BMG will release the second album by Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and The Winery Dogs frontman and acclaimed solo artist Richie Kotzen, Black Light/White Noise, on April 4th.
The official music video for the LP’s second single, Black Light, can be seen below. The dynamic, multi-layered clip, again produced and directed by Kevin and Richard Ragsdale a.k.a. The Ragsdale Brothers (Daughtty, Dorothy feat. Slash, Theory Of A Deadman),features the duo performing with bassist Julia Lage and drummer Bruno Valverde, alongside acclaimed Russian acrobat, contortionist and former Cirque Du Soleil performer Gyulnara Karaeva. To view the first single, White Noise, please click here.
Black Light was a song that very nearly didn’t make it on to the album until a late-night session saw them strike studio gold. And it’s lucky they did as not only is it a song about deceit and deception, where the black light is a metaphor that reveals the truth about a person lurking under the surface, but it’s become a true album highlight, even lending its name to the album title. With help from U.K. photographer John McMurtrie, it also inspired the album cover with his UV lights picking up special paint on the black/rosewood custom Fender and Charvel guitars.
“It was a fun video to make,” confirms Kotzen, “as they have all been when we play together. Adding the UV performance section was fantastic and took us back to the album shoot that we did in London last year.”
“Our friend Gyula really added something to it,” adds Smith, “it helped the song’s narrative of all is not what you see!”
The track itself rides in on a thunderous drum beat and a seething riff before Smith‘s raw bluesy vocal explodes from the speakers complemented by Richie‘s higher pitched rock tones. A dramatic bridge leads into a knockout chorus, demonstrating the quality and infectious hooks that are to be found throughout Black Light/White Noise.
“We had a lot of fun making this,” says Smith. “We’d be writing and I’d want something inspired by some of my old hard rock or blues go-to bands then it’d go into a more progressive feel — and then Richie has these strong soul influences so there’s a lot to dig into there too. Influences are what makes the musical world go round — they go through you and come out slightly differently.”
“Smith/Kotzen is all about finding common ground,” adds Kotzen. “Maybe Adrian will tend to go heavy, and then I’ll lean more in the fusion or funk or soul side of things, but somewhere in the middle is our sound: that heavy blues rock vibe that we really connect on.”
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, the LP not only features stratospheric guitar solos and raw, bluesy vocals but soulful touches, intricate playing, beautiful songwriting and an assured poise and style that brings to mind a host of legendary musicians (Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Cream, Free, Deep Purple) but is undeniably the work of Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen in perfect harmony.
Kotzen comments, “We’re so proud of this new album. It follows on from our debut and the EPs by focusing on collaborating on riffs, lyrics, harmonies and vocals. There’s a Smith/Kotzen DNA now and it’s definitely something we need to get out on the road with. I was pleased to work with my friend Jay Ruston on the mixing of the album, let alone my wife Julia (Lage) — who actually plays on White Noise as well as four other tracks.”
“We’re like an extended family now,” adds Smith. “We have a sound and a vibe and I don’t think many artists are doing what we do — sharing the vocals and the guitars. It takes me back to those classic bands like Humble Pie and Cream — which is not a bad place to start.”
The full track listing of Black Light/White Noise” is:
1. Muddy Water
2. White Noise
3. Black Light
4. Darkside
5. Life Unchained
6. Blindsided
7. Wraith
8. Heavy Weather
9. Outlaw
10. Beyond The Pale
Smith/Kotzen released the Better Days …And Nights EP in September 2022 via BMG. The effort comprised five previously unreleased live tracks, plus for the first time ever on CD, the four studio tracks featured on their sold-out, limited-edition 12-inch vinyl EP, Better Days, released in conjunction with Record Store Day in November 2021.
