ORIANTHI

Blues rock guitarist Orianthi teams with Woodward Avenue Records for the “First Time”

“First Time Blues,” featuring guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drops February 23.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (23 January 2024): Blues rock guitar virtuoso Orianthi wanted to create something special to celebrate her 25th anniversary as a professional musician. The Australian-born, Los Angeles-based Orianthi entered The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger’s Love Street Sound studio where she wrote, produced and recorded her debut single for Woodward Avenue Records. “First Time Blues” will be released on February 23. 

Orianthi has been performing “First Time Blues” in concert with her band for the past year and was able to cut it live in the studio in just a few takes. She burns up “First Time Blues” with her impassioned vocals and blazing guitar licks. Joining her on track are Justin Andres (bass, vocals), Carey Frank (keyboards), Nick Maybury (electric and acoustic guitar) and Elias Mallin (drums).

“‘First Time Blues’ is about that feeling of when you first feel brokenhearted. It doesn’t change throughout life if you really have the strength to love and be all-in every time. I'm guilty of that…throwing myself into the fire just to get burned, heal, then get burned again…or not. You never know. Love is a gamble!” said Orianthi.

To add a second guitar solo to “First Time Blues,” Orianthi invited a friend to record with her: three-time Grammy nominated blues rock guitar prodigy Joe Bonamassa. They had played together many times, but “First Time Blues” is their first recording together.

“My good friend and legend Joe Bonamassa put down his fire leads on the second solo section. Joe is such a great musician. We have jammed many times in the past and I’m grateful he came in and added his magic to ‘First Time Blues,’” said Orianthi who also wrote, produced and recorded her second single for Woodward Avenue Records, “Bad For Each Other” (release date TBA), at Love Street Sound.

Orianthi (Orianthi Panagaris) looks as much like a rock star as she does a supermodel. But it’s her extraordinary guitar chops that turn the most heads. She began playing professionally when she was thirteen years old before going on to perform and/or tour with Carlos Santana, Steve Vai, Alice Cooper, Richie Sambora and Dave Stewart. She was hired by Michael Jackson for his “This Is It Tour” before his untimely death and was a member of the supergroup Hollywood Vampires (Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp and Tommy Henriksen). Orianthi’s debut album, “Violet Journey,” was released in 2005 and she has issued five solo albums to date. She was featured accompanying Carrie Underwood during a Grammy Awards telecast, performed on American Idol, and appears in Jackson’s documentary concert film, “This Is It.” Elle magazine named Orianthi one of the “12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists” and she won the 2010 “Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year” award from Guitar International magazine.   

The Florida-based Woodward Avenue Records is a boutique independent label committed to producing and distributing unique, collaborative musical projects that masterfully fuse genres. From jazz, R&B, soul, blues and gospel to rock, pop, country, Americana and Latin music, Woodward Avenue Records supports standout artists releasing exceptional recordings.   

Woodward Avenue Records founder and president Mark Nordman said, “As a label, we've always been about supporting great artists in making the kind of music that's in their heart and soul, without commercial or arbitrary requirements to simply ‘fit’ in some preconceived genre box. We believe that if the music is great and created with passion and excellence, it will find its own lane with our help. There is no one who represents those ideals more than Orianthi, and we are absolutely thrilled to be working with her and her team. I promise you, there is some really awesome and memorable music on the way, and we can't wait for people all over the world to hear it!”