The Guitar Player's Resource
Dimitry Scopelliti: I started playing the guitar at the age of 13, in 1993. I started out using a really old acoustic guitar, which I turned into an electro-acoustic after a couple of months. On my 14th birthday I received my first electric guitar, a $400 Maison/strat model kind of thing. I did not have the money for an amp so I used a really bad stereo hi-fi, I figure out that using the volume on 10 that was sounding distorted and that was kind of cool actually.
I learned the scales by myself just figuring out what Queen, Metallica and Iron Maiden were playing and improvising on those tape cassettes. When I was 18 I took some lessons from a local guy in order to progress and be ready to attend music college. I graduated in Milano, Italy in 2004.
Dimitry Scopelliti: I released my latest album "The Art Of Complications" through my own record label, FusionCore Records. I kinda got tired of labels controlling my master recordings and at the same time not investing enough in terms of money and time in my music.
Dimitry Scopelliti: Like a mix between the aggression of metal and the madness and extravagance of prog-instrumental-rock, I don't close myself in within just a single genre, I love playing whatever comes into my mind.
Dimitry Scopelliti: I did all by myself as I did in the last three albums that I released. It took three years, between writing and producing. I had some awesome guest musicians however, including Magnus Nodset (drums), Almir Meskovic (accordion), Daniel Lazar (violin), and Francesco Cilione (trumpet).
Dimitry Scopelliti: I am endorsed by Randall, Hotone Audio, Legator guitars, Lundgren pick ups and In tune picks. I have different set-ups according to different music projects. On my solo project I use a Legator 8 string guitar, a Ninja Pro 300 through a Hotone's Xtomp (used as a Tube Screamer) into a Randall rd20. I use a Hotone's Soulpress and Wovpress wha pedals. My 8 string guitar is equipped with a Lundgren M8 pickup (hi gain/output).
Dimitry Scopelliti: Yes, I've been using social media since 2004, MySpace first and now YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Instagram.
Dimitry Scopelliti: Releasing videos periodically is working pretty good to help spread my name, as well as playing at the NAMM show in the US and the Musikmesse in Europe.
Dimitry Scopelliti: I play metal even while, in my music, you can find different influences coming from many styles of music. In this metal enviroment the fans are tired of listening to screaming vocals and untuned melodies.
On the other hand the introduction of new technologies and fancy music gear can lead to a kind of fashion trend. Sometimes I have the impression that some fans are more interested in certain types of gear over music composition instead when they're watching a video or when they are at a show.
Dimitry Scopelliti: I'd love to play on an album with Devin Townsend.
Dimitry Scopelliti: I am producing a new instructional DVD this summer, I'm playing my songs all around the world during clinics and gigs, and I'm writing a new album which could possibly be released by the end of 2016.
Demetrio "Dimitry" Scopelliti is an Italian guitarist who releases his metal-oriented albums under the project name "Dimitry". He started his own record label, FusionCore Records, and has a dynamic 2016 release entitled "The Art Of Complications".
Dan McAvinchey held this virtual interview with Dimitry, and they talked about gear, his latest project and his musical roots.