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 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