Britt Lightning (Brittany Denaro) currently plays guitar in the female rock band Vixen. She also plays the part of “Slash” in Paradise Kitty, an all-female tribute to Guns N’ Roses.
From 2015 to 2016 Britt played guitar for Rachel Platten, performing live at festivals and on national TV shows promoting the single "Fight Song", which charted at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Britt performed live on Good Morning America, the Today Show, Live with Kelly and Michael, VH1, the Teen Choice Awards, Nickelodeon, and performed on the 2016 finale of Americas Got Talent which took place at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall. Britt also performed on Live with Kelly and Michael with Jason Derulo to promote his new album “Tattoos”.
From 2012-2015 Britt performed for 18-time Grammy Award winning artist Alejandro Sanz in his stadium/arena-level world tour. Britt is featured in Sanz’s "La Musica No Se Toca – En Vivo" CD/DVD. Britt joined Sanz at the 2013 Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas performing the single “No Me Compares”, and performed with the band at prestigious festivals, venues and international TV specials.
In 2011 Britt was in the New York-based rock musical Chix6 as the character and guitar player “Lick”, which ran at the Queens Theater.
Britt started out playing guitar in Jaded, her all female hard rock band based out of Boston. The band has two album releases, self-titled and Higher, the latter including tracks produced by legendary producer Gary Katz (Steely Dan). Jaded was a staple band in the Locobazooka festivals, Rock 101 and WAAF festivals, the New Jersey KISS Expos. In 2007 the band toured Europe in support of W.A.S.P.
Welcome aboard, Britt!
Social Media: facebook.com/Brittany.denaro, twitter: @brittlightning, Instagram: @brittlightning, www.brittlightning.com
Exclusive Interview
What are you working on now?
I recently joined the band Vixen, and we are getting ready to play some summer festivals including M3 next weekend in Maryland. We will also be releasing a live album and a new studio record in the near future! I have also been playing local shows with Paradise Kitty, an all female tribute to Guns N’ Roses and hitting the local jam scenes.
Britt's Gear
What is your musical background and influences?
When I discovered rock n’ roll and heard Eddie Van Halen’s screaming guitar licks for the first time I knew I had to play guitar. I started a hard rock band in high school and began gigging around Boston where I grew up, and then ended up touring nationally and internationally and joining other musical acts throughout the years. Other influences include David Gilmour, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, Derek Trucks, Dimebag, Joe Walsh etc.
What is the role of education in music?
I think the role of education in music is fairly important in order to be an in-demand working musician. There is a lot of competition out there and you have to be on top of your game to get the work. That being said, being an awesome musician doesn’t necessarily translate into having an education in music. It can also mean that you play with such passion, dedication and natural ability that an education is irrelevant. Some of my favorite players have only the “street smart” education and life experiences that have made them the great players they are today.
How do you feel about the current ‘state of the music industry’?
I think that the accessibility of music is a positive thing, as well as the advancements in technology to allow anyone to record without paying for high quality studio time. However this has also resulted in oversaturation, and the need for instant gratification in today’s society has allowed lower quality singles to be produced from some artists in my personal opinion. Although the playing field is slightly more leveled in regards to opportunities for new artists, I think it can also be thought of as more difficult for new artists to break, because you aren’t just competing with bands on the radio, you are competing with bands like the Beatles and whoever you want to listen to at any given moment with services like Spotify.
Why do you play Pickboy picks and Mooer pedals?
Pickboy picks have amazing grip and texture options. The fibertex picks are perfect for heavy chord strumming or intricate alternate picking, and they never slip out of your fingers. I love Mooer pedals because they are compact, light, and portable without sacrificing any quality or tone. They are absolutely perfect for fly dates, and they make my airline experience much less stressful as my whole board simply fits in my backpack as a carry-on!