User:Music344583/Saint.j (guitarist)

Jens Daniel Andersen (born OCT 26, 1983 in Faribault, Minnesota), better known by his stage name Saint.j, is an American guitarist. His stage name was bestowed on him in 2009 when he joined Pop/rock/electronica group Szilva as her lead guitarist.

Jens is also a solo artist for 'ShedLogic' which is a Instrumental Guitar Album due to Release 2010. A lead guitarist for a metal band, 'Days of Retribution' which has been in the studio since early 2009 recording their record, 'COEXIST', based in Owatonna, MN. Also, has been collaborating with Los Angeles Hip-Hop group, HybridXL playing guitar for the Rock/Metal remix on tracks, 'Lodi Dodi' and 'Nail in the Coffin' He also works as an Audio engineer for Pseudo Playgrounds, which is a new independent game developer based in the Twin Cities, MN area, which develop games for the iPhone and iPod touch platforms. Their game, 'Tap! Touch! Defend!' was released and published in Sept 2009 through Gamepro. He also works as a music writer for Rockeuphoria, reviewing records for the section, 'Underrated albums'.

Early life
Andersen first started playing guitar at the age of 13 when his father Daniel showed him how to play Smoke on the water by Deep purple. His parents supported his playing, and purchased a Squier Stratocaster as a birhtday present from Lavonne Music in Savage, MN They also would accompany him at all the shows and adult bars he would play at. He also studied private guitar lessons with Bradley Ryan Schmidt.

(2000-2005)
In 2000 Andersen was playing in a high school Thrash metal garage band called, Hedskru. Perfoming at small local hangouts, county fairs, and house parties. After Hedskru, he briefly played guitar for a local Rock group 'Gravity Train', which eventually, years later evolved into Heavens Gate. Andersen also attended Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis,MN and parted ways 6 months later due to his dislike for the General Education Classes he was forced to take. Andersen started his first real band on a serious level, 'Something Obsolete', which featured, Kevin Scheunke(vocals), Tim Alexander(drums), Jeremy Borgstahl(Bass), and Heavens Gate guitarist Ryan Clarke(Guitar). Something Obsolete recorded their first record, self titled and self produced at Gemini Studios.

(2006-2008)
Andersen's next step came when he decided to attend Musicians Institute in Hollywood,CA for an 3 year Associates Degree in Performance Guitar, Audio engineering, Post production, and Music business. During his time at Musicians Institute, He auditioned and played lead guitar for Orange County, CA Metalcore band Purity. A year later after internal band and label issues Purity has Separated.

(2009-Present)
In January 2009, as Andersen Graduated from Musicians Institute George W. Bush announced to the American People that the US is in a financial crisis. This Economic crash led to no work for a newly graduate, and sent Andersen back to Minnesota to live with friends and family. Here, Andersen landed a gig and a place to live in a rural game developer studio doing Audio for Pseudo Playgrounds, an Independent iphone and ipod touch game developer company based in the Twin cities area. 'Tap! Touch! Defend!' was previewed in July's 2009 issue of Gamepro Magazine, and released in Sept 2009 on all iphone and ipod touch platforms.

In Sept 2009, Andersen was forced to fly to Los_angeles, Ca to pack up and remove his personal belongings from his storage unit in Culver City due to financial issues. During of which, he landed a gig as the lead guitarist for an Australian Pop Artist Szilva. Andersen missed his flight scheduled back to Minnesota and spent the following day ( Memorial day ) shooting a professional music video atop a building in Downtown Los_angeles, Ca and are currently preparing for National and International Touring.

Guitars
Slash Signature Series
 * Gibson Slash  Les Paul

Black with EMG 81, 85 pickups
 * Gibson '67 Flying V re-issue

50th Anniversary
 * Fender Stratocaster

Classic Nylon 6 string
 * Nylon String Classical

Retired Guitars:


 * Squire Stratocaster - 1st guitar. Black, white pickguard.
 * Fender Acoutic - Classic Acoustic/Electric with the slogan "Friends dont let friends get friends haircuts" drawn on with a black magic marker borrowed from the great Mike Inez as seen in the live DVD of Mtv unplugged Alice in Chains on April 10, 1996.
 * Schecter C1+ - sunburst with EMG 81, 85 pickups
 * Fender Telecaster - A blue/gree American made Telecaster that was stolen during a performance in North Hollywood.
 * Ibanez Stagestar - Silver, with a Floyd Rose Double Locking Tremolo

Effects

 * Boss DD3 Digital Delay
 * Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
 * Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
 * Sure SLX4 Guitar Wireless system


 * Ibanez CS9 Stereo Chorus
 * Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail PLUS
 * Dunlop DB01 Dimebag Wah Pedal
 * Juice Goose Power Distribution center

Amplifiers

 * Eddie Van Halen Peavey 5150
 * Basson Speakers -Basson Endoresee