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Photography by Alex Brown

Critically acclaimed guitarist and singer Orianthi will release her new single “Dark Days Are Gone” on Thursday October 16th. The new single is accompanied with an official music video that can be seen on YouTube HERE. This is the fifth single taken from her critically acclaimed studio album Some Kind Of Feeling. Released by Woodward Avenue Records, the album is available on CD, vinyl, and digital HERE.

Orianthi produced three songs from the new album including “First Time Blues,” “Ghost,” and “Bad For Each Other.” The remaining seven songs on the album, including the new single “Dark Days Are Gone,” are produced by Kevin “The Caveman” Shirley (Black Country Communion, Beth Hart,  Joe Bonamassa).

Seems nothing can ever be written about the multi-talented veteran artist without mentioning her collaborations with Alice Cooper, Dave Stewart and Richie Sambora, and the fact that Michael Jackson hired her for his London performances the year of his untimely death.

Her success as an artist in her own right, started with her Top 20 Billboard pop hit “According to You” and gold-selling Geffen album Believe (2009). While playing with legends over the years, she’s continued to build her discography with numerous albums on different labels.

Her prolific streak of stylistically diverse singles released by Woodward Avenue Records – “First Time Blues” featuring Joe Bonamassa, “Ghost,” “Some Kind of Feeling,” and “Attention,” launches a fresh, adventurous new phase of her solo career, an era of exciting creativity and powerhouse rock and roll.

With every new single, Orianthi reminds us that she’s at the top of her game in every way, finding fresh, vulnerable yet attitude-filled musical stories to tell, and allowing us to experience the guitar chops that have made her a modern-day rock icon.

Jonathan Widran breaks down Orianthi’s new single “Dark Days Are Gone”

Fully living up to its emotion evoking title, Orianthi’s Woodward Avenue debut Some Kind of Feeling is seriously the edgy, blues-rock gift that keeps on giving. With the release of the speedy thumping, kick-ass, kiss-off funk rocker “Dark Days Are Gone,” the otherworldly Australian singer, songwriter and electric guitar virtuosa has released five powerhouse singles from the ten-track album – including her recent acclaimed track “Attention,” which achieved crossover love from country rock fans and tastemakers.

While it made sense with every other song to introduce it with Ori’s all-star rock associations and previous successes as a solo artist, “Dark Days are Gone” is produced by legendary fellow Aussie Kevin Shirley. It’s another showcase for Ori’s attitude-filled songwriting, exciting vocals, and sizzling guitar playing. The song thrives and grooves on the propulsive rhythms of bassist Justin Andres and drummer Jimmy Paxson. If your ears can isolate their vibe for a few seconds, you’ll hear it too – a hypnotic groove reminiscent of Golden Earring mid-70’s driving gem “Radar Love.”

Capturing the energetic determination of a woman about to tell a man she’s done with his BS and moving on, the intro to “Dark Days are Gone” is bouncy and buoyant and draws us into Ori’s guitar fire immediately before she relates the background of the relationship and shares how over time the darker reality of this lover is revealed. She gave him enough chances and after an intoxicating pre-chorus buildup, she’s ready to unleash her fire, with her crackling guitar harmony lines blazing.

It’s one of Ori’s trademark irresistibly emotional hooks, and one we can all relate to at some point or another: “Don’t’ leave the light on when you leave/Baby, lock the door, throw away the keys.” Leading up to the mention of the title, she drops the big bomb “’Cause my heart, it ain’t your home” and mentions, like oh yeah, by the way she’s found someone else (quickly, we presume) who loves her and “won’t make me feel alone.” Decades ago, Gloria Gaynor said she will survive, but Orianthi’s got a cleverer spin on how intensely things have changed right there in the title “Dark Days Are Gone.”

Then the radar loving groove peps in to drive Ori’s defiant second verse where she declares she’d rather be alone and flame throws another incisive line about how much he’ll regret his foolishness which led her to break free “One day, you’re gonna wake up and wish I was in your bed.” But really, as on every Ori track, we’re listening patiently as she shares her feelings and gets back to the killer chorus because of what we know is coming – a burning, almost adjective defying guitar solo where she showcases her chops not merely to share her surreal talents but as catharsis from the emotionally complex ordeal that inspires the song.

The rhythm section explodes in a boisterous rain of musical lava behind Ori’s relentless have-to- hear-it-to-believe-it outburst. What a blast, literally! It’s not always sunny in Ori’s musical world and she often shares songs about messed up relationships – but we know we’ll feel something like the heat of the sun when she regales us with that incredible solo action! – Jonathan Widran

“Dark Days Are Gone” – Production Credits

Orianthi – Guitar, lead and background vocals
Justin Andres – Bass, Nick Maybury – Guitar
Ed Roth – Keyboards, Jimmy Paxson – Drums
Jade MacRae – Background Vocals
Music and lyrics by Orianthi Panagaris
Produced and mixed by Kevin “The Caveman” Shirley   

The Gig Cartel & Planet Rock in Association with Neil O’Brien Entertainment
presents:

ORIANTHI JANUARY 2026 UK TOUR

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE GIG CARTEL

MANCHESTER, BAND ON THE WALL
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY 2026
Tickets: The Gig Cartel
25 Swan St, Manchester, M4 5JZ
http://bandonthewall.org

GLASGOW, ORAN MOR
SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2026
Tickets: The Gig Cartel
Top of Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8QX
https://oran-mor.co.uk

LEEDS, BRUDENELL
WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2026
Tickets: The Gig Cartel
33 Queen’s Rd, Burley, Leeds, LS6 1NY
www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk

LONDON, O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON
THURSDAY 29 JANUARY 2026
Tickets: The Gig Cartel
16 Parkfield St, London, N1 0PS
www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academyislington

PLANET ROCK’S WINTER’S END
SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 2026
Tickets: Gigantic.com
Trecco Bay, South Wales
www.planetrock.com

SOUTHAMPTON, THE BROOK
SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2026
Tickets: The Gig Cartel
466 Portswood Rd, Southampton, SO17 3SD
https://the-brook.com

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