Tones Behind The Tracks
Guitarist|September 2023
From playing shock-rock with Alice Cooper to landing an explosive second solo album, Nita Strauss talks us through her shred-heavy sound
Tones Behind The Tracks

Artist: Nita Strauss

Album: The Call Of The Void (Sumerian)

Nita Strauss has been touring with Alice Cooper's band for almost 10 years. In 2018 she released her first solo album, Controlled Chaos, and the enforced time off from the road that occurred as a result of the pandemic gave her the time to write and record the guest-vocalist-laden follow-up, The Call Of The Void. We catch up with her during the US promotional tour for the new album.

A lot of artists say that recording a solo album is a learning experience and that they push what they learn onto their next project. Was this the case for you?

"I think that probably the biggest thing I learned from doing my first record - producing it myself, engineering everything myself - is that no one person is an army. And I think the approach on the second record, working with different people, whether it's engineers, producers, songwriters, writing partners or other guest artists, really helped me make a more complete, mature-sounding album, rather than just holding onto everything myself.

"I really wanted to approach this album as not only a more well-rounded songwriter but a more well-rounded guitar player, and so I utilised a lot of techniques that were maybe a bit out of my comfort zone. More of the quick hammer-ons, alternate picking type of stuff that I historically go more for, like the legato and sweeps and that sort of thing. I spent some time honing those chops and I'm excited that it came out as well as it did. Overall, it was a great growing experience."

What about the writing process? Did it come easily or was it a case of blood, sweat and tears all the way through?

This story is from the September 2023 edition of Guitarist.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2023 edition of Guitarist.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GUITARISTView All
FOR THE ROSES
Guitarist

FOR THE ROSES

Ivison Guitars has only been in business for six years, but its Dakota model has already headlined Glastonbury with Guns N’ Roses star Richard Fortus. We meet founder Neil Ivison to find out how he's making new electrics that evoke the raw spirit of retro tone

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2024
HISTORY REPEATING
Guitarist

HISTORY REPEATING

Gibson's highest-tier replicas of famous Les Pauls are commanding almost as much as vintage guitars these days. We find out what all the fuss is about and examine a rare recreation of Jimmy Page's fiendishly complex #2 Les Paul Standard

time-read
10 mins  |
March 2024
WHAT THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR
Guitarist

WHAT THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR

Off the radar since The Stone Roses reunion burnt out - and largely absent from the studio for two decades - John Squire's collaboration with Liam Gallagher reclaims his place among the greats. He invites us to his studio to talk classic riffs, career-ending injuries, getting snubbed by Gibson, and why music keeps pulling him back in

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 2024
TELL ME STRAIGHT
Guitarist

TELL ME STRAIGHT

Keith Richards, the legendary master of the ageless riff, talks about the magic and loss of Hackney Diamonds, the sparkling new Rolling Stones album

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 2024
DENNY LAINE 1944-2023
Guitarist

DENNY LAINE 1944-2023

Multi-instrumetlist, singer-songwriter Denny Laine died at the end of last year after a career that saw him top the charts in both The Moody Blues and Wings

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
Vibe 'n' Drive
Guitarist

Vibe 'n' Drive

Eventide's latest dot9 series pedal combines two independent effects for some classic vintage-rock sounds

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Face Lift
Guitarist

Face Lift

Flattley releases an upgraded 1960s-style silicon fuzz with a buffer and extended tonal options

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Air Supply
Guitarist

Air Supply

Boss's new Katana addition pumps up the volume - suited to serious players looking for a compact, wireless amp solution

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Standard Shimmers
Guitarist

Standard Shimmers

Back in 2023, revitalised Brit-maker PJD rejigged its range to start with the new solidbody hardtail Standards. Need a vibrato? No problem: here comes the Standard Plus

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
Golden Brown
Guitarist

Golden Brown

Last year we were mightily impressed when we looked at builder Rich Jones' Parlour and Orchestra acoustics. This time it's the turn of his entry-level, all-mahogany dreadnought

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024