What's up, you beautiful beautiful people? And welcome to FAQ 103
Oh, I have to be careful about this by the way
I've received a bunch of comments from people saying that this is satanic or you know...
the sign for Freemason or whatever, so here you go
Freemason...
I'm not affiliated with the Freemasons or whatever
And you know what? I'm not satanic either
Because I don't believe in fairy tales
I want to extend a big thank you to everyone who ordered my album and I signed them
Thank you so much, unfortunately...
Oh, look. I did it again, there it is.
You know, when I do this...
Isn't this just the punch thing?
I don't care what it is, but when I see this I want to do this, ok?
Ola, sexual harassment panda
Demonetized... Oh, f*** you, I don't care
Anyway, you guys bought my album
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it
Unfortunately, I ran out of guitar picks
And they will be here next week
So if you order the guitarist Edition or any picks, you just have to wait a little bit longer, I promise
My wife Louise, who takes care of all the orders
She said to me she was a little bit angry and said that 'Ola...'
'You shouldn't have done this little push of your album before you actually let me count what's in stock.'
So...
A little mistake on my behalf
All the orders are getting shipped out soon, if you haven't received it already, it's coming
Okay, great
Kucu88: "Hola Ola, I have bought guitarist version of your solo album, Solar V2.6LN (really nice guitar by the way)
"Subscribed and hit the notification bell on your channel, can we be friends?"
We can be friends
If you pay five bucks every month
Oh my god...
This is getting a little out of hand, but yes, you can pay to become my friend
Just click the Join button down there and you can be with me on Discord and be my friend
But thank you so much for the support, I mean obviously...
I'm still available here and you know on the YouTube and Facebook and all that, but...
If you want to be a little bit more with me and get even a little bit more of my love
You can become a YouTube member, just saying
Pushing Ola, push myself in the ass
C4mal063
"Question for FAQ: Would you ever consider making a Dimebag tribute Solar guitar"
Okay, not the first time I've been asked this question
And I've been answering it and you know what? I would love to do it
I've already made sort of like a Solar ML, but...
In respect of the Dimebag Camp, I'm not gonna do it
If I would ever do it, it would have to be...
...With the support of the Dimebag Camp, which I don't really see happening
I don't think it would be fair for me to do that if...
You know, Dimebag Camp wasn't involved in at all.
So no, I don't think it will happen, that's just how it is
I mean, I would love to do it but you know, out of respect...
I'm not, ok?
Zeroinfected: "Hey Ola, what do you think about the new Killswitch Engage album?
Ok, so...
when Killswitch Engage released... ler...
Released... released their single... from this album I was really really underwhelmed
Now, I'm not a fan of this type of genre
Like melodic metalcore or something like...
I don't really know what they call it exactly, but...
I remember when this wave of this type of bands came out, I was really into like...
Really technical death metal like Cryptopsy and Gorguts and all that
And you know, I listened to these bands and I was like...
Nah... Nah man, I don't want this right now
And Killswitch is in that type of genre I think, and...
I heard it on the first single and it's like...
Yeah, it's just not something I enjoy that much
I know a lot of people might not think the same as me. That's fine, that's okay.
But it's just like...
Doesn't really do anything for me
I mean, I listened to the songs on the album, I actually listened to the album by the way
Because I had a member that asked me like 'Come on, give it a chance
And I'm like, 'Okay, okay, I'm gonna listen to you album. No problem.'
Listened to it and you know what? There's a bunch of really cool riffs in there and cool passages
But you know, there's something that's...
For me, it doesn't sound evil, it sounds happy in a way and it's like...
It's hard to put my finger on it
And I'm sorry to say that it's just that... that's just how it is.
I guess I'm not a true Killswitch Engage fan
That's okay, I hope that's okay with you guys and that you're still subscribed to my channel.
I'm just being honest here... Honest Ola, honest Ola.
Second after positive Ola
Cesar Arias: "Hey Ola, have you considered making a color press vinyl of your album?
"I would 100% buy it for my vinyl collection."
Alright so... with Master of the Universe was the first time I ever tried vinyl pressing at all
I'm gonna keep it at that
The next time album I do I will definitely go and nurturing and experimenting with...
...coloring of the vinyls and so on, see what's available basically
because now the Master of the Universe, I just wanted to see... make it happen
See if people would actually buy the vinyl and you did, you absolutely did, I'm very amazed by that
So there you go, so next album if it's a Feared or a...
...Ola Englund solo album, I'll probably do something else for that, ok?
Ohed Stavi
"Hey Ola, any thoughts and opinions about that UAD Arrow interface sitting on your desk?
"Cheers from Israel."
Okay, so yeah, actually on this desk as well I brought the UAD Arrow
I'm currently writing songs in the house here
And I've been using this one and I really really like this interface
I just put out the video at this previous week that you can check out, I'll link it up here
when I'm talking a little bit why I like this particular interface
and why I'm using it for now for songwriting
I've also been using this when I've been out doing clinics and stuff like that and...
It's a great small little Thunderbolt 3 interface that I'm using with my macbook.
So there you go, check out that video, it's up here.
Brainrust: "So, how was King Diamond?
"One of my favorites and haven't seen them live yet.
"Also haven't heard you talk about them. Are you a big fan of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate?"
Alright, so I'm also some sort of a sleeper King Diamond fan
I didn't actually start listening to him until a couple of years back
And... It's an amazing band
You have to learn to kind of like the vocals first. just as...
You know, when I started listening to Dream Theater, I was really like 'Ew...' I didn't like James LaBrie voice at all
But you know, the more I listened to it... now, I kind of love how James is singing
And that's the same thing with King Diamond, you know, I didn't really...
Take a liking for the singing at first, but now it's like 'Holy shit, he's amazing'
So it takes a while to get into the singing style that he's doing
But King Diamond are absolutely sick and I mean the current lineup...
You know, with Andy LaRoque and Mike Wead on guitar...
2 amazing, totally underrated Swedish guitar players by the way
This setup of musicians and King Diamond right now is... it's amazing
If you have a chance to go see them live, go check them out
They have a great stage show as well
And also Mike Wead ,guitar player, playing Solar guitars
Oh shit, plugging, Salesman Ola.
Alright, so Ola Tasting Shit
This book by the way, I just, you know, placed it here...
Because I know it would look good in a video, that's how I work, just saying, but yeah.
So Ola Tasting Shit, I'm tasting Dr. Pepper today, you know what?
I know of a lot of people liking Dr. Pepper, I've never tried it before
What is it? What is Dr. Pepper anyway? Is it like a coke?
Like a cock?
Dr. Pepper, cheers guys, I love you.
Okay...
You know, much like root beer, this tastes like medicine
Oh my god
That's the face I have to make
You deserve this
No I f***ing don't, bullshit
So there you go, Ola Tasting Shit. Good job Ola, good job.
Cesar Beltran 050505
"Hey Ola, have you ever checked out Kevin Frasard's YouTube channel"
Yes, Kevin Frasard
the massive bodybuilder that shreds death metal music
And he's also a shredding on a Solar guitar. It's a Washburn, but that's okay.
I've only been paying attention to his cover videos, and I'm not sure he's doing anything else.
Is he doing some bodybuilding videos as well? I don't know, but he's a massive dude
And he plays those death metal songs like he's gonna f***ing kill that guitar
I'll link Kevin Frasard's channel up here
He's a really cool dude, and I would probably not want to meet him in a dark alley somewhere
Moutaz Hamad
"Hi Ola, will you be doing a guitar camp in the future?
"Like freak guitar camp from the Guru. If yes, sign me up."
I could probably do that... yes.
But I wonder what it would contain because you know, I don't know shit basically
A session on how to burp, I can do that
But guitar playing, that's just not my thing to teach I think, there's so many good teachers out there
But it would be cool to have like a camp just for hanging
You know, do whatever, writing music or shit like that
I'm actually looking into having like a LAN party with my members.
So I'm kind of looking for solutions for that, it's gonna be a problem, but I'm looking into it at least, so...
Okay, if not a guitar camp, maybe a local area network party
Huh? We can play some games.
Rybaq: "Hey Ola, I'm sick too at the moment. So cool to have something in common with you."
Well, I'm not sick anymore, so... sorry
E-Riotz: "Ola, how do you manage those moments when you feel frustrated by your playing or creativity?"
This is a great question
Whenever I feel that I'm in a rut or when I can't really finish off a song
Or you know, I'm just... like there's a wall I can't really get through
You know, I just go and hang around with my kids because they don't f***ing care about my problems
I play some Super Smash Bros with them
And you know I go take care of everyday problems and everyday family issues
Usually when I go back and sit after that, the rut is usually gone
So that's my way of doing it
I just go and do every other day things, you know go clean, you know...
Go do the dishes or whatever just do things that you know...
Takes you away from the songwriting aspect of things or guitar playing just to...
Videogames is very good for me as well, just to sit around and play with my beautiful beautiful members
Other things other than guitar that I enjoy doing, I try to do, okay?
Dean dean
"Ola, since you got your holy grail of guitars (Southern Cross)
"What's the next guitar you would absolutely love to get? We're all guitar players and we can't get enough."
Good point, I'm gonna get my guitar, this is not the Southern Cross by the way
But it's the Cross at least, so...
I kind of want to oversteer with buying Dimebag guitars...
...This year, so... I think right now I'm really really good with guitars
I don't think there's one that I really really want to have
except maybe for that Dime Slime that Frank had in Australia
That would be awesome, if I could buy that from him, the same Frank, what's up?
So yeah, right now I don't really have anything on the wishlist or something like that
I'm very very happy where I am with the guitars that I have
Oh, my ass. That's the microphone, is it still recording?
It is, success. Where do I put this? In my ass?
At least then I know I won't lose it
AlanCessa: "Hey Ola, hope you're getting enough chicken soup to feel less ill haha
You mentioned Tool and Slipknot new releases
Have you heard Cold, the new song from...
Korn...
"Greetings from Taco Land, my friend."
Yes, I have listened to the new Korn song.
And yes, I enjoy it
At least I enjoy it more than I enjoyed the new Killswitch single.
It might not necessarily make me horny
But at least it's making me happy
That's a really good way of describing it, it doesn't make me overly horny
It just makes me moderately happy to listen to that song.
There's nothing special about it, it's a Korn song
But I enjoyed it at least
There you go, Korn
Dimesciple1
"Do you have any tips for rut busting? Guitarists that get stuck playing the same old same old?
"I know that you have helped me without even knowing it."
Have you seen my videos lately?
Where I'm kind of like playing the same riff over and over?
Yeah
I'm probably like the last guy you should ask this question to
just go back to the question I had regarding, you know, songwriting and getting into a rut
when you're doing songwriting, just go do something fun for a while
Even like learn someone else's song like just find a random guy online
And just learn his song and just learn your favorite artists' song, I guess
Because usually when you do that you have to learn something that you're not used to playing
And that usually helps for me at least, just you know
Okay, if there's a song I go check on Spotify, it's like 'Oh, what is this? Oh, it's Korn Cold'
And then I try to learn that song, it's like 'Okay, this is cool. Oh, you can play like this. Ok, cool.'
So there you go, good luck. There's that f***ing sign again... Satan.
Freemasons
Oh Katana, Katana little friend, can you help me out? Do you have any batteries, Katana? Yes.
It's a good Exodus sound
underworlddeity
"Coming home from the Knotfest Roadshow to see the FAQ up...
Oh...
"was the perfect end to a great day.
"Have you ever seen Slipknot live before? If so, what is/what was your opinion on their performance?"
Yes, I saw them live for the self-titled album, and it was an absolutely amazing show
I think it was like 700 people in Stockholm, in Klubben, it was two floors
And it was basically insane, I mean, it was so sweaty and you know...
Obviously back then everyone...
You know, all the guys in Slipknot were batshit insane on stage, you know, punching each other...
I remember the DJ guy, he came up to the second floor and fucking jumped down there
Like, I think it broke his arm because the rest of the gig he was like... standing like this
Like an asshole
So it was amazing, I remember that really really intense gig
And back then they were like... they were pissed, like for real
Obviously a gimmick, but it worked, it was really awesome, I must say. So there you go.
I haven't seen them in a good while, but I still imagine them putting out a great show
pyrosis skylar: "I know you're busy with other material
"but when you get a moment, it would be really cool if you could get back to the two-week riff challenge."
Okay, so he's talking about the 14 days challenge
Overall this summer I've only been able to do like really easy videos
So I can just create content because you know...
My kids have been on vacation, so I have to be on vacation with them
and I've only been able to work like one and a half days a week
And still be able to you know, get content for you guys has been a huge struggle
But now the kids are back to school and daycare and you know, I'm full on with my job
So there will be more of the, you know, the Artist series videos, and Tone series
And the 14 days challenge and some more Guess That Tone, so back to normal
Business as normal right now, okay? Thank you.
Thank you so much for the patience by the way
Frankie Shayne
"Hey Ola, I've been a subscriber since the days of the blurry-faceless-silent Ola
"And those early videos helped me choose different amps.
"Thanks for that, I'm wondering was was..." was was
"I'm wondering was there a reason why you waited so long to be vocal on your channel?
"You're friggin' hilarious and I love your accent, even though I mock it at times."
You know, back when I did my amps...
You know, I just don't thought that people would like to hear me speak, like wh-
Why would they? I'm here to play amps and you know, test amplifiers
Why would I talk? It doesn't make any sense.
And you know, as usual you're kind of reluctant of even speaking on camera because you're...
You know, you hate your own voice and you think you sound funny and it's... you know...
You're just awkward on camera
And you know, but I thought to myself like
'Hey, I'm just gonna put it out there, I'm gonna talk a lot more in my videos'
And it will be awkward, but I will probably get better at it and...
Lo and behold, I'm here, I'm talking a lot more
I'm probably talking a lot more than playing actually guitar
I just thought it would be the next step for my channel back then
Because I was feeling that my child became stagnant
I was playing in The Haunted and you know, really concentrating on making music for them
And I just needed to step it up a little bit, so there you go. Thank you so much for the question.
Tyler Brittan
"Ola, what do you think of guitar centers when you ever go into one while you're in the USA?
"I work at a Guitar Center in California, so I was just curious."
You know, I've been to a couple when I've been on the road and...
They're just like a big regular guitar store, I guess
I don't really know what to say, I mean, I've bought strings from one and...
I don't know.
The one times I've been to Guitar Centers, they're usually pretty empty to be honest
Just usually me and some other guy or you know, my Posse or some other guy, so...
I don't know, maybe that's a reflection, that there's no people when I'm there
Well, I went to Guitar Center in New York and there was a little bunch more people there I guess.
So, there you go, I... what?
Morgan Hicks: "Will you ever retire from YouTube?"
That's a great question
I think I will probably retire from YouTube when I don't really have anything more to say
or anything more to offer in that sense
or if something would happen
You know, as of right now I found myself really enjoying myself making videos for YouTube
So I kind of... it's a newfound love for making videos
And I'm happy with what I'm doing right now, so hopefully I'll keep it up for a while
Because I like it.
Buhimoth Studios: "Ola, when can I be on a member jam?"
Well, first of all you have to be a member and I can actually see you are a member
because you have that small face next to your name there
Then you have to join Discord and on Discord...
Robin, who arranges everything, will shout out when there's new member jams happening
And you get your spot and you play, that's it basically
I think we have a member jam coming this coming Friday
And I'm really excited about that one
I'm also very excited about the guest that's on there, so...
Look out for that, maybe it's this coming Friday, maybe not, we'll just have to see. Thank you.
Mike ODonnell: "What the f*** Ola, no riff of the day?"
Yeah, I've been slacking a little bit with the riff of the day, you know, my thumb is all hurting and shit
You know, just rewind this FAQ back to the part where I was playing Exodus
And you can learn that riff
Is it the Scar Spangled Banner?
Yes, great riff. Try that.
Alright guys, thank you so much. That's it for this FAQ.
I'm Ola Englund and you guys are super awesome. Thank you.