been one of my dreams. Travelling. And writing. I live to write music and it’s been a dream simply to work and experiment on so much material. I’ve made some new friends and I think my current band lineup is perhaps the strongest I’ve ever had.

Can you reveal any information about your next step?
Cetan: Not telling. You will just have to wait and see. :]

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