Orianthi Interview: PRS Guitars, Michael Jackson and Hendrix

By: Jason Saulnier from Music Legends

2010 was a big year for Australian guitarist Orianthi. Her debut solo album Believe helped launch her to international stardom, which was first ignited after she appeared in the Michael Jackson film This is It. She has toured under her own name as well as making appearances with Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Jimi Hendrix’s bassist Billy Cox. Her playing is a mixture of raw energy and pop sensibilities, a lethal combination that has awed her fellow guitarists and garnered her radio play across the globe.

Aside from her concert appearances, Orianthi also blew the roof off of the 2010 Experience PRS event at the company’s headquarters in Maryland. Playing her hit single “According to You,” before kicking off a 12 minute epic version of Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile,” the talented guitarist made a huge impression on a crowd made up almost entirely of guitarists, guitar dealers and guitar journalists, not an easy feat to say the least.

Guitarist and radio host Jason Saulnier recently caught up with Orianthi to talk about Believe, her upcoming record and working with Michael Jackson. Jason has let us post that interview in written form for our readers to enjoy.

You can also check out the audio version of this video here at Jason’s site.

Orianthi PRS Experience 2010 Photo: Rick Landers

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Jason Saulnier: Hello Orianthi. What’s going on with your music these days, there are no gigs marked on your website, what’s going on right now with you?

Orianthi: I’ve been working on songs and collaborating with different artists. I just got up and jammed with Carrie Underwood at the Hollywood Bowl here in L.A. and I just got back from Seattle where I played at the EMP Founder’s Award with Billy Cox at the Jimi Hendrix Museum. I got to play “Red House” and a bunch of Hendrix tunes with Billy Cox and that was a real honor to be there and be a part of that.

I’ve been doing random things like that and working on new songs for my next record. My brand new single “Courage” is out now, that’s just gone to radio.

Jason: That means you’re keeping really busy then.

Orianthi: Keeping very busy, yes definitely. I went over to London and Germany, and just got off a tour with Adam Lambert in Japan. I’ve been doing a lot of things, but I’ve been back in L.A., apart from playing in Seattle, for about the past few weeks.

Jason: Let’s talk about your record Believe a little bit and the recording process. How long did it take you to make the album?

Orianthi: Believe took about three years to make. I spent about a year writing it and two years recording it with Howard Benson. It’s a collection of songs that I think are a real combination of tracks being commercial, with lots of guitar solos throughout the record.

It’s a record that I wanted to make as a first record. With the next record I’m going to make, it’s going to be a little heavier, a little rockier. Still really commercial but just edgier, and I’m really excited about it.

Orianthi and Paul Reed Smith – Photo: Matt Warnock

Jason: When can we expect to see the album, 2011?

Orianthi: Yeah, definitely 2011. I’m experimenting with lots of different things and thinking outside the box musically for this record. It’ll still be commercial but edgier, like I said. I’m really excited about it.

Jason: Are you experimenting with different equipment, amplifiers etc.?

Orianthi: No, different sounds. Different riffs and drum beats, a kind of a combination of things, different melodies and what not. I’m picking up a guitar every day and just seeing what comes out. I’m writing as much as I can.

I’m really excited about the way it’s going to be. My vision for the next record is to be more on the rockier side. Believe was still rock, but the majority of it was pop, so this one’s going to be rockier.

Jason: For the song “According to You,” what amp did you use to record that track on the album?

Orianthi: I actually use EVH amplifiers. They’re my favorite amps. I used that amp for the entire record. It’s just a great sounding amp, live and in the studio. It’s really versatile and I love it. It really works well with my PRS guitars.

Jason: How loud does Orianthi play on stage?

Orianthi: Pretty loud. I’m actually wearing ear protection on the tour lately, definitely protects your hearing. I don’t really like the amp to be facing me when I’m playing, otherwise that’s all I can hear and I like to hear everybody else who’s on the stage. I like to play pretty loud so I just turn it towards my bass player or guitar player. They’ll go deaf and I’ll keep my hearing. [Laughs]

Jason: Do you have any new endorsements to tell us about?

Orianthi: Yeah, TC Electronics. I’m using their G-Force Unit, which is awesome for a lot of my sound effects on stage, delays and what not. I’ve been with Paul Reed Smith guitars for a while now, and EVH amplifiers, that’s the main equipment that I use.

Jason: I figure you’ll be playing PRS guitars for a while because they’ve blended into your overall look by now.

Orianthi: Yeah, I feel really comfortable playing those guitars. You don’t want to be thinking about holding a guitar when you’re playing it, and Paul’s guitars feel so comfortable that you can let the music flow through. The sound is amazing, and they’re a pretty cool looking guitar. I have my new model out, the SE PRS. It’s a Custom 24 and it’s based off the guitar that I use.

My Custom 24 is called Pepper, it’s my favorite guitar. Working with Paul and coming up with this guitar that’s affordable for kids was fun. It sounds amazing and it sounds great live. I just played up at the PRS open house not too long ago and that was a blast playing up there. I’m excited about this guitar, right now it’s red but we’ll be coming up with a black one soon too I think.

Click to Check Out the Orianthi PRS SE at Musician’s Friend

Jason: Let’s talk about your posts on YouTube that you do frequently, the fans really seem to like these don’t they?

Orianthi: The YouTube thing is great for connecting with fans, playing that little acoustic thing and updates and what not. I’m going to put some more stuff on their, more acoustic things. It’s a great way to connect. Besides writing things on Twitter and Facebook, it’s a great way to connect with everybody.

Jason: Speaking about Michael Jackson for a bit. Do you remember the first time you heard one of his songs and did you ever think you’d be playing with him someday?

Orianthi: I think I was about 9 or 10 and there was a concert that was showing on Australian TV. I thought it was the coolest thing. There was this huge statue of MJ at the show, and Jennifer Batten was on the concert and she just killed it. I really looked up to her. Her and Bonnie Raitt were the two female guitar players that I looked up to the most.

I never thought back then that I would be meeting Michael or playing with him, it was just crazy. When I got the chance to come in and audition and rehearse with him was a dream come true and a time I’ll never forget. Everyone on that stage was really talented and we felt like a family, it was a really good time.

Jason: Do you think there’s still unseen footage somewhere of you rehearsing with Michael on stage?

Orianthi: There was a lot of footage. I don’t know how many hours they recorded but they were filming all the time. I guess they picked out all the parts that were more complete and fit well together. If they put out everything it would be too long so they had to cut it back.

Jason: A 16 hour Blu-ray.

Orianthi: [Laughs] Right, I don’t think that would go to the movies, people couldn’t sit for that long. All the scenes they chose for the film just fit well together.

Jason: Are you going to be touring in 2011?

Orianthi: I would love to and I hope to. We would love to come out on tour in 2011 that would be awesome.

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About the Author

Good Time Metal Oldies radio show (GTMO) is broadcasted on CIFA 104.1 FM in Nova Scotia, Canada & on Pure Rock Radio Online http://www.purerockradio.net/. CIFA Radio broadcasts at 40,000 Watts in Nova Scotia. GTMO is hosted by Jason Saulnier twice a week on Tuesday’s & Thursday’s with two different show versions. GTMO is about rock and metal music with a 2 song spotlight along with interviews from any given artist or band on the show. All weekly interviews get posted on http://www.youtube.com/gtmo.

Hailing from Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2009 Jason Saulnier posted two Ozzy Osbourne audition videos on YouTube and grabbed the attention of the media, and even the Osbourne camp. Both videos tallied more than 88,000 hits at 5 star ratings in 3 months.

In 2005, Jason joined Gold Certified International touring artist (BLOU). Jason also appears on more than 20 albums with Radio Airplay being received worldwide, online and on Terrestrial Stations. He has also played over 450 gigs played in career.

On top of these accomplishments, Jason has played significant festivals in Canada and in the United States. In 2009 he played the Wharf Rat Rally Biker Festival for the 3rd time for upwards of 60,000 people. Jason is endorsed by Seymour Duncan Pickups, Sfarzo Strings (California), and is endorsed by Gibson Guitars USA as a “Gibson Artist.”

http://www.reverbnation.com/jasonsaulnier