4 questions for Orianthi

After swooping into NEPA late Tuesday, June 1, Australian singer, songwriter and guitar goddess Orianthi started her Wednesday morning by performing in 98.5 KRZ’s Spotlight Lounge. This blonde may be petite and just 25-years-old, but she’s packed a whole lot into her career so far: She’s played with Steve Vai, Carlos Santana and Prince and was the lead guitarist for Michael Jackson’s ill-fated “This Is It” tour.

In between treating a group of about 20 listeners to three stripped-down songs — including the smash hit “According to You” — Orianthi, who was dressed in a “demented schoolgirl outfit,” as she described it, shot the breeze with hosts Jumpin’ Jeff Walker and Amanda. The musician talked about the difference between Aussie and American, “chatting about guitars” with John Mayer, meeting Alice Cooper and was even a good enough sport to use the words “moist toe jam” in a sentence to see if her accent could make even that sound sexy. (Oddly, it kind of did.)

Before taking to the mic, Orianthi answered these burning questions from the Weekender.

Your name is so unique. What does it mean?

I’ve heard that it means something about flowers in Greek and also birds, but I’m named after my great-grandma. There’s not too many around (laughs).

What was that first moment with Michael Jackson like?

It was crazy, really crazy. I’m a big fan. I remember being really young, and he’d constantly come on TV and was like the coolest thing ever. When I got the e-mail to come and audition for him, I didn’t think it was real, but I went and auditioned, met him, and he was the sweetest guy ever, really encouraging.

How are you able to mesh pop with amazing guitar licks so well?

When I was younger, I used to have Stevie Ray Vaughan and Santana and Eric Clapton records and posters on my wall next to Backstreet Boys, Ricky Martin, Savage Garden … so I’d be listening to Top 40 and Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray. For me, it was kinda just a record I wanted to make because I wanted to inspire more kids to pick up guitars, especially girls.

By putting guitar solos in really commercial songs, they hear it, they see the film clip, they thing “Oh, that looks like fun, I want to do it, too.” It’s not easy being a female guitar player because you have to play twice as hard to get respect.

What could possibly be next for you?

I’m looking forward to making my third record. I’m writing it and collaborating with some new artists and just writing as much as I can. I’d love to go on a headlining world tour; maybe I’ll get to do that in the next year.

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