as seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Special Issue 2022 – I Belong
One thing you can tell by listening Desiree Ragoza play her guitar She has put her lifelong love, dedication, passion and consistency into perfecting her guitar skills. She is a powerhouse of electricity and is adept at her craft. Her talent has taken her all over the world. She played lead guitar on Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: Immortal World Tour from 2011 to 2014 and performed on Jane Zhang’s Bang the World Tour in China in 2015. In 2016 and 2017, he played the Legacy Tour featuring William Hall in Australia and Germany. Desiree is working on her fourth album while also performing in her home state of Connecticut with the band Desiree & Friends. guitar girl magazine It was an honor to speak with Desiree about her career experience so far, gear and advice for aspiring female artists.
What inspired you to make music? What do you want people to see and feel through your music?
In all honesty, the inspiration hits differently depending on the situation. Sometimes there are melodies that I hear in my dreams that I write or record while they are still fresh. He may also find inspiration while listening to his favorite music or working on other administrative tasks such as content creation for websites, promotions, press, publications, guitar cover his videos. Dear; stories that I have truly experienced in my life, stories that allow people to build relationships without being judged, and to make them feel that they are not alone in the world. , I want people to feel what it feels like to play, that I feel joy and passion for what I do, and what I have known all my life.
Let’s talk about setup. What amps, guitars, pedals and pickups do you currently have in your rig? Do you have a favorite guitar?
I currently have a Marshall JVM410H and a 4×12 Marshall Reed Model 1960BX. This has been my only amp setup since I was 15. It’s a big part of my sound and style. My pedalboard setup is Temple Audio TRIO 28 with ISP Noise Decimator, BOSS Super Chorus, MXR Carbon Copy Delay, DigiTech Drop Tune Pedal, Fulltone OCD Overdrive and Ibanez 30.th Anniversary Edition Tube Screamer, Peterson Strobe Tuners and Dunlop Kirk Hammett Wah Pedals. My guitar of choice is a 2015 PRS Custom 24 with stock pickups.
What is your practice routine?
A typical practice day begins with a warm-up, using the hand exercise tool to loosen your wrists for about five minutes. Then practice your favorite song for about 10 minutes. Then switch gears and learn other songs in different styles. By playing music of all genres, I hope to inspire my mind, strengthen my knowledge and skills, and maintain my versatility. My practice time depends on the situation. Sometimes it takes an hour to nearly five hours, and sometimes I get so caught up in it that I lose track of time.
Who are your musical influences?
My biggest guitar influences are Joe Satriani, Triumph’s Rick Emmett, Dickie Betts and Jimi Hendrix.
How was your performance on Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour? How was the rehearsal?
Performing on Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour was a life-changing experience for me. He first toured in 2011 when he had just turned 18 and had just graduated from high school. Greg Phillinganes found my YouTube video and contacted me to participate in the production. Rehearsals included long rehearsal hours, over 30 years of Michael his Jackson his band up close and personal experience playing with some of his members, and the incredible amount of knowledge and skills I gained. For, it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Coaching by Greg Phillinganes. In addition to having so many great musicians in the room and having worked with people close to the Michael Jackson estate, dancers, acrobats, dance choreographers, and all the crew, staff and technicians. A whole new experience of working together made it so great A wonderful experience that I will never forget.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from your experience playing for Cirque du Soleil?
It was a really educational experience. Mostly because I was used to growing up in small towns and hadn’t traveled much outside of Canada and New Zealand. I quickly adapted and learned what it was like to be on tour, from traveling a lot, learning the true meaning of being a true musician, and allowing me to grow personally and professionally. It’s been a big part of what makes me the better player I am today, and I’ve always been so blessed to have had those moments over the three years it’s been running. increase.
So you are partly known for playing many guitar licks and solos on Instagram. What is your favorite lick to play?
I love playing Joe Satriani songs, and I love jamming “Kind of Bird” and “True Gravity” by The Allman Brothers.
Do you have any advice for people who want to learn how to play guitar or just want to get into the music industry?
Playing the guitar is a lot of fun, but it can also be tedious. If you are willing to work and have the desire and passion to learn something, no one can stop you. The broadest piece of advice I can give to aspiring guitarists, let alone musicians in the music industry, is to always be true to yourself and be yourself in your writing, your style, your stage presence and your playing. Always keep an open mind and be ready for anything. Please stay humble. Send your message through your music and your passion for it. The rest will fit in place.
How was your performance at Jane Zhang’s Ban the World concert in Chengdu, China?
It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It was two days in her hometown of Chengdu, China. While the first show was her pop/electronic show full of all her hits, the second show featured her 90-piece orchestra and her two special guests, John Her Legend and Chris Her. featuring Botti from The second show was my first experience playing with a live orchestra. These shows truly tested me as a guitarist who can adapt to any genre of music when it comes to learning the jazz, classical and orchestral elements of music. .
As a young man, you toured the world playing with some of history’s most celebrated guitarists, including Ted Nugent. How did working with musicians you admire spark your creativity, and what lessons did they teach you about the music industry?
I was fortunate to work with high level musicians when I was 12 when I started working with Doug Wimbish of Living Color. That’s when I started to understand what it’s like to work on the field and backstage as a professional musician, and to be around songwriters, pro-level musicians and producers. I was. Proper coaching and training for the future. All my experiences with performers/artists such as Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, Foghat, Marshall Tucker, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Jennifer Batten, Dickey Betts, Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Barry Goudreau, etc. all led me to perform today. gave me Every day I am grateful to be able to perform with these pioneers and to gain the wisdom and knowledge that they have passed down behind the scenes. The biggest lesson they all taught me was to always be passionate about your craft.
You too probably experienced fame and recognition at a very young age, right? How did it affect you and inspire you at the same time?
Because at the time I was managed by my father (until 2014), all I wanted to focus on was what I was most passionate about. guitar. Little did I know what was going on behind the scenes. Because I was always able to focus on my craft and share my passion with others on stage. Even today, I feel as lost as I do when I’m on stage, enjoying the moment, getting off the stage and feeling the euphoria of having put on an incredible show.
I have several projects: slightly above, Power & Force II, and your latest single “Artificial”. How much has your creative process changed or evolved from your first album release to your latest?
Power & Force II It was the first album I wrote. Most of the songs were written when I was his 10 to his 14 years old. It was primarily an instrumental rock album. “Power & Force” was the first song I wrote when I was 10 years old. slightly above (released in 2010) was an eclectic album composed of rock/pop and ballads. It was a more personal song for me to write because I was able to express myself. I now have more space to write music the way I want and confidently convey my message through lyrical expression and performance. A recent song I wrote (soon to be released as a single) has more of a heavy guitar direction with his riffs and electronic feel, but expresses my emotions directly while playing. There is also the exact effect of
Please tell us more about how you felt and thought when you wrote and recorded the song “Fretboards On Fire”. What amps, guitars and pedals did you use to record this song?
I first wrote this song when I was 15 in the recording studio at Longview Farm Studios in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. I was staying there for a few days, especially to be away from my family and in a different creative space for my writing. The people I worked with at the time were forced to “lock themselves” in a room once to see how their ideas would turn out. It was hooked up to some unit in the studio, so I don’t remember exactly what settings were used at the time. The first recording of this song differs from what is on the record. Power & Force II Now including the fact that the original recording had some lyrics in the chorus. The guitar I used was a Schecter Blue Exotic Star, and I used the same set-up for this recording.
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