Guitar Sensation Angela Petrilli Discusses Her Career

A mere finger shred on the guitar chords does not make one a great musician. It has to come from within as if you’re tugging on not just the guitar strings, but the chords of your heart. It is only then that the noise turns into music, and profound melodies are created that resonate in the air, casting a soulful impact around. Judging by this precise criterion, Angela Petrilli has aced her job!

Talented, colorful, and high on life.  Angela Petrilli has managed to make herself a household name. With a myriad of accolades to her name, including a Martin Guitar endorsement and bagging in tremendous praise from the critic’s camp. This California native is a sure sign that she’s going places and adding more on her acclaim and well-established fame as she progresses her career.

Angela received a degree in Communication Studies from UCLA. She interned at a local record company, working with artists including the Bangles, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys, and Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees.

In 2013, Angela founded the band, Roses & Cigarettes, with Los Angeles singer-songwriter Jenny Pagliaro. Roses & Cigarettes has shared the stage with Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, Jim Lauderdale, Luther Dickinson, Marc Broussard, The Record Company, Elizabeth Cook, Amanda Shires, Striking Matches and Radney Foster among others. They released their sophomore album “Echoes and Silence” in February 2019, and songs from the album were featured in Billboard and Rolling Stone.

We spoke to Angela last week to get an update on what’s she’s been doing.

When did you start playing guitar?

AP: I grew up in a musical household.  I picked up the guitar at nine and started to learn different styles of music.  When I was 13, I started lessons with Jimmy Scott and went from there.

My parents were, and continue to be, very supportive in my journey as a musician in Los Angeles. My parents listened to a lot of music when I was growing up. My mom is from Detroit, so she was always going to concerts growing up, and her love of music permeated our household. She always had on Carole King, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, John Denver, and Bad Company. My dad, on the other hand, listened to a lot of blues and singer-songwriters. Folks like Patty Griffin, SRV, Deep Purple, and Montrose were always playing on the tape deck in his car. I can’t help but think that all those artists and styles of music helped build me to be the musician I am today. I’d like to think that my love of playing acoustic and electric guitar was born from those vibrant songs by those amazing artists

Who are you sponsored by?

AP:  I am sponsored by Fender Guitars, C.F. Martin and Co., Fishman Transducers, and D’Addario Strings.

Who are some of your influences for playing guitar?

I find constant inspiration from Jimmy Page. Not only can he write amazing and iconic guitar riffs, but he can also orchestrate a beautiful acoustic-based song.

Stevie Ray Vaughan is another guitarist who has strongly influenced my playing. His lightning-fast precision, and the way he would converse through his guitar and his command of the relationship between the guitar itself and its tone.

How did you start doing your show at Norms Guitar?

AP:  The staff at Norms Guitar is terrific.  They asked me one day if I’d like to star on their YouTube channel, and I said absolutely.  So I call it “Petrilli’s Picks.”

For more information on Angela Petrilli, Please visit her social media:

Website: www.angelapetrillimusic.com

Instagram: @angelapetrillimusic

Twitter: @angelaplaysgtr

Facebook: @angelapetrillimusic

YouTube: www.youtube.com/angelapetrillimusic

Press, Interviews, Booking: https://www.angelapetrillimusic.com/booking