Years ago, I reached out to L.A.-based guitarist and guitar educator Nikki O’Neill for an interview. I was pleasantly surprised and honored when she included me in her 2014 book, The Women’s Road to Rock Guitar (Alfred Music), a breakthrough publication aimed at inspiring more women to play with skill and confidence. Nikki has a TrueFire lesson channel, Nikki O’Neill’s Twang, Soul & Rock ’n’ Roll (truefire.com/channels), and she’s released music, available at nikkioneill.com. Her new album is out this fall.
How would you describe your music?
It’s soul-influenced Americana. There’s a lot of rhythm and blues in it, too. My last album, Love Will Lead You Home, was released in 2017. I also have two new singles that came out within the last year.
Who are your main influences?
I always come back to Santana. He’s definitely the one that made me start playing and got me to practice. Prince was also really influential, as was Teenie Hodges, who played on Al Green’s records. Pops Staples too. Later on, I got into more blues players, like B.B., Freddie and Albert King.
What about female influences?
Jennifer Batten and Nita Strauss inspire me with their accomplishments and stage charisma, even though their playing style is entirely different from mine. I don’t really see myself as a rock shredder. But I was just blown away when Jennifer was on the cover of Guitar Player [July 1989].
Wendy Melvoin, from Prince’s band, was a huge influence on me, and so was Emily Remler. I got her Hot Licks instructional video on Latin improvisation, where she teaches how to play a bossa nova rhythm, with the bass and the syncopated chords at the same time. I wore that thing out. The