Orianthi speaks about her new album "Some Kind of Feeling"

From shredding her way into the global spotlight as a teenage guitar phenom to sharing the stage with legends like Carlos Santana, Alice Cooper, and Steve Vai, the Aussie-born guitarist Orianthi has carved out a bold and barrier-breaking career that's far from conventional—letting her playing speak for itself Now, with her new album 'Some Kind of Feeling' coming in early 2025, she's ready to share her most personal and raw work yet.
This record really just came together,” Orianthi says, reflecting on her latest project. Recorded at Robbie Krieger’s Love Street Sound studio in Los Angeles, the album is raw and alive in a way few modern records are. “Most of the tracks are basically live. We’d run them three or four times and then pick the best take. It’s real, you know? I wanted to keep it that way.”

For Orianthi, keeping things authentic has always been a priority. From her breakout success with ‘Believe’—the 2009 album that featured the smash single “According to You”—to her time touring with Alice Cooper and Richie Sambora, she’s built a reputa­tion for blending pop hooks with bluesy rock riffs. Now, with ‘Some Kind of Feeling’, she’s taken that raw energy to a new level.
Split between her own production work and that of legendary producer Kevin Shirley, the album weaves together blues, pop, Motown, and even a little country. “Every song came from a feeling,” she explains. “Like, ‘First Time Blues’ leans into that rock-blues vibe, but then you’ve got ‘Ghost,’ which is more of a pop ballad, and ‘Some Kind of Feeling’, which people tell me has this Motown vibe. It’s a mix, but it all makes sense together.”

If there’s one thing Orianthi’s learned over the years, it’s how to take control of her sound.
“I produced my first record, so I’ve always been really hands-on,” she says. “Even when I’m working with someone like Kevin Shirley, I’m co-producing. I’m very specific about my tone, my sound. It has to feel right.”
But that confidence didn’t come easily. Early in her career, she often felt like producers were more interested in her image than her artistry. “Sometimes I felt like a guinea pig,” she admits. “I’d go into the studio, and they’d experiment—wasting days trying to find something—and treat being a female guitar player like a gimmick. It was frustrating.”
These days, Orianthi knows exactly what she wants—and who she wants to work with.
“It has to be someone I respect,” she says. “Someone who’s opinionated and knows what they’re doing. If you waver, I’m not going to trust you with my sound.”

While music remains her main focus, Orianthi is equally passionate about giving back. She’s deeply involved in philanthropic efforts, supporting youth music education programs and animal welfare initiatives. “Helping young people find their voice through music is so rewarding,” she says. “And as someone who’s always loved animals, I want to do whatever I can to support their wellbeing.”

With ‘Some Kind of Feeling’ and the afore­mentioned, but as of yet unnamed “trio record” with Eddie Kramer producing set to drop in the next calendar year, Orianthi is busier than ever. But she’s already thinking about the next project. “I’d love to collaborate with Post Malone, Teddy Swims, or Taylor Swift,” she says. “And eventually, I want to get into film scoring. Music will always be my foundation, but there’s so much more I want to explore.”