ROD RODRIGUES

mixed by Renato Osorio
mastered by Kriss Crummet

track-list:
Inukshuk
Feat. Angel Vivaldi and John Macaluso
On The Road
East Coast Memories
Feat. Roy Ziv
Dust In My Eyes
Saudade
Feat.Wesley Poison
Mom’s Lullaby
Tales Of A Changing Life Suite
Feat. Hugo Mariutti

band:
Rod Rodrigues – electric and acoustic guitars
Angel Vivaldi – 2nd guitar solo on ‘Inukshuk‘
Roy Ziv – 1st guitar solo on ‘East Coast Memories‘
Hugo Mariutti – bowed guitar on ‘Tales Of A Changing Life Suite’
Heitor Tenorio – bass
Bruno Ladislau – bass on ‘Dust In My Eyes‘
Orlan Charles – keyboards, piano, orchestrations and electric sax
John Macaluso – drums on ‘Inukshuk‘
Lucas Emidio – drums on ‘East Coast Memories‘, ‘Dust In My Eyes‘ and ‘Tales Of A Changing Life Suite‘
Rodrigo Abelha – drums on ‘On The Road‘ and ‘Mom’s Lullaby‘

discography:
2010 The First Step: Introduction EP
2019 T.A.G. Single
2022 Tales Of A Changing Life Part 1 EP
2024 Tales Of a Changing Life Part 2 Album

Prog-Sphere (2024):
“Rod Rodrigues’ upcoming release, ‘Tales of a Changing Life Part 2’, represents more than just a continuation of his musical journey—it’s a deeply personal reflection of the changes he’s experienced over the past decade. After a 12-year hiatus from releasing solo work, Rodrigues returns with an instrumental album that captures a rollercoaster of emotions through complex compositions and masterful collaborations. His ability to mix diverse musical influences is evident throughout, weaving together personal experiences, Brazilian rhythms, and progressive rock.”
Prog Archy (2024):
“In ‘Tales of a Changing Life Part 2’, Rodrigues not only showcases his technical virtuosity but also his ability to convey deep emotion and narrative through his compositions. His work stands as a shining example of how diverse musical influences can be melded into something both experimental and accessible. This is an album that takes listeners on a transformative journey, and in doing so, solidifies Rod Rodrigues as a unique voice in contemporary progressive music.”
The Prog Space (2024):
“Following closely the work of legendary drummer John Macaluso already brought great discoveries to my proggy table, and Rod Rodrigues’ new album makes no exception here. In best instrumental prog fusion manner, he tells the ‘Tales of a Changing Life’ with the focus on his virtuoso guitar playing, carried by challenging yet groovy rhythm patterns, cool bass lines, and some beautiful keyboard interplays. All-together a wonderful listen if you’re into instrumental wizardry.”
Riffage (2024):
“Obviously, much of the spotlight here is placed on Rodrigues’ prodigious grasp of the electric guitar. Although the album’s metal-ish side doesn’t stand any bit above what we’ve already heard from that corner of prog metal, Rod makes himself out to be an absolutely brilliant fusion guitarist, possibly one of the best I’ve heard in recent years. ‘Dust in My Eyes’ might be my favorite track on the album for this very reason; Rod’s marriage of keen instrumental wandering and tight melodic passages is gorgeous.”
The Prog Report (2022):
“Guitar virtuoso Rod Rodrigues latest release ‘Tales of a Changing Life’ is a conceptual record celebrating the changes in Rod’s life that have taken place over recent years. Straight from the Satriani-Vai-Johnson line of melodic guitar shredders, Rodrigues infuses his guitar playing style with prog, metal, fusion and jazz. While only a 5 song EP, there is a lot of great guitar work in this collection with an abundance of melodies. Perhaps not as much of a household name, Rodrigues is definitely worth getting to know.”

“I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years, performing in all kinds of bands—from cover bands to wedding bands. But I reached a point where just playing in those bands and teaching music wasn’t enough. I felt the need to express myself more creatively. With ‘Tales of a Changing Life Part 2’ I believe I reached my peak as a musician and composer. Truly able to convey through music all the emotions of the transformation my life has gone through in the past 10 years. Moreover, I was fortunate to have the best team of musicians, each adding their unique and special touch to the work.”
Rod Rodrigues
“This album is a conceptual album, the second part of a story inspired by my move to a new country and starting a new life. The cover art shows a man with open arms (me), finally feeling happy after overcoming many challenges. He’s standing on a cliff, looking toward the horizon, and realizing that, despite all the struggles, everything was worth it. On the back, there’s an image of a young boy, a reflection of my younger self, gazing forward with dreams of the future. This mirror connects to the cover art of my previous EP, ‘Tales of a Changing Life Part 1’.”
‘Inukshuk’:
“This was the first song I wrote for the album, and it’s the heaviest track. I play it on a 7-string guitar, giving it a modern prog feel with some fusion elements. The song features two guest musicians: John Macaluso on drums and Angel Vivaldi, who plays the second guitar solo.”
‘On The Road’:
“I wrote this song as a tribute to my dad. It blends influences from Rush, Van Halen, and a touch of Brazilian country music. My goal was to create an uplifting, feel-good track that’s perfect for listening to while cruising down the highway.”
‘East Coast Memories’:
“This is a melodic song featuring a long, expressive piano section in the middle. I was inspired by both Prince and Dream Theater when writing it. The first guitar solo in the song is played by Roy Ziv.”
‘Dust in My Eyes’:
“I wanted to write a more modern song with strong riffs, unique rhythms, and fewer guitar solos. It’s probably the most different track on the album, and it includes some nods to ‘La Premiere Experience’ and ‘Physical Distancing’ from the previous EP, ‘Tales Of A Changing Life Part 1’. There’s also an electric saxophone solo played by Orlan Charles.”
‘Saudade’:
“‘Saudade’ is a Portuguese word that means ‘missing’, but in a much deeper, more emotional way. It captures the feeling of longing for moments with loved ones or someone who is no longer here. This track features a beautiful poem written and performed by Wesley Poison. It’s a short, acoustic song that serves as a kind of interlude, leading into the next track.”
‘Mom’s Lullaby’:
“This is the most emotional song I’ve ever written. It’s a heartfelt ballad dedicated to my mom, who has always been my biggest musical influence and supporter. When I was little, she would sing lullabies to help me fall asleep, and this song is my own lullaby for her.”
‘Tales Of A Changing Life Suite’:
“This is the longest track on the album, running 11 minutes and 30 seconds. It’s an epic piece filled with rich orchestrations and intense shred solos. Hugo Maritutti, from the Brazilian metal band Shaman, recorded the bowed guitar for the intro. The song features duets between guitar and keyboard, as well as an extended solo section inspired by Latin music. It’s definitely the most challenging song on the album.”
Rod Rodrigues is a Brazilian-Canadian guitarist, music teacher, and songwriter with an impressive career in the music industry.
Over the years, he has been a member of various bands, including Enemies of Reality and Falling Into a Dream (a Dream Theater tribute band).
Rod has studied with renowned musicians like Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth) and Greg Howe (Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, and others) and has received degrees from IG&T and Claretiano University.
Since 1997, he has been sharing his knowledge and skills as a music teacher in Brazil, Canada, and Europe.
As a solo artist, Rod released his first EP in 2010, titled ‘The First Step: Introduction’, which gained recognition in several music publications, including Guitar Player, Cover Guitarra, and Guitarload, among others.
In 2019, he released his single ‘T.A.G‘, followed by his concept album, ‘Tales of a Changing Life Part.1‘, in 2022.
Notably, ‘Tales of a Changing Life Part.1‘ features the talented Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Premiata Forneria Marconi) on the track ‘Woodbine Sunset‘.
Thanks to his outstanding work on ‘Tales of a Changing Life Part.1‘, Rod was voted one of the top 20 Guitar Players of 2022 by the readers of Brazilian Roadie Crew magazine.