The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your groovy Zoo Crew spinning the vibes at THE ZOO radio station, and we’re diving into the cosmic waves of The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1 by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai from their single Satch/Vai: The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1. This track is a trip back to the ’70s, inspired by a field near Carle Place Public School where these two guitar legends, as teenagers, would hang out under the moonlight, pondering life’s big questions. Joe called it “The Sea of Emotion,” a place where they shared their deepest thoughts, and this song, part one of a three-part suite, weaves in chord sequences they jammed on during Steve’s guitar lessons with Joe. Steve Vai himself said on X that the track’s a “70’s style flashback” best enjoyed with “pop-rocks and cool-whip,” and the music video, directed by Joe’s son Z.Z. Satriani, leans into that retro vibe with the duo rocking vintage threads.

The story of this song goes back over three decades to a 1990 Guitar World interview, recently re-shared by Joe Satriani on X, where Steve and Joe first dreamed of recording The Sea of Emotion together. They joked about doing it when their careers slowed down, with Joe mimicking an old man’s voice saying, “Oh, Steve, remember the old lick…” Fast forward to 2024, and they finally made it happen, dropping this nearly six-minute opus that’s less about shredding and more about their songwriting chops, as fans on Reddit’s progmetal community have noted. The track, produced by Greg Koller with contributions from drummer Matt Bissonette, bassist Bryan Beller, and keyboardist Eric Caudieux, is a love letter to their ’70s rock roots, evoking bands like James Gang and ZZ Top.

Now, let’s rewind to how these guitar gods got their start. Joe Satriani, born in Westbury, New York, in 1956, picked up the guitar at 14, inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s death to chase music over his initial football dreams. He taught himself and started giving lessons by his late teens, with a young Steve Vai as one of his students. Joe’s early gigs included playing in a band called the Squares and joining the Greg Kihn Band, which helped him fund his 1985 debut album, Not of This Earth. His 1987 release, Surfing with the Alien, catapulted him to fame, earning platinum status and making him a rare instrumental rock star. Over the years, he’s backed Mick Jagger, joined Deep Purple, and formed the supergroup Chickenfoot, all while releasing albums like 2022’s The Elephants of Mars.

Steve Vai, born in Carle Place, New York, in 1960, got hooked on the guitar as a teen, influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Alice Cooper. Introduced to Joe Satriani by a friend at 12, Steve took lessons “religiously” for three to four years, soaking up Joe’s mentorship. He started noodling by ear but credits Joe for shaping his technical skills. By his late teens, Steve was transcribing for Frank Zappa, later joining his band, and then rocking the ’80s with stints alongside David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. His solo career took off with albums like Passion and Warfare, cementing his status as a guitar virtuoso. Steve’s also taught future stars like Kirk Hammett of Metallica, blending his mentorship roots with his boundary-pushing style.

For more on these legends, check out Joe Satriani’s official website and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. You can also dive into Steve Vai’s official site and keep up with him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can join the vibe at Joe Satriani Fans on Facebook or connect with the Steve Vai Fan Group. For deeper dives, explore fan sites like Joe Satriani’s fan page or Steve Vai’s fan community, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over every riff and solo. Keep it funky, and stay tuned for more righteous tunes!