As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Guitar Girl Magazine Special Edition – I Belong – July 2023
My name is Jodi-Alexis. I’ve been playing guitar for three years. I’ve been writing many songs; however, I‘m still trying to build a good following on social media platforms so that fans can listen to my songs once I release them. I consider myself a metal guitarist. I have always gravitated to metal because of how heavy it is. Some of my biggest influences are Metallica and Judas Priest. I have always admired how they compose their songs and love their tones. Gus G. also inspires me because of his unique guitar skills. I dream of playing like him one day.
What is your definition of tone, and how has it changed over the years?
To me, tone is how you want your instrument to sound, the feeling you get when your guitar portrays itself through the genre you are playing. When people hear my guitar, I want them to hear how metal is inbred in my tone and how I play. When I first started playing, I didn’t know how to dial in my tone, and I’m still trying to find my “perfect” tone, but I now have more of an idea of what I like and dislike. Initially, I enjoyed my sound, but my tone wasn’t heavy enough. I’ve now developed my tone into something more aggressive and punchy, and I can thank my active pickups for that!
Which guitars, amps, and pedals are you currently using and why?
I switch between two Jackson guitars; my SLX soloist and my Gus G. signature X series. I love Jackson Guitars primarily because of their smooth, fast necks. They feel better compared to other guitars I’ve played over the years. When it comes to pickups, both of my guitars have active pickups; my soloist has the Hetfield EMGs, and my Gus G. X series has Seymour Duncans. I play a Blackstar V3 for amps, which I love because Blackstars always deliver the tone I’m looking for. As for pedals, the only pedal that I use at the moment is a Cry Baby wah pedal. In my next iteration of a pedalboard, I want an octave, loop, and a flanger pedal.
What about strings?
I play D’Addario NYXL .10 gauge strings. These were the first strings I’ve ever bought, and they immediately felt good when I played, so I’ve been using them ever since.
Are there specific recording techniques you prefer in the studio?
I prefer to mic my amp. I love how my amp sounds compared to plugging my guitar through an interface and using a digital one.
How do you keep your sound consistent onstage?
Whenever I perform, the production crew usually takes care of everything. I only ask that my amp is mic’d because I prefer that sound. I also make it a point not to crank the gain while on stage. I’ve learned from experience that it can be too overpowering and mess with my sound.
What does your practice consist of?
I try to practice for three hours daily, but sometimes that’s hard because of school. I’ll split that time in half; practice the boring stuff for the first half and jam out for the last half. I also try to focus on one technique weekly so that I won’t overwhelm myself. Right now, I’m focusing on harmonic minor scales.
What is your advice for young artists who hope to work in the music industry?
I have three pieces of advice; one is to keep going, as corny as it sounds. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish if you put your mind to it, and many things in life require hard work. The second piece of advice I’d give is that people will be mean and say mean things, but don’t pay those people any mind. You’re doing something with your life, and many people in this world are not. The last thing is always to remain humble. People admire that.
