Meet the Team

Guitar Girl Magazine has assembled a great team of knowledgeable journalists from across the United States with years of experience in the music industry. We will be interviewing and writing about some of the best female guitarists around the globe, and finding some cool guitar gear to review. We also provide fun rock lifestyle finds, insider tips and advice, and special features and events. You do not want to miss this!

We hope you enjoy our content and become an avid fan.

Tara Low, Founder and Editor-in-Chief

What started out in 2009 as a retail site and blog dedicated solely to female guitar and bass players and because of the demand for more information, we grew into the online publication Guitar Girl Magazine. On April 4, 2012, the new site was launched to fulfill the need to encourage, empower, and promote female guitarists and bassists. My goal is to create a community for female musicians where we can band together and help support and promote women in music.

 

Ted Low, Contributing Writer and Photographer

Ted Low has been a music enthusiast and guitar player since his early teens. Inspired by The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, and many others. He has acquired a pretty nice collection of guitars to include Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Hagstrom, and recently added a few Luna acoustics for fun!

Ted has recently joined his wife Tara, Editor of Guitar Girl Magazine, in conducting book reviews, interviewing, photographing and videotaping artists, music festivals, conventions, and more.

 

Todd Low, IT

As part of the family, Todd lends his many talents to the family business when he has time available from his full-time schedule as a senior developer, dad, and musician! Todd has been involved in music since elementary school attending college on a music scholarship. He was a member of his high school and college drumline leading his drum section to win the WGI competition his senior year.  Not only a drummer, he also plays guitar and bass, as well as has his own home-based recording studio. Todd assists in graphic design, IT issues, and occasional product reviews.

Contributors

Note:  All contributors are independent contractors. Views and opinions expressed by these independent contractors are those of the independent contractor and may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Guitar Girl Magazine. Products for review were loaned to Guitar Girl Magazine for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed herein are those of the reviewer and not influenced by the manufacturers in any way.

Sharon Onyeka, Virtual Administrative Assistant 

Isaalah O Sharon

 

Hello, my name is Sharon Onyeka, and I am from Delta State in Nigeria. I’m a Virtual Assistant with Social Media Marketing and Management skills with a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Biochemistry and Genetics. When I am not busy, I love listening to good music, watching movies, and reading inspirational books.

 

Guitar Gabby, Diversity Editor

Guitar Gabby with ESP guitarGabriella “Guitar Gabby” Logan is an Atlanta Native and proud graduate of Spelman College and Vermont Law School. Her background in environmental and music law fueled her desire to start and manage the international all-women touring collective, TxLips Band, LLC. Logan believes it is important for artists to be well-rounded and versed in many areas of the music business, thus inspiring women worldwide to be an unstoppable force. She is the Board Chair for Girls Rock Asheville and the Diversity Editor for Guitar Girl Magazine.

 

Vanessa Izabella, Gear Editor

Vanessa Izabella is a professional guitarist that started playing music at a young age. Progressing through high school, Vanessa was playing and performing on multiple instruments, including guitar, piano, and trumpet. She was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. During her time there, she studied the guitar playing of such influences as Pat Martino, Slash, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Eric Johnson, and many others.

After graduating with a degree in Music Business, she went on to work with such artists as Pat Metheny and Christian McBride. Vanessa has traveled the world playing guitar, visiting countries such as France, Germany, Egypt, Italy, Japan, South America, and the Caribbean. She has performed on the bill with such renowned artists as Darius Rucker, LA Sno, KISS, Skid Row Paramore, and Joan Jett. She is currently recording and performing as the frontwoman for rock trio, BAST.

Nikki O’Neill, Contributing Editor

 

Nikki O’Neill is an Americana and Soul artist on Blackbird Record label. Based in Chicago, she also performs, writes for Guitar Player, and a teaching artist at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Nikki’s recordings are played on blues radio and reviewed by blues magazines in the U.S. and Europe. Check out her music on nikkioneill.com

 

 

Alex Windsor, Contributing Editor

Alex Windsor – photo by Jack Lue

Alex Windsor is a passionate musician and educator with over 15 years of experience. While she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Jazz Studies (Bass), she has also extensively studied rock, blues, and classical guitar. She currently serves as the Educational Affairs Specialist for Guitar Center Lessons. Alex can be found regularly performing around the greater Los Angeles area. Facebook: @alexnicolewindsor

Caroline Paone, Contributing Editor

 

Caroline Paone is a freelance writer for several content channels such as SFGate and ClassicRockRevisted. Her work has also appeared in Bass Player, Bass Frontiers, Guitar World, and Flair magazines. Follow her on Twitter @CarolineRex

 

 

Alexx Calise, Contributing Editor

Photo by Daniel Corey

Alexx Calise is an accomplished singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Perhaps best known for her hit song, “Cry,” which became a staple on the show Dance Moms and boasts millions of hits on YouTube, Calise’s raw emotion, heart-and soul-lyrics, and unmistakable vibrato have impacted thousands of music fans all over the world. Calise is currently working on new solo material and songs for licensing, and she is also lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Batfarm. Besides her musical pursuits, she works in public relations and marketing. She also does the occasional modeling or acting gig. When not playing shows or writing music, she enjoys horror movies, exercising, or taking a well-deserved nap. alexxcalise.net

Gabbi Calvert, Contributing Editor

Gabbi Calvert is a writer, publicist, and artist from Findlay, OH, who now resides in Nashville, TN. Calvert is incredibly passionate about all things pop culture, but her forever love is music. Following her passion for entertainment and music, she graduated from Belmont University in April of 2021 with a B.S. in Creative and Entertainment Industries with a minor in music business. Her academic endeavors led her to find a home working in music public relations, and she is now a senior publicist at Publicity Nation PR. Not only does Calvert work and thrive in the music industry, she is also a musical artist herself. She began singing and playing gigs at the age of 12 in her hometown and has an extensive background in performance. Under her stage name Gabrielle Vaughn, she has released two singles. Calvert is also a member of the all-female cross-genre supergroup The Highway Women. In her free time, she loves spending time with friends and family, attending drag shows, and bonding with her two guinea pigs Queenie and Peach, and her cat Mitzi.

Kate Koenig, Contributing Editor

Kate Koenig @ Under St. Mark’s Theatre – Photo by Melissa Wu

Kate Koenig is a songwriter, music journalist, and music teacher based in Brooklyn, New York. From 2016 to 2018, she was the editor of Music Alive!, a music education magazine for middle schoolers, and associate editor for its sister publication, In Tune Monthly. Since her time at In Tune, she has been a regular contributor to Guitar Girl, Acoustic Guitar, and Premier Guitar magazines, as well as the annual Martin Journal. As a songwriter, she’s released two albums—Haircuts for Barbers (2018) and Etemenanki (2021), both of which are available on all streaming platforms.

Fayola Waithe, Contributing Editor

Fayola Waithe is a recent graduate of Agnes Scott. She enjoys reading, writing, and going to the beach when she is not working. Fayola also loves to listen to music. She enjoys listening to “Tyler the Creator,” “Destroy Boys,” “Men I Trust,” and the “Internet,” to name a few!

 

Tiffany Lloyd, aka TiffsBass, Contributing Editor

Photo by Roy Cox

Tiffany Lloyd: As one of the industry’s top bass performers, Tiffany Lloyd is known across the globe for her instrumental mastery. Having founded TiffsBass in 2011, the artist, entrepreneur, creator, director, performer, and songwriter has pivoted her passions into a profitable and purposeful business. Tiffany’s fans experience the promotion of love and positivity through her performances, developing a heightened sense of awareness for the messages her music communicates. Today, the bass-playing boss has grown her business from a passion project to a successful entertainment business. ~By Kerryn Amyes

 

Jennale Adams, Contributing Editor

Photo Cred: Jennale Adams

Jennale Adams is a gifted female guitarist, songwriter, musician, writer, and poet born and raised in Queens, New York. Influenced by many different genres of music to create her signature sound, she loves R&B, soul, Latin rock, rock and roll, and a little jazz. Artists that influence her are Jimi Hendrix, her hero Carlos Santana, Joe Satriani, Prince, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Adams discovered her love for music at the age of ten. She credits her father for her pursuit of music and the electric guitar. “I remember growing up and desiring to play an instrument. I tried the flute and violin, but they never called out to my soul the way the electric guitar always did. My curiosity and desire to pursue electric guitar came from the fact that I never saw female or women of color guitarists represented in music, which inspired me even more. My life changed forever, and the path to making music my lifelong passion was solidified when I first got my hands on a black Fender Mexican Stratocaster.” @guitarist_jennale

Aliah Guerra, Contributing Editor

Photo by Sherina Shantelle

Aliah Guerra is a Canadian Trinidadian Jazz musician (electric guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer). In the spring of 2018, Aliah independently released her self-produced Soul/Jazz Album Sounds of a Seed. After Completing the 2018 TD SOCAN Creative Entrepreneur Incubator Program and performing for the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Showcase in 2019, Guerra recorded a song at the famous Slaight Studio in Toronto and was mentored by Peter Cadernali (Celine Dion, Tina Marie, and Rick James) and Adrian X (Drake, PartyNextDoor, and The Weeknd). That song (now titled “Out 2 Cali”) premiered on CBC radio nationwide and was then picked up on to the Montreal Chill playlist (curated by Spotify).

Angela McCuiston, Contributing Editor

Angela McCuiston, NASM-CPT, CES, SFS, M.M., is the owner of Music Strong, a business that specializes in fitness for musicians. Winner of the 2007 National Flute Association Piccolo Masterclass, she is Assistant Principal/Piccolo of Sinfonia Gulf Coast, a member of the 313th Army Band, and chair of the NFA Performance Health Committee. See her website at MusicStrong.com.

Victoria Shaffer, Contributing Editor

Victoria Shaffer has an obsession with music history and a passion for classic rock ‘n’ roll. As a student, Victoria graduated with a degree in English and is currently pursuing a master’s to continue her growth as a writer. She strives to successfully combine her two obsessions by writing about the musicians and musical events that motivate and inspire her.

 

Randy Radic, Contributing Editor

Randy Radic is a former supermodel who succumbed to the ravages of time and age. Totally bereft of talent, he took up writing “because anyone can do it.” He smokes cigars (a disgusting habit) and has pet snakes (which is just gross). And some people say he’s aloof.

 

Shawn SixX, Contributing Editor

Shawn SixX is a self-proclaimed old-school music fan first and foremost! It seems that ideal though has been lost in translation more often than not in today’s world of music journalism. Thankfully Shawn is making it his mission to report about the “feeling” of music more than your typical wiki-page bullet point run down. Imagine a long-haired and tattooed Edgar Allen Poe meets Hunter S. Thompson and you should get it!

Shawn got his start in the music industry as a radio producer and production assistant for the legendary WBCN 104.1 and 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston and currently is a producer for CBS Radio Boston’s WZLX 100.7, WBMX 104.1, and AMP 103.3. He is also the creator and host of the nationally known “SixX Strings” music podcast/column featured on CBS Radio’s WZLX and WZLX.COM. Shawn’s work has been featured in UltimateClassicRock.com, TEAMROCK.COM, and BLABBERMOUTH.COM. He has also been a contributing editorial columnist with AMP Magazine, Hails and Horns Magazine, New Noise Magazine, and held the nightlife and entertainment blogger duties for CBSBOSTON.COM. Even though he covers festivals and music events all over the country, Shawn currently resides and is based out of Massachusetts.

Kirk Stauffer, Senior Photographer

Kirk Stauffer is a Seattle-based photographer who has two passions — live music and photography. Over ten years ago, he began to combine them and has covered nearly 2000 performances to date. His photos have been published commercially, featured in Rolling Stone magazine, and one found itself on the front cover of Pollstar magazine. Kirk has been a contributing photographer for Paste Magazine, LiveDaily, No Depression, and Back Beat Seattle, and is a regular SXSW attendee. Instagram: @kirkstauffer

Jack Lue, Photographer

I’m best known as GNR’s first photographer and for my early work from the Sunset Strip back in the early ’80s. I can actually say, I used film! Instagram: @jacklue

Emily Levin, Photographer and Contributing Editor

 

Emily Levin is an Atlanta-based photographer who is passionate about live music and photography with a specialized skill of concert photography, band promo, smoke bombs, and portraits. Facebook: @ elevinphoto

 

 

Chuck Lapinsky, Photographer

Chuck Lapinsky is a professional photographer based in San Diego. He shoots portraits, concerts, bands, musicians, models, and personal projects. Instagram: @chucklapinskyphotography

PAST CONTRIBUTING EDITORS AND GUEST BLOGGERS:

Steve McKinley
Leigh Fuge
Lynnay Dela Lucé

Amy Epperley
Chuck Lapinsky
Lindsey Borders
Lisa Lim
Sasha Vallely
VK Lynne
Amy Arnold
Marco DiSandro
Matt Ramsey
Drew Amendola
Guy Lee
Jess Walker
Megan Lynn Lewis
Amy Arnold
Lasith Fernando
Phyllis Pollack
Justin Petrucci
Steve Byrd
Richard O. Jones
Karen Hill
Tiffini Taylor
Milena Thomas
Marissa Bergen
Samantha Steven
Daniel Corey
Alison Richter