For over three decades, the bestselling instrumental rock artist has traveled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star “G3” guitar extravaganza. Satriani’s studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them.
“Some years ago, we were lucky to be the label chosen by Joe Satriani for the very fortunate Chickenfoot project. It was impossible not to notice and admire the dedication, the work ethic and the monstrous talent in the recording studio and on stage. We knew, though, that he had the same “home” for his solo music for decades and that for him, being signed to a record company meant loyalty and belonging. It is with great joy and sense of responsibility that now, some years later, we welcome Joe for his first solo work with earMUSIC. We thank him for having written and recorded very special music that will make a lot of fans happy and we like to think this will be the first of many great albums to come.”
– Max Vaccaro [General Manager]
“The Elephants of Mars” is Joe Satriani’s 19th studio album to be released on earMUSIC on April 8th, with the first single “Sahara” being released worldwide on streaming platforms today. The music video to “Sahara” also premieres at 6 pm (CET) on Joe Satriani’s YouTube channel today. Joe and his son Z.Z. will be answering viewer questions live in chat.
Stream the single here: Joe-Satriani.lnk.to/SaharaWE
YouTube video premiere: youtu.be/CMqn8h3kJzg
Pre-Order the album here: Joe-Satriani.lnk.to/TheElephantsOfMarsWE
Alongside the digital release, the album will be available as CD Jewelcase, CD Digisleeve (limited special edition with 14 images created by Joe himself), 2LP 180gr Vinyl (Black), Ltd. 2LP 180gr Vinyl (Orange, Purple and Pink).
Joe Satriani had an admirably productive workingman’s holiday, forced time away from the road that ultimately produced his 19th studio album, The Elephants of Mars, as the final result.
The guitarist challenged himself to create a “new standard” for instrumental guitar albums to be measured against, one which would work from “a new platform of his own design,” as he terms it. “I want to show people that the instrumental guitar album can contain far more complexity of creative elements than I think people are using right now.”
Satriani and his touring band, all recording remotely in separate areas of the world during lockdown, answered that challenge in spades. The Elephants of Mars crackles with an exciting new energy, briskly traveling through stylistic roads that feel freshly updated, viewed through new eyes.
From the gripping, sci-fi madness of “Through A Mother’s Day Darkly,” to the isolation felt in a decaying urban landscape, as depicted in “Sahara,” to the general endorphin levels that peak as the elephants finally roar in the title track, The Elephants of Mars offers up an album length journey that never dulls.
It’s one that, thanks to the pandemic and no constraints, truly represents the album that Satriani himself hoped he could deliver with his band. “We did everything. We tried the craziest ideas. And we entertained every notion we had about turning something backwards, upside down, seeing what could happen.”