As “Ajax”, Anthony J. Resta has been considered a legend of the music industry, starting from the 1980s and beyond. An award-winning composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, he’s on a mission to fall back in love with music, and life – reinventing himself. New release, ‘The Guitar Man’, is his interpretation of the iconic 70s classic by Bread.
Resta’s sharp musical instincts and technical mastery have seen him help shape records for the likes of Duran Duran, Blondie, Elton John, Megadeath, and many more, while he’s earned Gold and Multi-Platinum recognition, for his contributions to the soundtracks of blockbuster films, such as Twilight, Scream 2 and 3, and Varsity Blues, culminating in his 2015 Hollywood Music and Media Award for Producer of the Year.
Now however, as the music industry is once more swept up on the tide of rapid technological change, Resta is shifting his focus back to what matters most, the human connection in music. He’s stepped out of the control room, and has been sharing three decades’ worth of wisdom through speaking engagements and his own podcast, Studio Secrets A-Z (for which the legendary Bob Ezrin just announced the 100th episode), through which he’s been inspiring others to chase their creative spark. And now, with an untameable drive that’s been fuelling his journey right from the start, he’s re-igniting his passion for music.
Back in 1972, when it was first released, Bread’s ‘The Guitar Man’ struck a deep chord with listeners seeking a ray of hope amongst the roar of rock music. With a laid back groove and a quiet sincerity, ‘The Guitar Man’ had an enduring quality about it, and was also one of Anthony J. Resta’s favourites in his childhood. He has poured his heart and soul into his interpretation of the track, and after a year’s worth of meticulous crafting, he’s taken the original and given it a hazy shimmer, something akin to emerging from a delicious dream. His vocals are subdued and tinged with melancholy, while he’s accompanied by his daughter, Milana Resta, playing the violin. Meanwhile, Tim Pierce, hailed as one of the top 10 session guitarists in history, adds a psychedelic undercurrent by way of lush, full-bodied riffs, adding a psychedelic undercurrent, that is never lost in the swirling waves of wailing violins, and percussive crashes.
The vibrant music video for ‘The Guitar Man’, directed by filmmaker Joe Rubenstein, feels every bit like the experience of being in the crowd at a concert, lost in the moment when the performers give their very all. The music lifts them up into the galaxies, transcending the stratosphere, drifting through the deepest corners of the cosmos, while Resta and his band appear, encouraging them to lose themselves in it all.
Join us in exploring the universe with Anthony J. Resta and ‘The Guitar Man’ below, and find out more about Anthony J. Resta and his music online on his official website, Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify.
