artists » Isaiah Sharkey
Releasing his first album at age 16, showing the focus, chops and maturity of a seasoned player, Isaiah Sharkey is the rare modern guitarist who draws from so many contemporary and classic musical styles that you can’t simply call what he does “Jazz” or “R & B.” That would be missing the point of this versatile and extremely talented player who just recently turned all of 24 years old.
Isaiah’s distinctive style includes elements of inspiration from Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny and Steely Dan, with equal parts funk (classic and modern) and neo-soul. While fronting his own band, Isaiah’s tremendous musical vocabulary and distinct phrasing have also brought him some pretty high profile gigs. Isaiah recently took some time to chat with us during a break on the road supporting R&B legend D’Angelo’s amazing comeback tour.
VOX: What started you playing music?
Isaiah Sharkey: I would have to say my family. My father was a great versatile musician as well as his brothers and sisters. They had a family band back in the 60’s-80’s called The Fugitives. So I would listen to their records and of course other great records of legends and it inspired me. As far back as I can remember I always had an interest in guitar and a love for music.
VOX: Who were some of your earliest influences as a guitarist (or songwriter, etc.)?
Isaiah Sharkey: My father (Michael Sharkey), Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Keith Jarrett, Chalmers Spanky Alford, Steely Dan, Pat Metheny, Frank Gambale, Paul Jackson Jr., Joe Pass, Yellowjackets, Toto and many more from just about every major genre.
VOX: How did your band with your father and brothers come about?
Isaiah Sharkey: We always played music as a family, whether in church or just at home. And they’re all great musicians and singers as well, so we were always kind of playing as a band. Back in 2004, my father and I went to a flea market to check out some stuff. While we were there, we met a man name John McGlasson selling guitars. So I picked one up and started playing. After playing for about a minute or so, John asked me if I would be interested in doing some recording. Of course we said yes! So from that my dad, brothers and I went into the studio to record the Skyliner album. When we finished the album we followed up with some shows to promote it and that’s how we became Isaiah Sharkey and the Family Tree.
VOX: What was it like to work with your father and have to rise to a much higher level than many players at a young age?
Isaiah Sharkey: Working with my father was a great challenge. Again, he was a great musician and he always pushed me to listen to everything I could, learn from it and then make it my own. We would have sessions that went on for hours at a time with him teaching different things about music and the theory behind it. With him being the great musician that he was, I really had to rise up to his level to keep up. So, at a young age I was already hip to a lot of music and information.
VOX: Your first album, Skyliner, came out when you were just 16 years old. Can you explain a little bit about how your approach to writing and recording has changed over time?
Isaiah Sharkey: Since Skyliner came out I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many recording with so many different artists. Each recording session has been a wonderful opportunity to watch and learn from their writing and recording processes. I must say, I’ve learned a lot from just doing more and more recording. I’ve learned the importance of tone, placement choices in playing and how to take a vision for the song and really bring it to life.
VOX: Tell us about how you started playing VOX guitars.
Isaiah Sharkey: Well, I’ve recently been on tour with the great artist D’Angelo. One day in rehearsal my guitar tech Tim Wright and I were talking about different guitar and amp companies and VOX came up. Tim was telling me about their guitar line and I was interested. So we got in contact with VOX and met Rich Lasner (VP of Guitar Development) who lent us a guitar to try out. The first time I played the Virage DC, I instantly fell in love with it; what a versatile instrument! I could quickly switch from a warm, humbucker tone to a more single coil pickup type of sound, which was everything I could look for and more in one guitar.
VOX: What are some of the features of your VOX guitar that you feel allow you greater expression than the typical instrument?
Isaiah Sharkey: The feel of the neck is thin and easier to play than the average semi-hollow body guitar. Being so light in weight, it’s easy to play long gigs with. The pickups are great because I can quickly switch the tone of my guitar, getting crunch, lead and clean tone all in one. And of course they’re great looking guitars, as well.
VOX: How does your VOX Bruno amp help you develop your individual tone?
Isaiah Sharkey: The Bruno has its own individual tone. It has a warm clean tone that still cuts through which I love. And unlike a lot of amps, when I want to rock out on some overdrive or distortion, the tone of the amp doesn’t get lost or break up. So, overall I would say it’s pretty much the perfect amp.
VOX: You are playing an awful lot of live gigs this year. Do you see the music changing as you and the band reinvent the tunes each night?
Isaiah Sharkey: Yes. Every night is different for several reasons. The first thing is that I’m playing in a band with great musicians like Pino Palladino, Chris Dave, Cleo Samples and Jesse Johnson. So, in this band we are constantly trying to push the envelope to create something fresh, new and different without taking away from the music. Also, each show has a different crowd; the vibe and energy from the audience can take the music to a different place.
VOX: You play some massive festivals and shows, but also more intimate gigs in smaller venues. Does your approach vary when your audience is 20,000 or 200 people?
Isaiah Sharkey: My approach would be the same. I always try to play with the same energy and intensity every show, no matter the number of people.
VOX: What do you have coming up in the near future?
Isaiah Sharkey: I’m working on projects with D’Angelo, Ronald Isley and a few other artists. Also, I’m in the process of writing and producing my own project. I just want to make good music with great musicians. And using VOX gear, of course!
artists/isaiah-sharkey/
Releasing his first album at age 16, showing the focus, chops and maturity of a seasoned player, Isaiah Sharkey is the rare modern guitarist who draws from so many contemporary and classic musical styles that you can’t simply call what he does “Jazz” or “R & B.” That would be missing the point of this versatile and extremely talented player who just recently turned all of 24 years old.
Isaiah’s distinctive style includes elements of inspiration from Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny and Steely Dan, with equal parts funk (classic and modern) and neo-soul. While fronting his own band, Isaiah’s tremendous musical vocabulary and distinct phrasing have also brought him some pretty high profile gigs. Isaiah recently took some time to chat with us during a break on the road supporting R&B legend D’Angelo’s amazing comeback tour.
VOX: What started you playing music?
Isaiah Sharkey: I would have to say my family. My father was a great versatile musician as well as his brothers and sisters. They had a family band back in the 60’s-80’s called The Fugitives. So I would listen to their records and of course other great records of legends and it inspired me. As far back as I can remember I always had an interest in guitar and a love for music.
VOX: Who were some of your earliest influences as a guitarist (or songwriter, etc.)?
Isaiah Sharkey: My father (Michael Sharkey), Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Keith Jarrett, Chalmers Spanky Alford, Steely Dan, Pat Metheny, Frank Gambale, Paul Jackson Jr., Joe Pass, Yellowjackets, Toto and many more from just about every major genre.
VOX: How did your band with your father and brothers come about?
Isaiah Sharkey: We always played music as a family, whether in church or just at home. And they’re all great musicians and singers as well, so we were always kind of playing as a band. Back in 2004, my father and I went to a flea market to check out some stuff. While we were there, we met a man name John McGlasson selling guitars. So I picked one up and started playing. After playing for about a minute or so, John asked me if I would be interested in doing some recording. Of course we said yes! So from that my dad, brothers and I went into the studio to record the Skyliner album. When we finished the album we followed up with some shows to promote it and that’s how we became Isaiah Sharkey and the Family Tree.
VOX: What was it like to work with your father and have to rise to a much higher level than many players at a young age?
Isaiah Sharkey: Working with my father was a great challenge. Again, he was a great musician and he always pushed me to listen to everything I could, learn from it and then make it my own. We would have sessions that went on for hours at a time with him teaching different things about music and the theory behind it. With him being the great musician that he was, I really had to rise up to his level to keep up. So, at a young age I was already hip to a lot of music and information.
VOX: Your first album, Skyliner, came out when you were just 16 years old. Can you explain a little bit about how your approach to writing and recording has changed over time?
Isaiah Sharkey: Since Skyliner came out I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many recording with so many different artists. Each recording session has been a wonderful opportunity to watch and learn from their writing and recording processes. I must say, I’ve learned a lot from just doing more and more recording. I’ve learned the importance of tone, placement choices in playing and how to take a vision for the song and really bring it to life.
VOX: Tell us about how you started playing VOX guitars.
Isaiah Sharkey: Well, I’ve recently been on tour with the great artist D’Angelo. One day in rehearsal my guitar tech Tim Wright and I were talking about different guitar and amp companies and VOX came up. Tim was telling me about their guitar line and I was interested. So we got in contact with VOX and met Rich Lasner (VP of Guitar Development) who lent us a guitar to try out. The first time I played the Virage DC, I instantly fell in love with it; what a versatile instrument! I could quickly switch from a warm, humbucker tone to a more single coil pickup type of sound, which was everything I could look for and more in one guitar.
VOX: What are some of the features of your VOX guitar that you feel allow you greater expression than the typical instrument?
Isaiah Sharkey: The feel of the neck is thin and easier to play than the average semi-hollow body guitar. Being so light in weight, it’s easy to play long gigs with. The pickups are great because I can quickly switch the tone of my guitar, getting crunch, lead and clean tone all in one. And of course they’re great looking guitars, as well.
VOX: How does your VOX Bruno amp help you develop your individual tone?
Isaiah Sharkey: The Bruno has its own individual tone. It has a warm clean tone that still cuts through which I love. And unlike a lot of amps, when I want to rock out on some overdrive or distortion, the tone of the amp doesn’t get lost or break up. So, overall I would say it’s pretty much the perfect amp.
VOX: You are playing an awful lot of live gigs this year. Do you see the music changing as you and the band reinvent the tunes each night?
Isaiah Sharkey: Yes. Every night is different for several reasons. The first thing is that I’m playing in a band with great musicians like Pino Palladino, Chris Dave, Cleo Samples and Jesse Johnson. So, in this band we are constantly trying to push the envelope to create something fresh, new and different without taking away from the music. Also, each show has a different crowd; the vibe and energy from the audience can take the music to a different place.
VOX: You play some massive festivals and shows, but also more intimate gigs in smaller venues. Does your approach vary when your audience is 20,000 or 200 people?
Isaiah Sharkey: My approach would be the same. I always try to play with the same energy and intensity every show, no matter the number of people.
VOX: What do you have coming up in the near future?
Isaiah Sharkey: I’m working on projects with D’Angelo, Ronald Isley and a few other artists. Also, I’m in the process of writing and producing my own project. I just want to make good music with great musicians. And using VOX gear, of course!
