Catching Stars With Richie Kotzen

Since he broke into the late ‘80s guitar shred scene with his eponymous 1989 Shrapnel Records debut, Richie Kotzen has remained one of the more interesting cats in hard rock and metal.

And while he is predominantly known for his guitar playing prowess that brought a darker tone to Poison on 1994’s vastly underrated Native Tongue LP or serving as one-third of the acclaimed supergroup The Winery Dogs with bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Mike Portnoy, 2024’s Nomad displayed Kotzen’s proficiency as a singer and songwriter as well as exploring new territory as a guitar playerl.

Kotzen also performs with Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith as Kotzen/Smith, releasing their debut album in 2021 and earlier this year wrapped a winter/spring tour of Europe in support of their excellent second LP, 2025’s Black Light/White Noise.

However, earlier this summer, Richie surprised his fans with the release of a brand new single “Catch A Star,” a song very much in the vein of what the guitarist is currently creating with Kotzen/Smith but with a more soulful bent. Check it out below.

Rock & Roll Globe had the honor of catching up with Kotzen via email to get further insight into “Catch A Star” and where the song leads him.

 

“Catch A Star” has such a funky, soulful feel to it, no doubt an extension of the similar vibes on 2024’s Nomad. What informed the direction of this song?

I never really sit down and decide what direction I’m going to go in. I just follow whatever feels honest in the moment. “Catch A Star” came from the same place as a lot of the material on Nomad — it’s rooted in soul music, R&B, rock, and the kind of groove I’ve always gravitated toward. If there’s a common thread, it’s that I’m writing the music that feels the most natural to me right now.

How did you come up with that bass line?

The bass line was really the foundation of the song. I spend a lot of time playing bass, and sometimes a groove will suggest the chords and melody instead of the other way around. Once that line was there, everything else just fell into place around it.

 

That guitar solo on here is out of this world, and I notice you are using your thumb like you’re playing bass. Can you tell me about that technique?

I’ve always approached the guitar as if it’s one instrument capable of doing several jobs at once. Using my thumb lets me attack the strings in a way that’s closer to how I’d play bass, while my fingers are free to grab other notes. It’s something that developed naturally over the years rather than a technique I consciously practiced.

 

“Even kings can be dethroned.” That lyric really resonates with me during these harrowing times. But it also drives home the positivity of the song’s theme, at least in my view. Keep your eye on the prize, catch a star to the moon. What would you like for people to get out of the song’s meaning?

To me it’s really about perspective. No position, no success, and no setback is permanent. We all go through highs and lows. The point is to keep moving toward what inspires you instead of getting trapped by your circumstances. If the song encourages someone to keep believing in what’s possible, then it’s done its job.

 

How do you feel about the reaction “Catch A Star” is getting from fans? Has it inspired you to make more music in this style?

I’m grateful people have connected with it. You never really know how a song is going to be received once it leaves your hands. As far as making more music in this style, I don’t really think in terms of styles. I just keep following whatever feels genuine. If that leads in a similar direction, great.

 

What informs you as a singer-songwriter? What inspires you as well?

Life, more than anything. Conversations, relationships, things I observe, things I struggle with, things I overcome. Musically, I’m still inspired by the artists I grew up listening to — classic soul, R&B, jazz and rock — but I try not to chase influences when I’m writing. I just try to be honest.

 

 

I recently rediscovered your 1989 solo debut on Shrapnel Records. What do you remember about those sessions and working with Jason Becker?

That was a very exciting time. We were all young and completely immersed in music. Jason was obviously an extraordinary talent, and it was great spending time around someone with that level of creativity. Looking back, I mostly remember the enthusiasm we all had and how much fun it was recording the music.

 

That Smith/Kotzen album is fantastic. Are you guys planning on keeping it going with more music and touring (when possible, of course)?

Adrian and I both really enjoy working together, and as long as we both feel inspired, I think there will be more music. Scheduling is always the biggest challenge because of everything we’re both involved with, but it’s definitely a project that’s very important to both of us.

 

Who are you currently listening to these days?

Truthfully, I don’t listen to a lot of new music. I usually end up going back to artists I’ve loved for years — people like Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, the classic rock records I grew up on, and a lot of classic jazz. Those are the records that continue to inspire me.

 

VIDEO: Richie Kotzen “Catch A Star”