Arielle: A Self Made Female Guitarist

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Arielle the Girl who Brian May of Queen wrote a part for in his play

Interview January 9 2017

She was a 17-year-old student there when she met Brian May, at a book-signing for “BANG! – The Complete History of the Universe” (an astrophysicist as well as a rock god, May is the coauthor.) She’d taken her guitar along and when he said essentially, “Show me what ya got,” Arielle complied by busting out a Randy Rhoads solo (Rhoads is perhaps best remembered for his work on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.”) She and May then began a conversation that’s continued ever since. “It was like we’d always been friends,” she says.

That friendship inspired Arielle to move to London, where she attended the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance.

Unratedmagazine: Tell me about your backgrounds?
Arielle: My parents were/are both doctors. My mom a periodontist, and my dad was a pathologist. I came from nowhere, essentially. We traveled a lot, and I loved music from a very early age. They figured it out pretty early I wasn’t going to be a doctor, and kind of accepted it.

Tell me about the development of your musical style?
I began loving opera, doo wop and old classic rock with my dad. I loved everything from the Beatles, to Chuck Berry, Pavarotti. It wasn’t until I was a little older I discovered Queen (my favorite name of all time)

How did you pick your name?
I didn’t, my parents did!

Arielle

Your location is presently in Austin Texas. Have you been to SXSW? And can you tell me some stories about your time in Austin?
I played SXSW last year. It was fun!
I don’t really think I am here enough to say all of the fun stuff here, but it’s special. I love the geography of the lakes and rivers that move through downtown. It has a great vibe once you get away from the little city.

Can you tell me about the music scene there? And what your favorite club to play or see bands in Austin and why is it?
What I Love about Austin is that they really do love music here? And EVERYONE is different. I found things kind of sounded similar in LA and Nashville, but not here. They do embrace their weirdness.

How do you describe your music?
I call it Classic Folk Rock.

What type of music did you listen to growing up?
Queen, Beatles, Doo wop, Classic Rock, Singer-songwriters, Power Metal, Blues, you name it, I listened, maybe just short of rap.

Who influences you and why?
Anyone who is a good person and stands up for the good they believe in their heart. I have so many, many of them not musicians at all. More important than any of that, I want to be a good person.

You call yourself wander-lusting gypsy. Can you tell me more about that? Tell me about some of the places you have gone and what you saw there?
Traveling is one of my very favorite things in the whole world.
My favorite place I’ve ever been is Ireland, and I feel like I belong there in a way, but I love being in places I’ve never been, and meeting people. It makes me the happiest. I feel a glow.

Back in early part of your career you traveled to Los Angeles and was the only female to compete in Guitar Center’s Onstage with Vince Gill contest. How did you do?
Well, I’d say I came out a winner. He became my friend, and I have a memory I will have always.

This is the second time you have tour with Eric Johnson. What is he like in person?
Probably like you think he would be.
Sweet, supportive, kind, humble, very very precise on what he likes.
Very thorough. Deep, if you bring up more ethereal topics.

You are also doing house concerts. How does that work?
I go to my fans houses, they invite 20 + of their friends, and we do a show. It’s very special, and intimate. Each one is different, but they may be my favorite kind of show.

You have open up for some amazing bands: Can you give me some insight about each of the following: What you learn from them to make you a better musician?
Gregg Allman – He was sick, and I could tell. But always professional. Never seemed to complain.
Heart – Lively and passionate. Had a lot of energy.
Joan Jett – We never got to speak much, unfortunately!

What was your first guitar?
My first guitar was a Trans red knock-off Strat called an ‘Austin’ which is hilarious, especially because I live here now.

You have made it to the cover to Guitar Player Magazine. To a guitar player that is like making it to the cover of the Rolling Stone.
Yea! I think more women need to be featured on the guitar, so I felt lucky I was at least on the female version. Here’s to more women showing up on the cover!

You single “California,” reached No. 3 on CMT Pure. What was your feeling once you hear that?
It felt pretty awesome, but at the time I was with a record label I wasn’t very happy with, and to be honest I felt quite pressured, probably so much so I couldn’t actually enjoy and be grateful for what I had right in front of me.

How did you get cast as a guitar player in the TV show Nashville? And have you been able to get them to play any of your music?
I made friends with Danny, the musical set director of the show. They need a female guitar player in the show, and they snatched me up! I haven’t had them play any of my music yet, but they still call me to play in the show quite often.

You worked with Brian May of Queen. How did you get him to create a special part for you in his play “We Will Rock You”?
We became friends instantly. I believe it was what you could call a ‘Soul mate connection’ where I knew it would be that way. We cliqued, we talked a whole lot, and he loved what I did. I wanted to come out there and pursue my dream. And he helped, in more ways than one.

Arielle

How was Coachella?
Crazy. I don’t think I’ve seen so many people in one place in my entire life. I realized I feel more nervous with less people than I did then.
It was an intense feeling..

What tip did Michael Angelo Batio give you on playing the double neck guitar?
Ha! Not many. I am kind of blown away by that guys technical abilities. I’ll leave it to him!

You have recorded with Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, Carl Verheyen, Nuno Bettencourt and Brian May. And you has released 2 EP’s in 2017.

Every Monday you release a new YouTube video. How did you come up with this idea?
Well, I needed to have some structure in my life, and I love creating for my fans. Monday seems like the time everyone needs a little ‘push’ to their week.
So I decided Monday.

On every Wednesday you do a live concert on Facebook. And you like to give your fans something always. They must love you?
My fans do love me. And I love them equally. We have a very close connection, and we speak about anything and everything. I didn’t want to come across as something I can’t follow through with in my daily life. I sometimes show up entirely makeup-less and haven’t brushed my hair, even. I talk about life, frustrations…

Do you have plans to release another EP or LP in 2018?
I have my new EP ‘Mind Lion’ coming out February 9th, which I am super excited about.

Are you using your studio you built to record your music? Do you have a name for the studio yet?
I am using my studio, but when I call it a studio, it’s a room with some equipment.
I don’t have a name for it, but I Should come up with one. Maybe my Magick Lair.

Arielle Twotone guitar

And to top it all you also designed guitars. How did you start designing guitars and besides the one you designed what are your favorite one you like to play model and year?
I designed a guitar with my friend because I wanted to have a bunch of things in a guitar, that didn’t exist. So we came up with it. It’s my favorite, Two Tone!
I don’t have many guitars, but my other guitar I play is a 2010 Gibson 339, named Bijou. I am taking it on the road with me. I like it because the sound, the roundness, how easy it is to play, and it looks like a small 335. I always wanted one of those, but because I’m kind of small, they are way too big.

I see you are also in global activists like protesting dolphin from slaughter and raising awareness for captive whales and dolphins. How did you get involved with these causes?
I’ve always loved dolphins and whales and the ocean. I read a book that was called ‘Behind The Dolphin Smile’ that shared what captivity for them was really like. I was appalled, and dedicated a lot of my life to making sure that they didn’t suffer in silence.

What type of clubs do you like to play in (size)?
It depends on where I am!

What music fests would you like to play in?
Anything that is a throwback of the 60s and 70s, I’m down!

What is your feeling of Van Warped Tour since 2018, is the last year for it?
Never even been. I guess you can say I’ve been a bit of a nerd practicing and out doing stuff, I didn’t even know that was the case!

Tell me about any endorsements you have and may how do got them?
I am endorsed by Ernie Ball Strings, Dava Picks, Seymour Duncan pickups, TC Electronics, and Boss.
I just reached out to them and met them through the years. I love them all!

How would you explain your live performance?
I play about 25 minutes.
There’s quite a bit of jazzy guitar playing, nice soaring melodies and a little bit of rock in there!! I’m also playing in Eric’s band for about 6 songs during his first set.

If someone was listening to you for the first time, what 3 videos or songs would you tell them to look/listen to and why?
I usually people to go tell people to get lost on my site, because there is a lot to choose from. They usually pick which is best for them, but a MUST is my jam with Vince Gill.

Who is your favorite female singer and why?
Kina Grannis I think. I just think she has a special voice, that’s very emotional, rich and smooth.

Who is your favorite guitar player male and female? And why?
Male – Brian May and Jeff Beck, hands down.
Female – I don’t honestly know. I need more of them to choose from!!!
Come on, ladies!

Any guilty pleasures your fans would be surprise you listen to?
Probably not. I’m not guilty about anything.
I do like to rock out to some insane 70’s disco sometimes. I dunno. It just rocks.

What is on your bucket list?
To travel. A WHOLE lot more.

What is on your phone for music now?
Not much. I don’t keep music on my phone. I still listen to CD’s!
But Deep Purple, David Gilmour’s solo album, and some Rush is what I’m listening to lately.

Anything in closing you would like to say?
Thanks for taking the time, I Really appreciate it very much!