Interview by: Nando Machado
Text: Jéssica Marinho
Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen (also known as Smith/Kotzen their new studio album Black Light / White Noise on April 4th via BMG — available on splatter vinyl, black vinyl, CD digipak and digital platforms .
Recorded at The House in Los Angeles, California, produced by the duo themselves and mixed by Jay Ruston , Black Light / White Noise showcases Adrian and Richie's prodigious talents as songwriters, musicians, and vocalists. The ten-track album is a true rock gem, comparable to the best work they have ever released.
In an interview with Wikimetal , vocalist Richie Kotzen spoke about his partnership with Adrian Smith, the production process of the new album, and a possible tour in Brazil.
The friendship between Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith
Wikimetal: I'm sorry to ask this again. I know you've probably answered this many times already, but could you tell me again how you and Adrian Smith met?
Richie Kotzen : I met Adrian through his wife, Natalie [ Dufresne Smith ], actually. And the story is that one night I was going out and, on the way back, my friend and I stopped at a very well-known place called Sunset Marquee. We were resting, there weren't many people there, and my friend started talking to Natalie. We didn't know who she was, it was just a friendly conversation. And somehow, music came up, and my friend started talking about me and my music. He put on a video, but she didn't watch the video, she listened live, and she liked it and said, "That's great, my husband is in a band, he's a guitarist," and I asked who he was.
And when she told me who she was, I couldn't believe it, I thought, my God, this is incredible, because I was a huge fan. And then we all became friends. Adrian came to town, we went to dinner and we became very good friends. After years of friendship, there was an jam at a party at Adrian's house. And it was Natalie who suggested that Adrian and I try writing a song together. And that's what inspired our reunion. That was about 17 years ago.
Wikimetal: So it took a few years before you guys played together, right?
Richie Kotzen : Yes, yes. I wasn't married when I met Adrian, and that strained my relationship with my wife. The good news is that my wife is in the band. So, we're very close. Julia [ Lage ] and I have been together for 13 years. So, all four of us have a great friendship. We have a lot of fun. And Julia is in the band, so it's perfect. That's so cool.
Wikimetal: Do you remember hearing or seeing Adrian as a musician? When was the first time you saw him? Do you remember anything in particular when you noticed his talent?
Richie Kotzen : Well, I realized I loved the music he made with Iron Maiden . And I have to tell you, when I was a kid, I'd go to school in the morning, put on The Number of the Beast , and that would set the tone for my whole school year. I was an Iron Maiden fan from the start and grew up with it, so seeing my name alongside his on an album is pretty cool.
Wikimetal: And what was it like for you to act like he was a normal person next to you?
Richie Kotzen : Yes, of course. It's easy, because I'm not a child, I'm not a teenager anymore. So it's easy for me to understand that. Okay, we're working together here, we have a common goal. I can't behave like a teenager, otherwise he'd tell me to behave. I don't think he'd like that.
Smith/Kotzen, the perfect combination
Wikimetal: I was listening to the album and it's the perfect combination of an American and an English guitarist. It's a mix of different styles and a very sophisticated piece of work from both of you, but your style is very distinct. How do you balance these two styles? Is it something that becomes completely normal or natural? Or do you say, "This is more my thing, or this is more Adrian's style?"
Richie Kotzen : Yes, we have a lot in common, but we are two different individuals, of course. Our music is based on what we have in common, things we like and interests we share. On the other hand, Adrian has a side of him that is unique to him and I have a part of me that is unique to me, musically, and so that whole combination is what makes the Smith/Kotzen sound. It wouldn't exist without the influence of the other, so it's a very cool thing, it's interesting, it's a great opportunity. Something I'm very proud to be a part of.
Wikimetal: And do you plan to tour with this project?
Richie Kotzen : We would love to. It's a matter of time, but I think it's more likely than not.
Wikimetal: And about the band, the musicians who recorded with you… It’s hard not to pay attention to the two of you with the guitars on the album, but there are also other great musicians. Can you tell me a little about how they were chosen or who they are?
Richie Kotzen : Yes. I'm playing rhythm guitar on half the album and Julia is playing on the other half, and it was decided that we wanted to have her because she's part of a live band [ Vixen ], and she's a fantastic guitarist. Not only a fantastic live musician, but she's also great in the studio. There was an opportunity for her to play on the album, so we made it happen. I played drums on most of the record, but there are two songs that Bruno Valverde played on. He's also part of the band and I'm very happy with what he did.
There's another song on the album that my friend Kyle Hughes plays on. Kyle was my drummer on the last tour I did in 2024. A very talented young guy, and he did a great job on the song "Life Unchained." What happened was that Bruno wasn't around at the time, and Kyle was. So I said, "Come here and play drums on this song." And he did. So, some of these decisions are made, obviously, in the heart; you choose people you think will do a good job and that will be good for the music. You also have to consider who is available and whether their style connects with what you're doing.
Wikimetal: You released your solo album, Nomad, last year. What is your songwriting process like? How does it work in your head? How do you choose the songs that will be on your solo album? And with Adrian, how do you decide which project each song will be used in?
Richie Kotzen : It decides itself, because the things I write, that I finish myself, are mine, so I just use them for myself. What happens with Adrian is that I might write something and think, “I think Adrian might like this,” so I keep it and when he comes to town I let him listen to it, see what he thinks. It’s pretty simple. When this album was made, I had 5 or 6 songs that I thought he might like and he chose 3 or 4 that he liked and we worked on those. And it’s the same with his music too. He came in with some songs, showed them to me, and we worked on the ones we thought would work well.
A balance between singing and playing guitar.
Wikimetal: In your mind, do you consider yourself more of a guitarist or a singer?
Richie Kotzen : Well, if I didn't sing, I think I'd be… Man, I don't know, it's a tough question. Singing is a big part of what I do. I feel like if it weren't for singing, my life would be very different. So, I think the voice replaces the guitar in a weird way. I came onto the scene as a guitarist, and singing changed my lifestyle. If I was just a guitarist, I wouldn't live the life I live. It would be a very different lifestyle. But because I sing and because I write songs with lyrics that other people listen to and sing along to, it's a totally different thing.
Wikimetal: But you started as a guitarist and then became a singer, right?
Richie Kotzen : Yeah, I guess you could say that. Initially, when I was young, I started as a singer because I wanted to have fun. I used to try to have fun with my family, and I didn't know how to play guitar, so I sang. Then I learned an instrument, which was the piano, but then I switched to guitar. And then, in my teens, I was in a band with a lot of guys who were great singers. They made fun of me when I tried to sing and told me I had a terrible voice. I couldn't sing. When I made my second album, I wrote songs that had lyrics. And the record label said, "If you're going to make songs with lyrics, you have to sing them." And they convinced me that I had a good voice. And that's how I became a singer.
Wikimetal: I have to thank these guys, because you're a fantastic singer. When Chris Cornell died, I was so depressed that I thought I'd never hear anyone singing with such a cheerful voice again. I don't know, I guess it's a compliment, but you remind me of Chris Cornell sometimes. You've heard this before, I suppose.
Richie Kotzen : Not until now, but I'll tell you, I'll take that as a compliment. He's one of the greatest singers we've ever known. So, a huge compliment, thank you.
My love for Brazil and a possible tour of the country.
Wikimetal: What are your plans for the future? Is there anything we can be optimistic about?
Richie Kotzen : Well, I think the focus is on Smith/Kotzen right now, I'm very excited about it. I haven't played in Brazil in a while, maybe I'll come back with my trio, with my band. We were talking about some things and we had this subject in the last few weeks, so there's a chance it could happen. But, you know, I love Brazil, my wife is Brazilian, I love the food, I love the people, I love going there. So, maybe I'll go as Richie Kotzen or with Smith/Kotzen, I'm looking forward to the possibilities.
Wikimetal: I'd like to thank you for the music and originality, which isn't easy to find these days. We need more Smith/Kotzen. We need more Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith. There aren't that many around, but we need more of them. How can we get more of them?
Richie Kotzen : I don't know, maybe music education in schools. You know, it comes from guys like you, making people aware. You're doing these interviews and talking to people, and thank you for opening the door for us to have a channel to talk about our music. And that's it, we make the music and you let people know about it. It's a good thing. Absolutely. It's our mission. That's our mission. And we're in this together. Thank you very much. See you in Brazil someday.
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