Two Sides Of The Coin With ADRIAN SMITH From SMITH/KOTZEN

Interview by Kris Peters
When Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs) first joined forces for their debut self-titled album in 2021 it was as though the music Gods had finally listened to our prayers. Here were two of possibly the greatest guitarists of the modern era in their preferred genres, forming a sonically unlikely union that most feared would be a one-time merging of passions that dissipated once both parties overcame yet another musical challenge to emerge triumphant.
Blending both guitarists' loves of music, that first release was a smouldering mix of hard rock, blues, groove and R & B with splashings of metal and attitude where it mattered. The fact that both Kotzen and Smith shared guitar, bass, vocals, composing and production duties on the album added to the allure of their music, each contributing different sides of their musical psyche while experimenting with sides that were either dormant or previously non-existent.
It was that good.
But, as is their right, Smith and Kotzen played their cards close to their chest over the ensuing years, neither fully committed or non-committal to a second helping. As the years ticked over it seemed less likely that we would hear another record from Smith/Kotzen before the announcement came late last year that round two was certainly on the cards and that the friends and celebrated musicians had each found time in their busy schedules to start on the next whirlwind of expectation that a new album inevitably brings.
Thus Black Light/White Noise was introduced to the world, and after being teased with two singles that bear the names of each individual component of the album title, we are fast approaching the finish line when album number two is set free in the world on April 4. Black Light/White Noise is a truly magnificent collection of songs that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of Smith and Kotzen's finest work to date. Atmospheric, ambitious, diverse and brilliant, it not only features stratospheric guitar solos and phenomenal rock vocals but soulful touches, intricate playing, beautiful songwriting and an assured poise and style that brings to mind a host of legendary bands and musicians (Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Cream, Free, Deep Purple) yet is undeniably the work of Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen in perfect harmony.
With the release date rapidly approaching, HEAVY jumped at the chance to spend some time with Adrian Smith, after we had the pleasure of speaking with Kotzen the first time around. We get straight to the point, reiterating claims from most who have heard the new album, who say it is quite possibly the best slab of music either of them has done individually or together. Then follow up by asking if they are right.
"Well…" he measured. "You write the songs the best you can, and you play them the best you can. I think… I think this is a more consistent album than the first one. It's probably a little more up-tempo. Obviously over time, Richie and I developed our writing relationship. Our playing relationship, I think, has gone from strength to strength."
Black Light/White Noise ticks all of the boxes you would expect and more. There's guitar solos, funk, groove, blues, hard rock and more guitar solos but the overriding thing HEAVY took out of our listen was that it sounds like Smith and Kotzen genuinely had fun and enjoyed the process.
"I play music because I wanna do it, anyway," Smith replied. "But yeah, it's fun. Richie and I are friends and have been for the best part of ten years. I live part time in America. I'm over there usually around Christmas, and we met up one year - I had a party at my house - and we started jamming Bad Company and Stevie Ray Vaughan and all that blues and someone said you guys should write together so that's what we ended up doing. And we did it because it was fun and we thought we had something to say as well. I take a lot of inspiration from 70s music. I grew up and that music had a massive effect on me when I was a kid - it changed my life - so I take that as my basic inspiration. Then you try and take that to another level. You try and use it as an ingredient and write songs that stand up on their own."
In the full interview, Adrian discusses the singles released and how they represent the overall album, their extra emphasis on collaboration this time around and how it impacted the finished result, the album title and how it combines two album tracks to create a mental image, the creative process and how they harnessed their individual talents into a cohesive unit, his favourite tracks on the album, taking Smith/Kotzen into a live setting and more.

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