Melbourne based singer, songwriter and guitarist Stevie Paige is considered to be the best female rock guitarist in Australia. Paige has immense vocal talents along with a guitar playing ability and style that can see her become a female Hendrix of modern day rock. Joe Matera spoke to Stevie to find out more.

Joe Matera: Your unique style has developed through years of playing different types of music?

Stevie Paige: I've been playing guitar since I was 10 years of age. The variety and styles of music have encompassed various forms including; blues, rock, classical, folk and country. Just about every type of guitar playing I could get my hands on, which is why I guess it's evolved into the kind of style I have now. I'm trying to hone it into one style of rock now, but it has evolved from varying areas.

JM: Do you believe you are leading the charge for a new breed of female rock guitarists to take on what's considered to be a male dominated area?

SP: I'd like to think so. It's a pretty big statement and it'll take a bit of living up to. But I love a challenge, and I intend to make the most of it. What I'd like to see happen is female musicians gaining a lot more credibility. I'm not criticizing the element of music that's in place at present with the more teenybopper kind of image, because there is a definite place for it and I think that's great. But I still think the big drawback with those acts is that 9 times out of 10 they're not live. When an audience buys concert tickets, they are entitled to see the real thing. Boy bands do it too, but I think the girls dominate in the mime department. There are plenty of bands out there, hard rocking bands (usually male dominated) that get up there and say, "Listen we don't need to mime, we can get up there and do it for real". So there's no reason why women can't do it too. So I'm taking up the challenge by saying, "Women can rock just as well!"

JM: Being a female, do you get a lot of males not taking you seriously?

SP: Sure, all the time. It has become less over the years though. I found when I first started getting into it; it was a real struggle, especially if there was another male guitarist in the band. No guy wanted to play second fiddle so to speak to a female lead guitarist. I was still finding my way, so it wasn't hard to be intimidated or put off. I eventually solved the problem by just not having another guitarist in the band. But time, experience, and a lot more confidence in my playing has given me the freedom to choose the right players for the job. I have another guitarist in my band now that plays along side me and we work very well together. We have a healthy respect for each other's abilities and it's not a competition, we work together. It's all about surrounding yourself with the right people and the right kind of attitudes.

JM: What gear are you using?

SP: My Gibson Les Paul is my electric guitar of choice. Two Maton acoustics, a Greg Smallman and a Simon Marty nylon string guitar. Amp wise I use a Marshall power amp- valve state pro and Behringer pre amp through a Behringer quad box. I also use a Fender acoustic amp.

JM: Any effects?

SP: Yes, nothing over the top though. Jimi Hendrix really emphasized that it comes down to your skills as a guitarist and not relying on your toys too much. All he ever used was a distortion pedal and a Wah Wah and that was it. And he's still recognized as one of the greatest guitarists that ever lived. Nowadays there are heaps of effects and stuff players can use, but my test of a really good guitar player is to take them off an electric and give them an acoustic without any effects and ask them to play me something.

JM: You've performed with guys like jazz great George Golla and classical legend John Williams. What did you learn from those players?

SP: It's interesting talking to guy's like that and to see just how down to earth they are. There's no pretence or ego or anything like that, which is why they are considered to be amongst the greatest guitar players in the world, because that's what's it's all about. I enjoy listening to and working with guitarists who play for the love of music. I've never really been into the whole guitar hero thing. I think Tommy Emmanuel once made a comment about you don't need to be the flashiest to be the best, it's all about the music, not about showing off your ego.

JM: What advice can you pass on?

SP: It depends on the player and what they're trying to get out of it. I'd like to see more girls taking up guitar, and taking it up seriously, not just as campfire strummers. Even from my own experience of teaching kids, they tend to go "oh no, I just want to strum a few chords and stuff". So maybe like everything else, once someone can be seen in the spotlight, as a kind of role model I think it will have a completely different effect on them once they can actually see it in action.

JM: What do you have planned now?

SP: I want to get a new CD out to follow up my first album. Something that I am musically satisfied with but that also meets market criteria. There's no point indulging yourself in an album that no one else will listen to. If I can get that happy medium and people enjoy what I am doing, then that is a good place to start. Hopefully I can start to generate an interest in female guitarists and female led bands. That would be really good, and use that as a solid base to build from.