Preston Frazier: It’s great speaking with Andrew Synowiec about Recreational Substance, his album with fellow guitarist Oz Noy, which is out on January 17, 2025.

Andrew, tell the audience about how you and Oz Noy got to the point of doing this joint guitar album.

Andrew Synowiec: I’ve always been a fan of two-guitar albums, whether it’s Eric Johnson guesting on a Steve Morse album, or John Scofield and Pat Metheny collaborating.

I grew up in the age of G3—Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai all touring together. I’ve always enjoyed any type of music that really celebrates the guitar.

Oz and I had mutual friends, which led to us playing a gig about four years ago. It was really fun; we had a great turnout. Later, he hit me up and said he was coming into town. I had a gig scheduled and said, “Hey, we’ve got to do it again—but let’s make a record out of it.”

He was here for a few days. We rehearsed, sent each other music back and forth, and decided on the tunes. We rehearsed one day, played the gig the next, had a day off, and then spent one long day in the studio recording the entire album, Recreational Substance .

Preston Frazier: You’re based in L.A., and Oz is based in NYC. It’s amazing you were able to get this done in a day. You also put together an amazing band: Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums and Hadrien Feraud on bass. Was this band used during the live gig?

Andrew Synowiec: Yes, that was the idea. It would’ve been nice to road-test the songs more, but at least we played them once in front of an audience. Everyone got a chance to get their feet wet on the material.

Preston Frazier: Did you use your Gibson Les Paul for all the electric parts?

Andrew Synowiec: I used two guitars: my Les Paul and another made by BA Ferguson Guitars, which has two humbuckers and is really comfortable to play. I just let my intuition guide me on where to use which one.

For the acoustic side, there’s a song called “Brothers,” where I used a nylon-string guitar with a unique tuning. Instead of standard tuning, the strings are in fifths, creating crazy wide voicings. I also added pedal-steel-like ambient textures in the background.

Preston Frazier: I thought that was a nylon string acoustic! It’s a beautiful song. Did you write it specifically for this project?

Andrew Synowiec: It’s one of those tunes that just fell out of the sky. I started with a chord, then the melody came naturally. Around the time this project came up, I wanted something to balance the high-energy tracks and provide a space to express and improvise. It just clicked.

Preston Frazier: When did you start writing for the album?

Andrew Synowiec: I’m always writing. Some ideas sit in a folder for years, waiting to find their moment. I dig through them occasionally, and they act as springboards for new concepts.

Preston Frazier: The album has eight songs. Did you record additional material that didn’t make it onto the album?

Andrew Synowiec: No. We only had one day in the studio, including setup, sounds, and breaks. Eight songs felt right for an instrumental guitar record—any more might’ve been excessive. We focused on getting the best performances from those eight.

Preston Frazier: Let’s talk about the song “Big City.” It has brilliant rhythm guitar, a clean lead, and a distorted solo.

Andrew Synowiec: That started with the bass riff, which I wrote on guitar. I imagined how great it would sound played by a bassist. The A section is that riff, and the B section provides some relief with a single sustained chord.

Preston Frazier: Did you write out parts for the band, or did they work from your demos?

Andrew Synowiec: Both. I had charts for everything and some rough demos to share. Everyone has their own way of internalizing music—some prefer charts, while others like to hear the parts. A combination works best for me.

Preston Frazier: “Big City” was also the album’s first single.

Andrew Synowiec: That song has history—I played it with an organ trio called SRT featuring John Robinson on drums. It felt perfect for this project with two guitars, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith brought a fresh take on the drums.

Preston Frazier: Another standout is “Kuffle Shuffle.”

Andrew Synowiec: Thanks! That track is a nod to Les Paul and his genius with guitar arrangements. The harmonized guitar parts at the beginning and end are a playful tribute to his style.

Preston Frazier: What can you tell us about “The Royal You”?

Andrew Synowiec: That’s another SRT track I reimagined for two guitars. It has an ‘80s Miles Davis vibe, and Oz brought his signature style, using a fuzz pedal and a sustain effect that added a sitar-like quality. Sequencing it next to Oz’s “Half Romantic” gave the album a hypnotic flow.

Preston Frazier: The interplay between you and Oz is phenomenal. The album really invites repeated listening.

Andrew Synowiec: Thanks! Instrumental music can be a challenge, especially with two guitars. Oz’s sensitivity as a player made it seamless.

Preston Frazier: I noticed you’ve listed your gear and upcoming projects on your website.

Andrew Synowiec: Yes, my gear is listed at andrewsynowiec.com, and I have shows coming up, including January 22 and January 26 at Alva’s Showroom in San Pedro. East Coast dates are also in the works.

Preston Frazier: The album will be available on Bandcamp?

Andrew Synowiec: Yes, and it will also be available on streaming platforms. CDs will be available too—they’re still my favorite physical format. I hope people will come to the shows and experience this music live.

Watch Andrew Synowiec and Oz Noy perform “Big City”