Exclusive Artist Interview: Joel Hoekstra

Rock Guitarist Talks New Album Crash of Life, Touring, and More

In order to succeed in the music industry, you need to have the musical chops necessary to make it, and you also have to be willing to put in a lot of hard work. One of the hardest-working musicians out there is guitarist extraordinaire Joel Hoekstra. Whether shredding on a massive world tour with Whitesnake or bringing a little rock and roll to our holiday season on Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s annual winter tour, Hoekstra is a busy man. Over the years, he’s shared the stage with legends like Cher and made it all the way to Broadway with the Rock of Ages show. If not on tour, Joel is busy in the studio recording with other artists and as part of projects Revolution Saints and Iconic.

Now, you would think that’s enough to exhaust any human, but Joel is also a successful solo artist in his own right. He’s unleashed several instrumental albums and under the moniker Joel Hoekstra’s 13, the talented musician has released two albums Dying To Live and Running Games, both masterpieces of melodic, hard rock. Tomorrow, Joel Hoekstra’s 13 releases a brand new record Crash of Life and you are definitely going to want to check it out. Joel surrounds himself with a bevy of talented musicians including new vocalist Girish Pradhan whose pipes soar over the sizzling guitars of Hoekstra. Legendary drummer Vinny Appice and bassist Tony Franklin provide the rock-solid backbone. Filling out the sound are the magnificent keyboards of Derek Sherinian and the lush backing vocals of Jeff Scott Soto. From the spectacular title track to the laid-back vibes of “You’re Right For Me,” Crash of Life is top-notch in every way. With 12 electrifying songs, the new album is just what the rock world needs.

Shutter 16 Magazine had the chance to catch up with Joel and chat about the new record, touring, and even Michael Jordan. Click below to watch the interview in full.