Our Collaborators
Yngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie Johann Malmsteen is a world-renowned guitarist known as the father of neoclassical guitar. His career has spanned over 40 years, with over twenty albums to his name. Drawing influence from classical composers such as Bach, Paganini, and Vivaldi, Yngwie is responsible for birthing the neoclassical genre to the world of rock.
As a Grammy-nominated artist, Yngwie’s music has earned him many awards, including being listed as one of TIME Magazine’s Greatest Guitar Players of All Time. He has created music in many different venues, from instrumental rock albums to orchestral suites. Yngwie was one of the first artists to receive a signature model Stratocaster from Fender, alongside Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. His hands are cemented in the RockWalk in Los Angeles. His music has even been to space, being one of the few chosen artists included in a capsule launched by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin in 2020!
Yngwie is serving as the subject on April Way Foundation’s first collaboration project.
David Banegas
Bolivian born visual artist David Banegas began his artistic journey at a young age. At a mere 11 years old, he had his first art gallery showing in Campo Grande, Brazil. Self-portraits and images in their actual likeness were his main focus. At age 12, he painted a portrait of Bolivian President Hugo Banzer. Upon receipt of the portrait, Banzer awarded David the opportunity to study privately with Masaiko Fujjita, old master art teacher from Japan. During his two year apprenticeship, David mastered paintings of landscapes, florals, and buildings using unique brush techniques. David has an extensive list of art collectors, ranging from Eva Longoria, Joe Namath, Mike Ditka, Kurt Busch, Nelly, Darius Rucker, and more.
David is serving as lead visual painter on April Way Foundation’s first collaboration project.
Steve Vai
A virtuoso guitarist, visionary composer, and consummate producer who sculpts musical sound with infinite creativity and technical mastery, Steve Vai has awed fans of all genres with his exceptional guitar skills and musicianship for decades. At age 12, he started taking guitar lessons from Joe Satriani. At 18, he began his professional music career transcribing for, and then playing with, the legendary Frank Zappa. More than three decades, over 15 million in album sales, 13 GRAMMY nominations and three GRAMMY Awards later, Vai has proven himself, in his own right, to be one of music’s true originals.
Vai has toured the world as a solo artist, as a member of G3, Generation-Axe, and with Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Alcatrazz, and Whitesnake. Vai’s full discography encompasses more than 60 albums, including many with Zappa, others from stints with Roth and Whitesnake, as well as live releases, collaborations, compilations, and orchestral works.
Jonas Åkerlund
Renowned Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund has made his mark with his distinctive storytelling and visually driven signature style that often pushes the boundaries of the status quo. He is an internationally awarded director of feature films, documentaries, music videos, commercials, and stage shows.
Jonas’ commercial work has earned Addy, Cannes Gold Lion and Gannes Grand Prix Awards. He has directed commercials for the likes of Dior, Hugo Boss, Sony, Crest, Avon, Dell, Volkswagen, Lexus, Virgin, Coca Cola, Revlon, Garnier, Smirnoff, Ikea, Panasonic, Adidas, Beyoncé for o2 and H&M, amongst others.
Jonas’ music videos have earned him several Grammy Awards, an Icon Award, MTV Video Music Awards, the prestigious MVPA Hall of Fame Award, and a UK music Video Award for best concert film (Rammstein:Paris). Jonas received his third Grammy award for Best Music Film for Paul McCartney’s “Live Kisses.”
He has directed music videos for the likes of Madonna, Lady Gaga, U2, The Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Pink, Jennifer Lopez, Metallica, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Duran Duran, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Smashing Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz and Maroon 5 to name a few.
Jonas' feature films include “Polar” for Netflix in 2019; “Lords of Chaos” which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2018; as well as “Small Apartments” and “Spun”.
He is directing and co-writing a series for Netflix, “Clark” yet to be released.