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Photo credit: Haley Hays
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For decades, the image of the electric guitarist was often limited to a narrow mold—loud, flashy, and overwhelmingly male. But today, that image is evolving. A new wave of players is tearing down tired stereotypes and redefining what it means to command a stage with six strings in hand.
From genre-bending innovators like Yvette Young to powerhouse rockers like Nita Strauss, and boundary-pushers like Tosin Abasi, modern guitarists are challenging assumptions about gender, race, style, and technique. They’re proving that skill, creativity, and passion know no template—and certainly no ceiling.
This transformation isn’t just about representation. It’s about authenticity. It’s about letting tone and touch speak louder than labels, and about building a more inclusive, forward-thinking music community. Whether through social media, session work, or world tours, today’s players are reshaping the narrative—one riff at a time.
ABOUT ERICA FOX
Toronto-based guitarist Erica Fox is quickly establishing herself as one of the most dynamic touring musicians in today’s pop and rock scenes. With a fierce stage presence, impeccable tone, and a growing roster of high-profile collaborations—including Devon Cole, Fefe Dobson, Goldie Boutilier, Queen Priyanka, and most recently, Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum selling pop-star Maren Morris—Fox is proof that dedication, authenticity, and hustle still go a long way in the music industry.
From the moment she picked up a guitar, Erica knew this was more than a hobby—it was her calling. By the age of 10, she had already set her sights on a professional music career, and she hasn’t looked back since. Her style fuses modern pop polish with classic rock grit, and her playing is marked by precision, restraint, and undeniable energy. But it’s not just her chops that have people talking. Erica’s gear game is sharp and streamlined—she travels light with a Neural DSP Quad Cortex, a Dunlop X8 expression pedal, and a clean touring rig packed into a carry-on case. Her tone is just as dialed-in as her setup. Erica’s use of amps varies quite a bit, especially in Maren's set. Maybe this can be more about how I tailor each tone specifically for each individual song, trying to match the record as much as possible
In a world where live or touring gigs often come down to the right place at the right time, Erica’s career proves that being prepared, professional, and personable makes all the difference. She’s built her path through word of mouth, social media, and simply saying yes—to late-night jams, last-minute gigs, and every opportunity to grow.
Endorsed by PRS Guitars, D’Addario, Fender/Gretsch, Gibson and Martin. Also, featured in guitar’s “Top Up-and-Coming Female Guitarists” list, Erica continues to break ground—not just as a player, but as a visible, empowering force for female musicians in a male-dominated industry.
Though she thrives in the live/touring world, Fox has hinted at bigger dreams: a solo project that captures her full artistic vision. When that time comes, she’ll be ready—with a custom PRS Custom 24-08 in hand, inspired by her love of tattoos and tone alike.
INTERVIEW WITH ERICA FOX AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: You’ve carved a space for yourself in a competitive touring world—what first drew you to the guitar, and when did you know this was your path?
Erica: I have felt moved by music for as long as I can remember. I was and still am a big dreamer/daydreamer, and music transported me to other lands and far reaches of my imagination in a world I didn’t yet feel I belonged in. That coupled with my Dad exposing me to live concert videos of U2 and Led Zeppelin from a young age probably weaved itself into my subconscious. I was playing air guitar in the back of my parents’ car before I even knew what I was doing! As I got older, playing guitar and listening to music was the only thing that truly made me happy. I knew this had to be my path - it felt like I had no other choice.
Guitar Thrills: As someone who's worked with a range of artists, from Devon Cole to Maren Morris, how do you adapt your playing to fit different musical personalities and styles?
Erica: It’s tough, I won’t lie! I often need to brush up on styles and techniques of different genres of influence. Sometimes I get friends to give me zoom guitar lessons and tips for different techniques – like country guitar and finger picking for Maren, or R&B/funk/jazz stuff for Devon. I watch various YouTube guitar tip videos that suit the style of playing required for each artist. I spend a lot of time listening to their music too – I make playlists of their setlists and listen to them on repeat in my downtime.
When it comes to personalities, it always takes me a few shows to adapt to playing with a new artist and their style of performance and interaction on stage. The bond between me and the artist is very important to me because it’s something the crowd can feel right away. You gotta build that trust! I like to ease into it. You never want to be that person overstepping your role on stage. I usually downplay it in the beginning and work up to interacting with the artist and the crowd more as I go. Sometimes, the artists themselves ask me to take up more space! That’s always fun.
Guitar Thrills: Let’s talk about your time performing with Maren Morris—what was the most exciting or unexpected part of that experience?
Erica: The whole first month of getting that gig was surreal for me. Everything happened so fast. It has been the biggest challenge of my career so far – in a great way that pushed me to grow and improve very quickly. My first performance with Maren was on The Howard Stern Show. I grew up watching my favourite artists on his program. Later that week we performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – another dream come true! It was a “pinch me” moment for sure.
As for unexpected, I think the nature of the job is to expect the unexpected! You never know when a new gig is going to pop up. Rehearsals get cut short, new festivals get booked, the set gets reimagined.. I’ve learned to stay on my toes a lot recently. That’s show biz baby!
Guitar Thrills: What has touring with a country-pop powerhouse like Maren taught you about life on the road and performing for diverse audiences?
Erica: The biggest thing it has taught me is that the most important relationship I have on stage is with myself. Supporting Maren energetically is something I place a lot of importance on while performing, because she interacts with me and the other band members quite a bit. If I feel solid, confident, and present in my body – nothing else matters. I try to focus on having fun playing the set no matter who is in the room or what the audience is giving me. My mental space directly affects my playing and performance, and that can be felt by the band as well as Maren.
Guitar Thrills: Can you describe a moment on stage—either with Maren or another artist—where everything just clicked and reminded you why you do this?
Erica: I feel that quite frequently. Being on stage and performing always reminds me why I do this because of the joy it brings me. When I have a moment with an artist during a solo I nailed, we lock eyes and they smile at me, or when we just rock out together – that’s my favourite! 🙂 I also love when mothers or kids come up to me and tell me that I’ve inspired them, whether it’s to finally pick up a guitar or keep practicing. That’s the best feeling ever.
Guitar Thrills: You’re known for your clean, powerful tones and efficient rig. How did you dial in your current setup, and what gear can’t you live without?
Erica: I definitely can’t live without my Neural DSP Quad Cortex – it’s the best. A huge part of this job is sound design, and the QC allows me to dial in such a variety of tones that I have become completely addicted to. I can get so close to the sound on the record, it’s awesome. It also lets me change tones so quickly – I can even play multiple different amps within the same song. These types of changes would require me to step on so many pedals at once if I was using an analog board, I would be tap dancing!
As for dialing it in, I have spent hours and hours figuring out which tones sound best on which guitar.
Guitar Thrills: PRS Guitars and D’Addario are behind you—what does that kind of support mean as a rising guitarist in today’s industry?
Erica: It means the world! Being a touring musician requires you to have top of the line gear and instruments, which is super expensive. Having the support of PRS and D’Addario, as well as Fender, Gretsch, Gibson and Martin has been an absolute dream come true. What more could a girl ask for! I feel so lucky!
Guitar Thrills: Social media has helped many musicians break through. How has it played a role in building your career and connecting with other artists?
Erica: Social media has been HUGE for me and my career, absolutely essential. I always say that my Instagram is my business card. It’s how people get a vibe for me, a sense of my style and a little preview of my playing. I’ve gotten countless gigs through Instagram! Whether it’s an artist reaching out through DMs or a referral from someone who has played with me in the past. I still get inquiries about gigs through Instagram to this day. I also love it as a way to stay connected to fellow musicians. There is an amazing community of people there. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your peers!
Guitar Thrills: What’s your approach to rehearsing and staying stage-ready, especially when jumping between gigs with very different setlists and styles?
Erica: I like to really immerse myself in the projects of the artists I’m playing for before I go in. I will take a night or two and deep dive into their catalogue, watch a lot live videos of all kinds of performances – TV spots, festivals, tour shows, radio performances.. Music videos too. Anything to get a feel for their vision and their energy. It helps me get a real sense of what is expected of me and what the artist is used to. It’s kind of like the work I would imagine an actor would do to prepare for a role and get into character. I often feel like a beginner all over again during these stages! If I am going from one gig to another, I listen to those playlists I mentioned earlier and close my eyes and picture myself on stage, playing the songs. You gotta just “full send it”!! I trust my brain and muscle memory to do the rest.
Guitar Thrills: Being a female guitarist in a male-dominated space comes with challenges. What stereotypes have you encountered, and how do you push back against them?
Erica: Thanks for asking this question, I think it’s super important to talk about! I definitely encounter a lot of mansplaining. It’s super annoying. I think some dudes just assume that I don’t know what I’m talking about, or that I know less than them. Most men never think I am the lead guitarist when I walk in the room either, which is actually amusing to me. I think the best way to push back against them is to prove them wrong with my playing. I am the lead guitarist after all, not them! There is nothing like ripping a big solo in front of some dude who doubted my playing. 🙂
Guitar Thrills: You’ve hinted at launching a solo project—what kind of music would you want to create if you were calling all the shots?
Erica: I definitely veer towards pop-rock songs. Some of my biggest influences are Avril Lavigne, Paramore and The Pretty Reckless. There’s just something about rock that lights my soul on fire!
Guitar Thrills: What advice would you give to the next generation of guitarists who want to do what you’re doing, especially young women just starting out?
Erica: It sounds cheesy, but never give up! Stay humble and keep practicing like crazy. Build relationships with people – you never know which connection will bring you your next gig. Always operate with kindness. You can be the best player in the world, but if you have a bad attitude, someone else will likely get the gig over you.
Gearhead Interview Questions for Erica Fox
Guitar Thrills: Your live rig is impressively streamlined with the Neural DSP Quad Cortex—what led you to that unit, and how has it changed the way you approach tone on the road?
Erica: I had a couple of friends tell me about the Quad early on, and they raved about it. I was tired of buying individual pedals for all the tones I required and loved the idea of having everything I needed in one little unit. I no longer had to deal with unpredictable backline amps, or lugging my own amp around. The size of the Quad coupled with the amount of incredible tones I can get out of it made it a true no-brainer for me. Now I can spend as much time as I want chasing down a replica of a certain tone because I have access to all of these pedals, amps and effects all in one device.
Guitar Thrills: You’ve mentioned using the Freeman Lead and Bogna Vishnu 20th Clean amp models—what specifically draws you to those, and how do they shape your core sound?
Erica: I love the grit of the Freeman Lead in the Quad (modelled after the Friedman HBE100). It’s such a satisfying distorted amp tone to me that sounds amazing all on its own. Whenever I need a distorted tone I go there first. It’s great and reliable when I need something quick. As for the Bogna Vishnu 20th Clean (modelled after the Bogner Shiva 20th Anniversary), I just love how it sounds, especially with my PRSs. Sometimes it’s as simple as that! I could talk for hours about my favourite tone blocks on the Quad… but I’ll probably dedicate a whole video to that at some point.
There is so much available to me tone-wise in the Quad Cortex, sometimes I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of its capabilities. It’s nice to have quick picks I know I love.
Guitar Thrills: When it comes to dialing in your tones, do you build patches around the artist’s sound or stick to a signature base and tweak from there?
Erica: I always try to replicate the tones in the artists’ songs first and foremost. It’s a great starting point regardless, because the tones chosen on the record are there for a reason. Sometimes in rehearsals, we will compare my guitar tones to the guitar stems from the record and spend hours dialing them in. Occasionally I sauce them up a little more for live shows, but for the most part I try to get them as identical as possible to the studio recordings.
Guitar Thrills: Are there any specific pedals or virtual effects in your signal chain that you swear by for recreating those polished pop-rock textures live?
Erica: If we are talking Quad Cortex language, I love the Brit Governer or Obsessive Drive distortion blocks, as well as a bit of the Dream Chorus. I always have to finish it up with some reverb. Typically, I use a Room Reverb, but I also love adding a Plate Lush reverb and a bit of delay on there for big solos! Since feedback is such a difficult thing to achieve in the digital tone realm, I like adding some compression on there for sustain – sometimes it even turns into a bit of feedback if you hit the note just right!
Guitar Thrills: Let’s talk guitars—what is it about the PRS Custom 24-08 that makes it your favorite instrument, and how do you see it complementing your evolving style?
Erica: I really enjoy how versatile it is tonally – there are 8 different pickup setting options on the guitar, making it really useful across genres. I love how light it is and that it has 24 frets. It’s super fun to have access to that extra octave. It’s the first guitar I reach for when I practice. My style always evolves based on who I am playing for and what the artist requires tonally as well as aesthetically. The 24-08 I have is bright green, so it’s not for everyone unfortunately, but it will always be my personal favorite! 🙂
Guitar Thrills Magazine would like to sincerely thank Erica Fox for taking the time to share her journey, insights, and passion with our readers. Her dedication to the craft, fearless approach to breaking boundaries, and commitment to authenticity continue to inspire guitarists around the world. We’re honored to have her as part of the Guitar Thrills story.
