BLACK LIGHT
WHITE NOISE
SMITH/KOTZEN
Connoisseurs of fine riff craft will need no introduction to Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen or their remarkable, individual careers. Their self-titled 2021 debut was nothing short of a hard-hitting masterclass in modern rock that saw the guitar-slinging legends conjuring a heady dose of 70s-loving blues, rock and R&B that brought those classic sounds straight into the 21st century.
Now they’re back with a newly announced follow-up, Black Light / White Noise which sees the pair continuing that journey starting with brand new single, White Noise – a storming trip down the fretboard that’s just a taste of the deeper cuts to come. Produced by Smith and Kotzen themselves with mixing by studio supremo Jay Ruston, it was recorded at The House in Los Angeles not far from where the duo first met and a friendship and an epic collaboration was born.
BLACK LIGHT / WHITE NOISE
- Muddy Water
- White Noise
- Black Light
- Darkside
- Life Unchained
- Blindsided
- Wraith
- Heavy Weather
- Outlaw
- Beyond The Pale
Available on: Clear Splatter Vinyl (limited to certain retailers) / Black Vinyl / Digipak CD / Lossless Audio Digital
20 Feb 2025
Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen have released ‘Black Light’, the second upfront single from their brand new sophomore album. It is accompanied by a dynamic, multi-layered video, again produced and directed by Kevin and Richard Ragsdale aka The Ragsdale Brothers (Daughtry, Dorothy feat. Slash, Theory of A Dead Man), and featuring the duo performing with bassist Julia Lage and drummer Bruno Valverde, alongside acclaimed Russian acrobat, contortionist and former Cirque de Soleil performer Gyulnara Karaeva.
‘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 UK 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 Richie “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 Adrian – “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 Adrian’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 the upcoming second album, Black Light / White Noise, to be released on April 4th
Recorded at The House, Los Angeles, California, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Jay Ruston, the ten track album is a masterclass in modern rock, with Adrian and Richie’s prodigious talents as songwriters, musicians and vocalists on full display.
“We had a lot of fun making this,” says Adrian. “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 Richie. “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 their 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.
Deliciously varied, exquisitely composed and rounded out by a breadth of flavours that can only come with years of experience, Black Light / White Noise is a new sound with the depth of a fine vintage.
20 November 2024
BMG are proud to announce the worldwide release of the second album by Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen, entitled Black Light / White Noise on March 7th. The news comes alongside the release of the album’s first single, ‘White Noise’.
Recorded at The House, Los Angeles, California, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Jay Ruston, the ten track album is a masterclass in modern rock, with Adrian and Richie’s prodigious talents as songwriters, musicians and vocalists on full display.
Lead single ‘White Noise’ perfectly illustrates the quality and strength of the album, boasting a gloriously heavy riff, soaring vocals, driving rhythms and a hook-filled chorus. Adrian Smith comments: “The song is about the rise of social media, how people get addicted to it, the power of it and how we get bombarded with it 24/7.”
“It was actually a riff Adrian brought in,” adds Richie Kotzen, “I then immediately started improvising the melody and the lyric that became the chorus. It had another working title, completely different to what it ended up being and we kind of came up on the spot with that call and answer in the chorus that turned into ‘White Noise’.”
The accompanying video sees the two guitar heroes delivering a performance as cool as it is effortless and showcases the great partnership they have formed.
And that partnership has flourished and grown beautifully since their debut self-titled album in March 2021. Released to widespread critical acclaim, it was a melting pot of hard rock and traditional R&B that was a powerful calling card for what these two icons can do. On its follow-up Black Light / White Noise the duo have risen to even greater heights, producing a truly magnificent collection of songs that stands shoulder to shoulder with the finest work either of them have ever produced.
From the opening heavy blast of ‘Muddy Water’ through to the epic and stately closer ‘Beyond The Pale’, these ten songs illustrate the myriad talents at Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen’s disposal and reveal that this is both an album and a partnership that will endure for years to come.
Atmospheric, ambitious, diverse and brilliant, Black Light / White Noise 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.
Richie 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 & Cream – which is not a bad place to start!”
The full track-listing of Black Light / White Noise is:
- Muddy Water
- White Noise
- Black Light
- Darkside
- Life Unchained
- Blindsided
- Wraith
- Heavy Weather
- Outlaw
- Beyond The Pale
The album will be available in these formats: Clear, Splatter Vinyl (limited to certain retailers) / Black Vinyl / Digipak CD / Lossless Audio Digital
Smith/Kotzen
Adrian Smith
Richie Kotzen
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