All images courtesy of Freeman Promotions/Frontiers Music SRL


By Andrew DiCecco
adicecco@vinylwriter.com

Beaming on the other end of our call, Orianthi recalls what initially set her on the path to becoming one of the world’s most renowned guitarists twenty-six years ago.

In her distinctive Australian accent, the wunderkind guitarist begins to enthusiastically reminisce about seeing Carlos Santana on his Dance of the Rainbow Serpent concert tour at eleven years old and the memorable impression it left on her. At that moment, the optimal instrument for expressing herself and conveying emotion was revealed to her.

A native of Adelaide, Australia, Orianthi spent her formative years navigating the acoustic guitar, but it was that watershed moment that ultimately paved a new musical avenue for her at eleven years old. Awed by Santana’s playing, Orianthi persuaded her father to purchase a PRS guitar and began her study of the electric guitar, locking herself away for seven to eight hours a day.

After exploring Santana’s catalog and listening to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and B.B. King, Orianthi developed her own style of playing.

In the years since, the guitar prodigy has shared the stage with a number of legendary artists, from Steve Vai, Carlos Santana, and Prince to her four-year stint touring the world with Alice Cooper and performing with Michael Jackson as part of his This Is It London residency in 2009.

Furthermore, Orianthi has established a successful solo career, having released four studio albums: Violet Journey (2007), Believe (2009), Heaven in this Hell (2013), O (2020), and another slated for release later this year.

Orianthi recently joined me via Zoom to discuss, among other topics, the recently released Live From Hollywood, her upcoming studio album Rock Candy, Alice Cooper, and the influence that Carlos Santana has had on her career.

Andrew:
Thanks for taking the time, Orianthi. Let’s start with the most recent news. On July 15, Frontiers released Live From Hollywood, an eleven-track live album that you recorded back in January. What was the inspiration behind this concept?

Orianthi:
Yeah, well, Frontiers, our label, they asked me to do a live record. We put it together really fast, actually, because I was sort of writing a ton of material and in the studio, just collaborating with different artists and whatnot. They were like, “Hey, can you do this?” I was like, “Okay, sure.” So, I pulled together an amazing band with Glen Sobel on drums, from Alice Cooper – my brother – he came in, luckily; Michael Bearden came in; he was working with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett in New York the week before. We got Nick Mayfield on guitar; a fellow Aussie and an incredible player. Carmen Vandenberg, she flew in from Italy and guested; great guitar player and great friend. And then we had Justin Andres on bass; we’d done a lot of recordings together and he’s a good buddy.

Honestly, I was just really surprised; we packed out the venue in a really short period of time. Maybe like a few days’ notice. Bill Mims engineered it; we got Mark Jacobs, who’s an incredible director and good friend. Drew Dempsey produced and directed it. It was just kinda like, “Alright, let’s get all this stuff together and get the show on the road. What songs do you wanna play, put them down, rehearsed, got the venue…” I mean, I’m actually surprised, to be honest with you, that we pulled it together so fast and only after a couple of rehearsals and everything. I mean, it’s very live, I must say. It’s a very live album. Hearing it back, there are things the perfectionist in me would have fixed, but hey, it’s out there now, and I’m happy that people are enjoying it. Essentially, when you hear this record, it’s very live. It’s like you’re there. It was mixed in surround.

Andrew:
Following up, you said the perfectionist in you would have fixed some things in retrospect. What changes would you have made?

Orianthi:
Well, you know how things get sometimes with the mixing, especially when it’s done in surround and all that. I’m such a tone freak, so my guitar tone is a little thin in some places. I’m very weird like that; I’m like, “Ah, I would have EQ’d that a little differently.” I would have done just certain things here and there. But hey, sometimes things go out and they are what they are, and the feeling that people are getting from watching it, that’s the most important thing. If they’re enjoying it, then I’ve done my job in serving that.

Andrew:
The tracks sound heavier and the setlist was a bit more varied than I expected. How did you intend for the songs to be conveyed for this live release?

Orianthi:
Well, as an artist, when you look at things from a bird’s eye perspective – which I do sometimes – my career has been quite colorful. Essentially, I came out as a pop artist, right? Sort of a pop song base with guitar solos. It was a hint of heaviness and then it was kind of a singer-songwriter thing. Then being with Michael Jackson for a short period and then the record came out, Believe, and then joining Alice Cooper and then doing a record with Dave Stewart, which was blues-rock-pop. So, a lot of people do love the heavy stuff because I did tour with Alice [Cooper] for four years, so they love to see that and hear it. Is that completely me? No. I mean, I’m a singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar. That’s kind of my vibe. And I’m a blues player. But I do love heavy music; I’m a big fan of it, absolutely. It’s something that is a part of what I’ve done, in my past, and everything. And moving forward, you know, the live record and even Rock Candy coming out after that, it’s a phase and it’s something that I enjoy doing, but then moving forward past that, I’m actually more of a blues-pop singer-songwriter kind of artist. So, I think people are gonna hear that from me moving forward. Like, more personal stuff than the heavy riff, distortion on eleven vibes. And as much as I love doing that, believe me, I do – I’m a big fan of Hendrix and all that kind of stuff – I think the other side of me is more about the story and the singer-songwriter thing. Yeah, it is what it is. I mean, it’s different phases, and I love it all. So, it’s cool to kind of be diverse.

All images courtesy of Freeman Promotions/Frontiers Music SRL

Andrew:
Seventeen songs were performed at the Bourbon Room show in Hollywood, but only eleven made it onto the live release. What factored into your song selection?

Orianthi:
Well, it’s just the flow of it, you know? I mean, going over the songs I’ve done, I actually asked my fans on Facebook and Instagram what songs they wanted to hear. The songs I chose, even “Blues Won’t Leave Me Alone” – I haven’t played that song live, really – but they wanted it. I got a lot of requests for that. And, you know, even with the other songs, they were the ones that they asked me to do. So, I kind of went with what the fans wanted, essentially, for this live record.

Andrew:
Live From Hollywood essentially acts as a table setter for your fifth studio album, which is due out later this year. What sort of updates are you able to share on that front?

Orianthi:
Well, “Light It Up,” the first single, I’ve been teasing that on my socials. That’s coming out on [July] 27th. That’s the first single off Rock Candy. That record was done in like twelve days with my good friend, Jacob Bunton; he’s a great producer and songwriter. We did a thing where I would go in and write a song and record a song a day for the album. It was a challenge, but it was something that we kinda did. Frontiers wanted a heavy record; I was gonna make a blues-pop record. [Laughs]. So, you know, going in there and saying, “Okay, well, this is what the label wants,” I guess following up from O, the last record we did with Marti Frederiksen. I love that record so much. It was released during a pandemic, so it was kind of a situation, right? You can’t really tour or anything like that. Lots of Zoom calls and lots of acoustical performances off my couch with my cat, which was fine. And we did a couple of livestreams. It’s kind of a follow-up to that record in a sense, but it’s also a little heavier and a little different. We had fun creating it; we really did. We went for the heavy aspect because that’s what the label wanted. Also, I think some of the fans wanted that, too. So, it was kind of a mixture and sort of a follow-up. I hope people enjoy it.

“Light It Up” is a riff-based track, and it’s fun. It’s pretty positive. It’s like, literally, don’t let people bring you down; you just gotta stand in your light. I think coming out of this pandemic, and coming out of these hard times, shifting your mindset has been such a big thing, I think, spiritually for humanity and I think for everyone. It’s just about being really positive and setting new goals and setting things for yourself, where it’s like, getting out of a slump and getting out of a darkness, essentially. So, I’m kind of trying to promote that with that single, saying just, “Light it up. Live your life. Stand in your light. Do what makes you happy.” We live once, we’re here for a short period, so I try to promote that. Even with the last record, people thought it was negative; the first single was “Contagious.” It’s like, “No, hate is contagious, but so is love and so is positivity.” It’s weird, it’s like I kind of do that with these heavy-ass songs, and it’s like, “Oh, it’s so contagious.” No, it’s actually that saying, “Things are contagious.” Like if you promote positivity, that goes around. Whatever your mind’s set on, and whatever you admit at your frequency, is contagious. I’m all about that.

Andrew:
Aside from being slated for later this year, does the album have a more specific timeframe for its release?

Orianthi:
Yeah. We’ve got the rollout of the different singles that are coming out, and obviously this Live From Hollywood thing, so that’s gonna tide things over for a minute. And then the 27th, “Light It Up,” then after that, we’ve got another single coming out. And we’ve got another single coming out. We just shot two music videos back-to-back for those tracks, “Light It Up” and “Where Did Your Heart Go.” They’re the two singles that have videos. Then the album comes out in October. So, you know, there’s lots of music coming and I hope people enjoy it. That’s kind of where it’s at right now. As things come together, I’ll be announcing that on my socials and everything. So, I think it’s been a little more structured moving forward, because with everything going on with like 2020, it’s been a gathering situation, right? Just going, “Okay, starting new now,” and really putting things right because I think people – well, especially for me – it was a bit haphazard with like, “What am I gonna do? What’s happening?” And just kind of gathering my mind and my thoughts and where I’m at with an artist and going, “Okay, this is where I’m going right now, and this is where I wanna be later on.”

All images courtesy of Freeman Promotions/Frontiers Music SRL

Andrew:
Throughout the past two weeks, Nita Strauss’ departure from Alice Cooper, and speculation about her replacement, dominated rock headlines. As you’ve spoken glowingly about your time with Alice in the past, were there ever any discussions regarding your inclusion prior to the Kane Roberts announcement?

Orianthi:
So, Alice reached out to me not too long ago about joining him for some festivals in Europe. I don’t know, I guess Nita couldn’t make it, like, she was doing something. Then she ended up being able to make it, but I was gonna get on a plane and rush over there and guest with him. Look, with Alice, the door is always open in the sense that we’re a family. I love him dearly, I love Sheryl [Cooper], I love the whole band; they’re my brothers. Any time, like when it comes to guesting with Alice, I am there, absolutely, because I love the band and it’s so fun. I’m an artist – I have my own career, too, which I really wanna focus on with my records and what I’m doing – but any time that Alice calls me, I am there. A hundred percent. And if he wanted me to join him in the future for a run, absolutely.

I got a lot of messages when Nita left, “Are you gonna go and do it?” Like, literally, my phone was blowing up. And I was like, “I don’t know. That would be cool.” Look, there’s so many things that go into play with that kind of stuff; it’s what’s fitting for Alice, it’s what’s fitting for me. With Kane joining, he’s got that kind of that metal edge, which Nita has. She’s a different player than I am and it’s a different sort of vibe. I bring more the blues-rock kind of vibe to his thing. It was fun, it was really fun. I think that we have our set personalities. I mean, all the guitar players do; from Tommy Hendrickson, he has that edge, to Ryan Roxie, who has that old school playing and his phrasing’s great, and Nita brought the real shred fest theatrics and she’s awesome. So, it’s like what character fits this run? I mean, honestly, that’s where it’s at. With Alice, the door is always open; we’re all family here. It’s a great thing. It’s a really great vibe, and I love them all. So, whatever happens in the future, I’m down. Alice calls, I’m there. When Alice calls me to join the Christmas Pudding, I’m there. Hollywood Vampires, I played on that record – guested with him a few times with that, too. He’s a lovely, amazing, incredible artist, so any time he calls, for sure.

Andrew:
While your virtuosity has always been evident, I was particularly struck by the depth of your songwriting on O. How would you describe your growth in that regard from your vantage point?

Orianthi:
So, going through a lot of personal stuff, I mean, I share that. Relationships and just life in general and being really honest and putting that in songs and being vulnerable is something that I did before and now I’m doing more of and even being really, really ominous. Even with the next record, I’m making or whatever I’m gonna do, that’s how you connect with people. I write journals, I write really late at night when I put my thoughts down, and I think that in order to help people – and how music has helped me – it’s people’s life stories, it’s bearing your heart and soul and just going, “Okay, this is where I’m at right now.” And that, in turn, only helps yourself. But whoever listens to your music goes, “Okay, this is great because I don’t feel alone.” As an artist, I just wanna continue to be better at that and for every record to be more of like what I’ve gone through, and hopefully, that helps other people. As artists, we’re here to serve people, right? That’s our job. And to connect and to help. That’s just being really truthful and being really authentic to that and where you’re at by that point in time in your life.

Andrew:
You’ve shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the music industry over the years, from Alice Cooper and Michael Jackson to Prince. In your formative days as a guitarist, how did that perspective benefit you?

Orianthi:
Working with these incredible artists has been such an honor for me because they’re all so different and I’ve learned so much. Not only by being in their presence but also by having conversations with them and getting to work with them. I don’t take any of it for granted, believe me. I feel like such a student sometimes. Then you get better as an artist, because they’ve been doing it for so many more years than I have, just taking the wisdom and the vibe. I mean, you never stop learning. For me, it’s just like having the opportunity to share the stage and really bringing it, ‘cause you’ve gotta bring it and bring what you’re about. And then when you step off the stage you go, “Okay, that’s really cool,” getting to share that energy with these artists, and then you kind of take that with you moving forward. So, it’s been a wonderful journey. I’m very honored.

As I said, Alice, he’s such a showman; Richie, he’s a great songwriter and all that. Then it was like with Michael Jackson to Prince – Prince wanted to produce my first album, we hung out a lot in 2007 – and due to the label and whatnot, he never ended up producing it, which I was annoyed about. I said, “Hey, things happen for a reason,” and we ended up staying friends over the years up until he passed, and I got to jam with him. And learning from him, too; I mean, he’s such an incredible showman. Steve Vai, who has been there since I was fourteen and we’ve jammed many times, what an incredible guitar player and showman. He’s very authentic. He goes on different journeys with his records. It’s such a process. Watching him over the years evolve from Passion of Warfare to Alien to Love Secrets to Ultra Zone and all that he does, is amazing. I love what Steve does; he’s not only almost like family, but I’m a fan of what he does as an artist. And then you’ve got [Carlos] Santana, who I absolutely love. He’s like family, too; I’ve known him since I was like eleven. We stay in touch nearly every other day; we text each other; he sends me music. Cindy [Blackman], his wife, is an incredible musician and person. These people, I feel very blessed that they’re in my life. It’s a real honor to learn from them.

All images courtesy of Freeman Promotions/Frontiers Music SRL

Andrew:
You mention Carlos, one of my all-time favorite guitar players. In addition to inspiring you to pick up the guitar, you developed a relationship with Carlos that has profoundly impacted your career. Could you elaborate on how that relationship has influenced your musical journey?

Orianthi:
Well, it started with my dad putting on the Abraxas record when I was about ten years old. I was studying classical guitar at the time, and I was very bored with it. [Laughs]. I heard “Europa” and “Samba Pa Ti,” so listening to all these records and then going to see Carlos live – I think I was about eleven when I went and saw him during the Dance of the Rainbow Serpent concert tour – and he played “Europa” and I was like, “Oh my God.” That tone and the way he played, it just shifted something in me. I was like, “That’s what I wanna do. I wanna be able to express myself with a guitar like that, with that frequency, that everyone felt in the room.” I think there were like 15,000 people there. Like literally, we were right in the back in the nosebleed area, and it affected me so much, that not only did I beg my dad for a PRS guitar – which was very obnoxious of me, because they were very expensive, and I was like eleven – we got a second-hand one, and never put it down, and I studied every record of his, and then listened to Hendrix, and Stevie Ray, and B.B. King, and Freddie King, and all that. I literally locked myself away for seven to eight hours a day and just studied electric guitar, and how to find my own fingerprint. You know, how to find my own sound with all these different players.

That was a big thing for me because I literally was just like throwing myself into that. I lived in a time warp, I really did; I feel like I grew up in the 60s or the 70s. The kids at school thought of me as like this weird freak who was a hippie. They didn’t get it, and I really don’t care because I was on my own. And I still am, essentially, and that’s fine. I just think that the power of music is so incredible, and I’ve always been kind of that person with a real hippie vibe. Carlos was that guitar player that really shifted things for me, and I thank him all the time, like, “Thank you for inspiring me so much to wanna pick up the guitar and have it as something that I can express myself through.” He actually helped me get a record deal, too, because he invited me to play over at the Namm Show and jam with him. And then the Interscope A&R was in the audience, and I got a deal with Jimmy Iovine and made my first record. So, I’m very, very grateful. A lot of gratitude.

Andrew:
Your stint with the late Michael Jackson in support of his This Is It London residency in 2009 has proven to be a pivotal period in your career. How do you remember your audition, which as I understand, was centered around your unique rendition of the iconic “Beat It” solo?

Orianthi:
Okay, so, it was a crazy time. I was actually finishing up my album for Interscope Records, we were ready to put it out, and I was doing one extra song with my dear friend, Diane Warren. So, I was in the studio with her – I was putting down a vocal – and this was when MySpace was happening, and I received an email through MySpace from Michael Bearden saying, “I’m here with Michael Jackson, and he saw you perform with Carrie Underwood at the Grammys, and you’re what we’re looking for. Would you come in tomorrow? Just learn the “Beat It” solo, “Dirty Diana,” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Come in tomorrow and play it for Michael.” It was not an audition, per se – well, kind of, they wanted to see if I could actually play the songs – it was, “What we’re looking for, come in.” But at the same time, it was like, “Oh my God. Okay…” So, I didn’t tell anybody, except for my manager at the time. I said, “Could you make sure this is like not weird? Like this is real, what I’m actually showing up for?” It was actually real and a very crazy time.

I learned the solo as best I could, I’m not that kind of guitar player – I mean, I never really studied Eddie’s playing, I just thought of him as an incredible guitar player. I didn’t find myself to be that sort of guitarist. So, it wasn’t like, “Oh, I’ve gotta study everything he’s doing,” because it was just so crazy to me and amazing. Learning that solo, I kind of did my own thing to it, so it’s more of a blues kind of situation going on. Even the way I phrased it, it’s not exactly like the original. So, I went in as an artist, like, “You know what? I’m gonna do my own thing to this because I cannot fill the shoes of Eddie or any of those people. They’re monster players and incredible. But if he wants me to come in, sure, that’s a huge honor. And if I can bring my own personality to it, then great.” And that’s what happened; they hired me and hired us all that day, and it was very emotional and crazy. It was like three or four months, I can’t remember how long – five months – we were rehearsing for. What an incredible experience in getting to know him and getting to work with one of the greatest entertainers ever. I feel very honored.

All images courtesy of Freeman Promotions/Frontiers Music SRL

Andrew:
Switching gears, which guitars are featured most prominently in your rotation these days?

Orianthi:
Well, I have two new models out. My new PRS Custom 24 Lotus Blue came out, and that’s done very well. I’m thrilled with that guitar. It’s beautiful; it’s actually the color of my first Jimi Hendrix t-shirt. It just plays like a dream; it’s so versatile. The inlays and everything, they went above and beyond, and I absolutely love Paul Reed Smith guitars. Incredible company and incredible people. So, that’s available now to people if they wanna purchase that guitar. I know we’ve sold a lot of them already, which is awesome.

And then the other guitar I’m using is my signature Gibson, the SJ-200, which I designed a couple of years ago in Montana. A huge honor to have Gibson. Elvis Presley was a big influence on me when I was six years old and I was strumming along to his songs. So, going into Montana, they were like, “What guitar do you want?” I’m like, “I’ll get the J-200.” And they’re like, “Isn’t that a little big for you? You’re like, you know, a 5′ 5″ girl.” I’m like, “Yeah, but, the sound and how grand it is, and, like, Elvis Presley. You don’t understand, guys. This is the guitar that I want!” Like I’m running around the factory like a child. I didn’t know what color it was going to be, and then my friend Ray, who works at Gibson, she was with me, and then they showed me different colors. She said, “Well, check out this red one.” And I’m like, “Oh my God, it’s going to be red! And then black binding! And then gold hardware! And you put crystals on it!” And they’re like, “Okay…” [Laughs]. They followed me down that rabbit hole. And then I’m like, “Okay, there’s one thing – we have to change the neck on it. We’re gonna put an electric guitar neck on the J-200.” So, it’s the first hybrid acoustic in history at Gibson; putting an electric guitar neck on an acoustic body. And we modified the pickup, as well, so the playability of it, it’s kind of essentially like an electric-acoustic guitar. So, you pick it up, and if you’re a shredder, you can play as fast as you want, and it still has a big sound as any J-200. And we modified the pickup, so if you play it live and you’re doing an acoustic event or it’s just yourself, you just plug it straight into the DI and it sounds amazing. It’s got a built-in compressor; the mid-range really cuts through. I’ve said this before, the soundman could be drunk or passed out and you could handle it yourself.

Andrew:
Last one, Orianthi. Throughout your career, you’ve collaborated with a multitude of decorated artists, but is there anyone you’d still like to work with?

Orianthi:
There’s a couple. I mean, I would love to actually do a song with Keith Urban. That would be amazing. Big fan of his. I did American Idol with him, I did Rock Week; I was just on stage with him, not as a mentor, but kind of like just chatting with him a while back when he was one of the judges. And we’ve done other shows together, like halftime in Australia for the football thing. So, that would be a really cool collab. In the pop world right now, it would be cool to collab with some of the artists that like – I’m a big fan of a good pop song – so even Charlie Puth or someone like that would be pretty cool. Putting a guitar riff, you know what I mean? Something different like that. Or even Post Malone; I’m a fan of his, as well. I think that he’s really badass and cool. And The Weeknd. They’ve got such cool beats and vibes. So, just mixing it up and reaching people. You know, like I said, I’m pretty all over the place with the things I like, but when it’s a good song and it connects with people, that’s where it’s at.

Andrew DiCecco (@ADiCeccoNFL) is the Senior Editor for vwmusicrocks.com and may be reached at adicecco@vinylwriter.com.

4 responses to “An Interview with Orianthi”

  1. Really enjoyed learning more about Orianthi. She has a fascinating story. What a great read!

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  2. Nice interview, down to earth incredible guitarist!

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  3. […] Beaming on the other end of our call, Orianthi recalls what initially set her on the path to becoming one of the world’s most renowned guitarists twenty-six years ago. — Read on vwmusicrocks.com/an-interview-with-orianthi/ […]

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  4. […] to VWMusic recently, Orianthi was asked whether Alice Cooper contacted her at all after Nita’s […]

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