Orianthi Panagaris is Ready to Make You Believe

I just got off the phone with Orianthi Panagaris, the guitar goddess from Adelaide, Australia who is preparing to take the world by storm. During the call, we discussed her influences, her love for guitar, her upcoming album Believe and what it’s like to be discovered by Michael Jackson on MySpace. The first time I heard her play, I was absolutely speechless. If you have never heard of Orianthi, prepare to be amazed.

Orianthi was only six years old when her love for the guitar began. She took an interest in her dad’s album collection, which included greats such as ”Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Santana… he was into guitar players that are real songwriters”.

At 11, her passion for guitar erupted,

“When I was 11, Carlos Santana came to play Adelaide and that show really affected me. I begged my dad to get me a second hand electric guitar so I could be like Carlos, and that was it, no more acoustic. After that, I would buy all of Carlos’ videos — on VHS! — which I kept rewinding to try and learn his solos. I totally wore out the tapes.”

Carlos Santana has stated that if he decides to pass the baton, Orianthi would be his first choice.

Now, at 24, Orianthi has an amazing musical resume under her belt, having shared the stage with Carlos Santana, Steve Vai, ZZ Top, Carrie Underwood and Prince, to name a few. Michael Jackson knew talent when he heard it, that’s for sure. MJ sent Orianthi an email through her MySpace account, asking her to audition for him. She played the solo from “Beat It”, saying,

“I have never been so nervous, I just didn’t want to mess it up. After he heard it, he took me by the arm and walked me back and forth across the stage, saying ‘Can you play it while walking with me?’ He was walking really fast. I said I could, and he hired me right there.”

Here is a video of Orianthi playing the “Beat It” solo on 102.7 KIISFM. No wonder Michael Jackson hired her immediately!

Orianthi was one of the last people to see Michael Jackson before he died. They were rehearsing, and she said that he was in great spirits, thanking the crew, saying that he didn’t want to change a thing. He was very excited. Then he was gone.

“We were all devastated. I didn’t want to believe it… I wanted to see the fans’ faces light up that first time he took the stage, give them a chance to see what we had seen.”

Orianthi will be featured heavily in the upcoming documentary This Is It, which will feature footage of rehearsals as well as behind the scenes videos of Michael Jackson’s planned tour of the same name. Orianthi stated,

“There were cameras around all the time, we just didn’t notice them after awhile. It will be very hard for (the crew) to sit through.”

For the past three years, Orianthi has been working on her upcoming album, Believe. I forgot to mention… Orianthi has a beautiful singing voice. On Believe she writes, sings and leads her own band. Produced by Howard Benson (All American Rejects, Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, Three Days Grace), Believe is due to be released on October 27th.

A songwriting guitar shredding master with a beautiful singing voice, charming personality and stunning looks? Seems too good to be true. Give her a chance, however, and Orianthi Panagaris will make you Believe.

[images: Total Assault]