Barish Kepic is a Guitarist / Composer / Songwriter and Producer from Germany. Mainly known for his work with Bands like "POWERWORLD" , "JADED HEART" , "EVIDENCE
ONE" and "FARO".
His tasteful style full of feeling and individuality as well as his versatility make him a sought-after studio and live guitarist. Kepic also works as an instructor at the Modern Music Concept school in Haag / South Germany.
Influenced by bands like Van Halen, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Kiss he started playing guitar at the age of 15. One year later he had already gathered his first performance experiences with the band Dark East and continued pursuing his goal of becoming a professional musician.
Besides his love for straight rock - songs with vocals, he discovered his passion for instrumental music and different styles, when he heard guitar players such as Al Di Meola, Carlos Santana, Larry Carlton and Eric Johnson for the first time.
"This experience opened a completely, very exciting, new musical world for me. After listening to my all time faves like Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Gary Moore and Jimi
Hendrix for some years, it was like starting a new adventure" Barish comments.
From 1998-2006 Barish was the lead guitarist and one of the principal songwriters for the internationally famous German rock band Jaded Heart. He released 5 CDs with the band
and toured all over the world.?Other notable steps in his career include the bands Powerworld, Evidence One and Faro.
"I still love playing in Bands with singers, but on the other hand, as a composer and writer, I always have so many ideas which are not suitable for vocals. And so the desire to do an fully instrumental album grew more and more over the years. One other reason for doing a solo album is, as a band musician, you have to do compromises all the time. As an solo
artist i can let my inspiration flow and there's more space for experiments and different styles and arrangements. There are simply no boundaries" Barish says.
And the time was right for it back in 2009. Recorded and produced by himself, his album debut "Sensitive Crush" got positive reviews all over the world. It made it two times # 1 in
the U.S.A. based Guitar Nine Records top sellers - charts.
This was the first time for Barish promoting and distributing an album fully independently. Now, almost four years later, he was ready for the 2nd strike. "Addiction" shows his keen
sense for great melodies and compositions, again. Completely recorded and produced in his own studio and mastered by Bobby Altvater ( Affair ) in the Sky Studios in Munich.
"Addiction" is not just another instrumental guitar album - still very melodic and intense, it's packed with passion and surprising moments. The technique is never the driving force
in his compositions. "My aim is to reach the listeners heart, to create atmospheres and emotions" Barish says. Besides ten instrumental tracks, it includes an acoustic cover
version of Jimi Hendrix' "Little Wing" with Michael Bormann on vocals.
Further guests on this album are Ferdy Doernberg ( Axel Rudi Pell ), who played keyboards on two tracks ( "Book of Destiny" + "While the City Sleeps" ) and his longtime friend Chity Somapala ( ex - Firewind, Powerquest ), who composed the intro to the song "Lost in Samsara".
Band Line-Up:
Lead Vocals - Michael Bormann on "Little Wing"
Guitars - Barish Kepic
Bass - Barish Kepic
Keys - Barish Kepic (except track 7 + 8 by Ferdy Doernberg)
Drums - Programmed by Barish Kepic
Tracklisting:
1. Addiction
2. Vagabundear
3. Lost In Samsara (intro composed by Chity Somapala)
4. The Long Road
5. Buzzed & Blue Hearted
6. Only By Night
7. While The City Sleeps (keys by Ferdy Doernberg)
8. Book Of Destiny (keys by Ferdy Doernberg)
9. Inside Illusions
10. All That Idle Talk
11. Little Wing (vocals by Michael Bormann)
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
