With the release of Rewrite Tomorrow, progressive rock guitarist and songwriter Tom Frelek opens a new chapter in his musical journey—one that blends cinematic scope with virtuosic storytelling, and emotional depth with technical brilliance. For Frelek, the culmination of this project marks a moment of both relief and pride.
“It feels pretty good,” he says. “It’s been about a year, and finally getting this project out feels great to share with the people. I try to be a perfectionist, but it ends up not too great. Better to get the stuff out fresh!”
Frelek reunites with two formidable collaborators on Rewrite Tomorrow: drummer Marco Minnemann and bassist Mike Lepond, the same powerhouse trio behind Waken Eyes’ acclaimed Exodus. Their return wasn’t just a coincidence, but a deliberate rekindling of creative chemistry.
“I wanted to recapture that spark,” Frelek explains. “Marco is great to work with—quick and spontaneous—so it’s always a fun challenge to add to his parts after the demos are done. Mike is a pleasure to collaborate with too. Very talented, and he always helps move the songs forward. They’re both genuine, nice people.”
The trio’s process echoed their previous work together. Frelek laid down the initial demos—programmed drums, simple basslines, foundational guitars—before sending them off to his bandmates to build upon in their own studios. The back-and-forth continued until each song reached its final form.
“I would finalize everything and send it to the mixing engineer,” Frelek says, describing the decentralized but fluid recording workflow.
At its core, Rewrite Tomorrow is about expanding the narrative potential of instrumental guitar music. Rather than relying solely on technical prowess, Frelek aimed to evoke emotion and movement through melody and structure.
“When writing instrumental guitar-driven music, I like to focus on telling a story with the song,” he shares. “It’s great to do intricate guitar solos and shredding all over the place, but I enjoy giving the song a journey-like aspect. I like to think of it as a Guitar-Rock Score.”
The album consists of ten instrumental tracks and one vocal-led song—Bright Lights, a standout moment that gave Frelek the opportunity to step outside his comfort zone as both a vocalist and lyricist.
“That one took a while,” he admits with a laugh. “Lyrics take me quite a while to finish. I have to think deeply about what I’m saying, make sure it makes sense, and ensure it’s relatable.”
With guest vocalist Kat Lisowski lending her voice, Bright Lights explores the emotional toll of chasing dreams.
“The entire record can be heavy but also soft,” says Frelek. “It has a kind of somber vibe to it. This song needed vocals.”
Among the tracks, Ghosts of Lydia came together with surprising ease. Written from a trove of saved guitar riffs on Frelek’s phone, the song emerged organically and was later chosen as the lead single with an accompanying performance video.
“It just flowed naturally,” he says. “That one really stood out.”
Frelek’s sound is unmistakably shaped by guitar legends and prog metal royalty.
“Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, Dream Theater, and Opeth,” he says, listing his major influences. “From Gilbert, you get the shredding; from Satriani, the melody; Dream Theater gives you technicality; and Opeth brings both brutality and softness. It’s a nice potluck mix.”
That blend of aggression and elegance defines Frelek’s playing—always calculated, never gratuitous.
“I try to sing out the melody and recreate it on the guitar so it sings rather than just plays,” Tom explains. “I enjoy playing fast and doing intricate passages, but I try to do it at a time and place that fits the story. Sometimes I even rewrite an entire song if it’s unnecessarily complicated.”
Frelek’s journey began at age 11, self-taught and driven by an obsessive commitment to craft.
“I would be in my room practicing the same sweep arpeggio for eight hours straight,” he recalls. “Frustrated every single day. But those hours gave me the patience and discipline to really understand the instrument. I’m still growing as a guitarist and composer. It’s a never-ending journey.”
That journey is deeply tied to his dual heritage—Polish and Canadian—which occasionally finds its way into his music, whether through cultural nostalgia or cross-cultural influences.
“I play in a Polish cover band now and then, which brings me back to my roots,” he says. “And I listen to artists from all over—Sweden, Norway, Germany, the U.S., the UK.”
For Rewrite Tomorrow, Frelek used a diverse mix of gear: Ibanez and Jackson guitars for most leads, a Taylor for acoustic textures, and a Stratocaster for clean passages. His Fractal FM9 handled most of the amp modeling before the tracks were reamped by famed producer Fredrik Nordström using an Engl Fireball.
“Effect-wise, I didn’t use many—just standard overdrive, delay, compression,” he says. “On a few songs, I used a slow-time phaser on top of the lead, kind of like a Van Halen touch.”
To support the album, Frelek released three music videos: the cinematic Ghosts of Lydia and two home-recorded playthroughs for Spirit Bomb and Das Misio. Visually, the lead video plays with duality—light vs. dark—mirroring the album’s dynamic contrasts.
“We switched between two sets in the video,” he says. “It sparked the idea of dark versus light.”
With an ear for theatrical soundscapes, Frelek says composing for film is more than a possibility—it’s a passion.
“That’s actually my favorite type of music to listen to,” he says. “Some of my favorite composers are James Newton Howard, John Williams, Nobuo Uematsu. I believe I’ll always include this style in my own music. It really connects with me, even more than guitar-driven music.”
As for the meaning behind Rewrite Tomorrow, Frelek hopes it offers a sense of empowerment.
“Every day is a new day,” he reflects. “There’s always a chance to start over, to be a better person, to accomplish what you want. You always have a chance to rewrite your own story.”
Looking ahead, Frelek has local shows in the works, and a tour on the horizon. Beyond that, he’s already gearing up for the next Waken Eyes album.
“I have a lot of material written—it just needs to be polished,” Tom teases. “I’m looking forward to bringing back some members. Stay tuned!”
Despite the ever-changing landscape of digital content and viral trends, Frelek remains rooted in authenticity.
“All you can do is give your best to your music and your fans,” he says. “Always be true to your music. That way, you’ll get a genuine response.”
His advice to up-and-coming musicians in the prog and instrumental world?
“Adapt to technology. Use social media, YouTube, be a creator. Collaborate, play shows, engage with fans. It can be draining—but also really rewarding.”
With Rewrite Tomorrow, Tom Frelek doesn’t just showcase guitar mastery—he offers a vivid, emotional, and cinematic soundtrack to self-discovery, resilience, and reinvention.
Rewrite Tomorrow is out now and is available on Bandcamp. Follow Tom Frelek on Facebook and Instagram.
