Frequently Asked Questions

"Johannes is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, certified Sensory and Reiki healer, has trained many years in Hung Gar Kung Fu and Qi Gong, received initiation into Sant Mat, had a kundalini awakening at age 24, is the founder of Divine Earth (www.divineearth.com) - a spiritual community promoting peace, vegetarianism, and conscious living), was named "Love Ambassador" by The Love Foundation, and is the author of Buddha in a Business Suit - a holistic approach to business. Johannes was bestowed the spiritual name Seva Singh meaning "Lion of Devotional Service," by yoga master Yogi Bhajan who first brought Kundalini Yoga to the West in 1969."

When I perform I can't say I really think about anything other than the the note that's being played at that exact moment. Each note is an eternal moment unto itself. To think ahead would be to lose that moment; to think of the notes I had just played would derail the flow of consciousness.

Composing is similar. However, there is some reflection of the past, and some anticipation of the future. But ultimately each note is a manifestation of the present. It cannot be otherwise.

As a child I grew up listening to classical music. Every night before bed I'd listen to the great masters: Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Beethoven, Rossini...they are still with me to this day. As a result of this I compose a lot of classical music. I have over 300 hand written pieces that I have composed, mostly for guitar, but also piano, violin, flute, string quartet. While my recordings are distinctly Latin, you can hear the classical influence in my melodies. As far as guitar influence goes, I enjoy Strunz and Farah, Paco de Lucia, Sabicas, Al de Miola, and the compositions 19th Century guitar masters such as Tarrega, Sor, Guiliani, and others. In my teens I studied and taught classical and rock, and played in my high school jazz band (and won the Jazz Band "Musician of the Year" award!). I really believe my diverse background has propelled me as a composer.

What moves one's heart? For different people it is different things. Things that move me are the tranquility of nature, a stunning sunset, the sound of a trickling waterfall, the song of a bird hidden in distant tree...kindness, love, even sadness...what I feel in my heart comes out through my music. If you understand my music, you understand my heart. They are one.

I have traveled traveled almost everywhere in the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Virgin Gorda, Antigua, St. Maarten, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Barts, Tortola, and many others. In the Americas I have visited Venezuela, Columbia, Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, and Mexico. I have also traveled to Europe: Spain, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands and as far as India and Bahrain in the Middle East. My journeys, and the people I have met along the way, have profoundly influenced my music.

I am a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, so when my tour schedule allows I teach a weekly class. I believe yoga is an effective way for people to elevate themselves and promote good health. In 2007 I founded the Divine Earth Organization (www.DivineEarth.com and www.DivineEarth.org) which is a growing community of spiritually minded people who contribute to bring awareness on matters pertaining to health, spirituality, politics, and the ecology. The concept is that the Earth can be a Divine place if we work together. I have also authored a book entitled Buddha In A Business Suit, which is a holistic approach to business.

I chose music because at an early age I fell in love with the guitar. It was and still is my passion. I loved how you can take a handful of notes and arrange them in a certain way to create this magical elixir that can at one moment move people to tears and the next moment create feelings of joy.

For live performances and for recording, I now use a Yamaha NCX2000R. In April 2010 I signed an Influential Artist endorsement agreement with Yamaha Corporation of America. I also record with Maldonado flamenco cutaway when I need a certain sound. This was built for me in Malaga, Spain. I was able to spend some time with the Maldonado family who were very gracious. My backup guitar in live performances is a custom built LFDM guitar built by my friend Luis Feu de Mesquita in Canada, and a Raimundo flamenco cutaway, which is also a Spanish made guitar.

Currently I am using a Ward-Beck mic preamp and an Audio Technica 4060 mic. On Mistico, Cafe Tropical and Mediterranea, I used an Avalon VT737 mic preamp. I also use a Audio Technica 4050 mic through and En-Voice MindPrint mic-preamp when I double-mic my guitars. I record using Digital Performer software via a TC Electronic Studio 48 Konnekt audio interface as of 2008. I formerly used the MOTU 1224. As for strings I use D'Addario regular tension Pro Arte classical guitar strings.

Here is a list of my main instruments:

Yamaha NCX2000R - 2010
LFDM hybrid flamenco guitar, custom made - 2007
Maldonado flamenco guitar - 2001
Raimundo flamenco guitar - 1999
Sitar from India (a) - 2008
Sitar from India (b) - 2008
Kalis & Co. of Toronto Greek bouzouki - circa 1998
Bass - circa 1994
Sitar from India - circa 1940
Mandolin - circa 1900
Gors and Kallmann of Berlin grand piano - circa 1880
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe - 1969
Charvel Jackson neck-through-body electric guitar - 1987
Yamaha classical guitar - circa 1985
Yamaha acoustic guitar - circa 1980
Hawaiian guitar - crica 1965
Autoharp (C. F. Zimmermann, NY) - circa 1894
Violin - circa 1975
El Degas "Les Paul" gold top - circa 1976
Jay Turser 12-string acoustic - circa 2004
Several wood flutes from various countries
A large assortment of percussion instruments - djembes, shakers, guiros, etc.

Very important, because in the initial stages a future in music or the arts is very uncertain. So having the support of family members who believe in you and encourage you is essential. I'm not married, nor do I have any kids, but my parents, sister, nieces, nephew, aunts, uncles, and cousins are all very close.

I where a lot of hats. I write all my own music, record and mix it at my own studio, run a record company, arrange many of my concerts, not to mention the time I spend on the road with my group. This doesn't leave a lot of "me" time. But the time I do have to myself I don't waste. I don't have a television in my house, so I don't know the latest Hollywood gossip. I usually try to spend quality time with a few special friends and my family doing simple things, like going for walks and meditating.

For over ten years I have been involved with the Chinese arts of Kung Fu and Qi Gong. Several years ago started learning Kundalini Yoga at the Healing Arts Center in my home town. Because I saw firsthand how yoga helped me I decided to arrange my schedule so that I could study yoga more in depth, and I have since become a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor. I feel that dedicating time everyday to go inward has helped me not only reduce stress, but to also be a more compassionate human being.

Apart from Yoga and Qi Gong, I also enjoy horseback riding but I am sad to see the place that I go is now being destroyed and made in to a housing development. If people realized what treasures of nature we have so close to home I think we would try harder to protect them...I also enjoy scuba diving and I am a certified Open Water Diver...nice long walks, reading books on spirituality, and traveling to warmer climates like Spain and the Caribbean!

My music awards have mostly been from the US so far - including "Best World Album" and "Best Contemporary World Album" . In Canada I was named "Guitarist of the Year" which was a great honor. All my CDs have charted on Billboard in the US too. There's a list of career highlights here: http://www.johanneslinstead.com/home/?q=node/18

Faith! In your life you will find people that believe in you and support you. These are the people you listen to. But the most important things is for you to believe in yourself. There's a saying: the harder I try, the luckier I get. I realized early on that to be successful in music was going to be a real challenge. I started by creating my first CD, Sol Luna Tierra, and playing locally at restaurants. I sent my CD to as many record companies in my genre that I could. Finally a record company in California signed me in 1999. Now my CDs are available around the world and I'm playing concerts across North America.

I will always be making music. In the future I may add some pop influences, maybe even adding vocals, or introduce my classical side and include a small orchestra and operatic style singing with my Spanish guitar. In the distant future I would like spend a few months of every year relaxing somewhere tropical, near the ocean and mountains with lots of fresh air and nature. That is where I get my inspiration.