Sick Riffs #105: Irish-born, Australia-located singer-songwriter Bonnie Stewart, known professionally as Bonniesongs, is an artist whose ability to weave lush guitar lines into her vocally rich music is undeniable.
Since the release of her debut album Energetic Mind in 2019, the looper-keen Stewart has been carving out a niche in the Australian alt/indie scene. Ice Cream, one of the most popular songs from the record, showcases her knack for constructing killer, modern-sounding indie arrangements. She joins us in today's episode of Sick Riffs to teach you the track's ethereal guitar lines.
This track is tuned to what Stewart says is her favorite tuning, open D (D-A-D-F#A-D).
She plays a Fender Telecaster Deluxe electric guitar through a valve amp and boost pedal - both handmade locally in Te Pahu, New Zealand.
“The coronavirus has affected my life, income and way of living tremendously," Stewart says. "Having all tours and shows cancelled/postponed until at least November has been devastating.
"The change of income and lack of government support lead us to leave our home of almost 8 years in Australia, and relocate to New Zealand for the foreseeable future. Being from Ireland and living on the other side of the world from my family in these uncertain times, I have never felt further from home.”
Support Bonniesongs
https://bonniesongs.com/
https://bonniesongs.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bonniesongsmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/bonniesongs/?hl=en
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4l0pF7b69t1iGNbwfFZOKd
https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/bonniesongs/1403736284
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Sick Riffs is a Guitar World video series designed to help guitarists affected by the coronavirus. Self-isolating players around the world have each filmed a lesson where they teach you one of their own guitar riffs, up close and personal. If you dig the lesson, we encourage you to buy music and merch from the artist or stream their music.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.
“I’m playing a nice old Gibson ES-335 through Lowell George’s Dumble amplifier…” Joe Bonamassa brings out the holy grail gear to explain how to get into a slow blues jam – and, crucially, how you can get out of it
“His style draws from the best of the best of jazz guitar through the ages”: This in-depth tutorial inspired by the great Bruce Forman will expand your lick vocabulary and harmonic understanding, and boost your improv skills