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Artscene By Ryan Bolton SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009 19 Musician plucks at heart and guitar strings Guitarist Johannes Linstead releasing new album, Mistico Johannes Linstead and his Latin guitar have travelled the world over. Sailing through the Caribbean, plucking his guitar throughout India and swaying bodies in Europe. But he's always called Oakville home. "Wherever I go, I try to learn something," Linstead says in his collected, deep tone. "Whether it's musically or even a little bit of the language, I always take something home with me." It's mainly Cuba and Spain that have deeply inspired Linstead's Billboard-topping records. Having been born in Oakville, coupled with the opportunity to be able to walk to the lake or downtown or even his favourite restaurant keeps him at home "in this beautiful town." The tenth year since his first album, Sol Luna Tierra, the Juno Award-nominated Latin guitarist has just released his seventh studio album, Mistico. The newly-minted album has recently peaked at the No. 1 spot on emusic.com under the World Music chart and the Jazz and Blues chart. Holding true to his fans, the newest rendition continues with the worldly-inspired modern jazz and technical guitar plucking, but also brings something new. Like Bob Dylan in his days, for the first time, Linstead introduced the electric guitar to the album. For Linstead, Mistico -- which means "one who is a mystic" in Spanish -- was about mixing things up while ensuring each song has its own unique character. "Every song has its own flavour, which, I guess, is representative of all the different places I have journeyed," said Linstead. "It's sort of a culmination of my last 10 years in the music business." And having been in the business for a decade, Linstead enjoys being at the helm of every facet of the industry. From writing and producing his music himself, to even doing some "Every song has its own flavour, which I guess is representative of all the different places I have journeyed." Johannes Linstead Renowned guitarist SUBMITTED PHOTO MISTICO POWERS: Juno Award-nominated Oakville guitarist Johannes Linstead has released a new album, Mistico. He says the album is the culmination of 10 years working in the music industry. Linstead was born and raised in Oakville and despite his international popularity and busy concert schedule that takes him around the globe, he said he loves calling this town his home. concert listings, to running his own music label, Linstead is highly involved. "If you can't be passionate about what you're doing, no one else is going to be as passionate as you are." And it seems to be paying off. "I try not to live such a mundane life as most people do, having a 9 to 5 job," said the internationallyrenowned instrumentalist. "I try to live my life differently." Something that he hopes his music can do for others; an escape from the mundane. His instrumental music, Linstead explains, is about unearthing a feeling of joy and happiness to the listener. Tied closely with his music, Linstead maintains that his spirituality complements his music and its process. "If one applies what one has gained through a spiritual practise to music, then I think that takes the music to another level," said Linstead, who is a practicing Yogi. "There's music that can just inspire you, bring a sense of peace and a sense of joy -- that's what I try to accomplish not just through my music, but through my own projection as a person." It's what inspired him to pen a book. Buddha in a Business Suit is Linstead's answer to applying spirituality and karma to the corrupted business world. "It's essentially a culmination of my experiences being a musician, but also being a business owner, running my own record company," he explains of his book. As Mistico continues to climb the charts, Linstead is getting ready to hit the international pavement once again. In the new year, Linstead is in talks with touring to such locales as Korea, the Middle East and China. Talking about touring rehashes the multi-instrumentalists' feeling of playing live -- his favourite part of his so-called 9 to 5 job. Playing live "gives me the opportunity to be in that flow of consciousness where you are so present in that moment that the rest of the world almost stops," Linstead begins. "When I'm centred, when I'm in the moment, then everything flows in a miraculous way." Johannes Linstead's Mistico is available locally in Oakville at Crumz, L'Atelier Grigorian, and Isabella's Pasta Caffe. For more on Linstead, visit his website at www.johanneslinstead.com.