ORIANTHI

Because it was as if one musical icon was anointing another, Michael Jackson will always be a foundational part of Orianthi’s incredible rise as one of the premiere electric guitarists of her generation. Blown away by her inventive, otherworldly skills with chords, funky rhythms and her inimitable solos, MJ hired her for his 2009 This Is It concert series, and she participated in all the rehearsals.

That same year, Orianthi’s solo career started heating up as well, driven by the international success of “According to You,” her debut single as a singer/songwriter on Geffen Records which hit the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Top Five in Japan and the Top Ten in her native Australia. In addition to being named one of the 12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists by Elle Magazine, Orianthi was Guitar International magazine’s 2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of Year. “According to You” remains her signature hit, with over 37M streams on Spotify and 26M views on YouTube.

After Jackson’s untimely passing, the multi-talented artist quickly became one of the industry’s most in demand live performers, touring with, among others, Alice Cooper (three years), Dave Stewart (two years), and most significantly – and sometimes under the name RSO – traveling the world on and off for eight years with Richie Sambora.

She appeared on “American Idol,” performed “Fine China” with Chris Brown at the Billboard Music Awards and in 2013 paid tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors to Carlos Santana – ten years after the legendary guitarist first invited her onstage with him to jam when she was 18. For Orianthi, who
performed her first stage show for Steve Vai at 15, these whirlwind years also included studio work with Jason Derulo, Adam Lambert, Mary J. Blige, One Republic and Michael Bolton.

Amidst all the demand for her galvanizing guitarisma, Orianthi never lost sight of her original goal to be a solo recording and touring artist. In addition to her independently released 2007 debut album Violet Journey and Geffen collection Believe (2009), over the past decade, she has released Heaven in This Hell, O and Rock Candy. She spent most of 2023 touring as a solo artist, including numerous dates throughout the U.S. and several shows in Japan.

Throughout her recording career, Orianthi has benefited from the guidance and expertise of numerous top veteran producers – including Dave Stewart, Ron Fair, Howard Benson. RedOne, Marti Frederickson and Jacob Bunton. On the new songs she’s recording for Woodward Avenue, Orianthi comes full circle, self-producing for the first time since Violet Journey and once again taking the advice of her old friend Prince, who once told her, “You don’t want people putting outfits on you.” That advice could extend more literally to her status as one of rock’s greatest purveyors of alternately classic and loud millennial hippie fashion, topped with hats inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Nicks.