Guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have announced “The Sea of Emotion,” the debut studio album from their collaborative project SATCHVAI, set for release on November 6, 2026 via earMUSIC. The pair also revealed that “Mayhem,” the album’s first single, is out now. The announcement was shared on Instagram.
The album marks the first full-length studio collaboration between the two guitarists, whose friendship dates back to 1973. Satriani teased the release in a statement introducing the project.
“Something big is on the horizon… ‘The Sea of Emotion,’ the first studio album from SATCHVAI, arrives November 6,” Joe Satriani said.
The announcement post went on to detail more about the project and the new single.
“Evolving from a friendship that began back in 1973, the album brings Joe Satriani and Steve Vai together for their first-ever full-length studio collaboration,” the post continued. “You can stream the latest single from the album, ‘Mayhem,’ now! Give the track a listen and pre-order The Sea of Emotion ahead of its November 6 release.”
The rollout for “The Sea of Emotion” didn’t come out of nowhere. SATCHVAI had already been laying the groundwork for the project well before this announcement.
Ahead of “Mayhem,” SATCHVAI had already teased the upcoming record with three earlier singles: “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1,” “I Wanna Play My Guitar,” and “Dancing.” Those releases gave fans an early taste of the musical direction Satriani and Vai were pursuing together.
SATCHVAI also took much of this material on the road earlier in 2026, performing on the “Surfing With the Hydra” Tour. The trek gave audiences a live preview of songs from the new album months before the studio versions were officially unveiled.
The tracklist for “The Sea of Emotion” also includes cuts titled “Bronco Freight Train” and “Old Sins Have Long Shadows.” These tracks round out a record built from years of musical chemistry between the two guitarists. “I Wanna Play My Guitar,” one of the album’s previously released tracks, features a guest appearance from Glenn Hughes.
“The Sea of Emotion” arrives as one of the most anticipated guitar-driven releases of the year, backed by a string of singles, a full supporting tour, and a guest appearance from a rock veteran like Hughes.
