Guitarist and singer Orianthi, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana and bassist Rhonda Smith have joined forces as The Power of 3, a new rock power trio bringing together three musicians whose individual careers have already put them on stages with some of the biggest names in music.
The band has announced its self-titled debut album, arriving December 11, 2026, via She2Music, and has given listeners their first taste with a double single: “War In The Streets” and “Treat Me Like A Lady.”
Produced by legendary producer and engineer Eddie Kramer, whose credits include Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, KISS and The Rolling Stones, the album was recorded entirely in analog and features a special guest appearance by Carlos Santana.
But as impressive as the résumés surrounding the project may be, what makes The Power of 3 especially exciting is the musicians at its center.
Orianthi has built a career as a formidable guitarist, singer and songwriter, performing with artists including Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper while establishing herself as a solo artist in her own right. Blackman Santana is a master drummer whose wide-ranging career has included work with Lenny Kravitz, Carlos Santana and jazz legend Pharoah Sanders. And Smith has supplied the low end for artists including Prince, Jeff Beck and Beyoncé and currently performs with The Cletones, the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
All of them are past She Rocks Awards honorees. Together, they’re not backing someone else’s vision. They are the band.
From an Idea to a Power Trio
The roots of The Power of 3 stretch back several years to an unexpected source: Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis. Davis encouraged Orianthi to put together a power trio inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys. Orianthi reached out to Blackman Santana, and the two recruited Smith to complete the lineup.
The chemistry quickly moved beyond an interesting collaboration. The trio has already performed twice at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, including an appearance ahead of the Raiders-Cowboys game last November. Now they’re ready to take the project much further.
“Playing together with Cindy and Rhonda, this is like a powerhouse,” Orianthi said in announcing the project. “It’s not just me… this is a real band.”
Two Songs, Two Sides of The Power of 3
The band’s first two releases offer distinctly different introductions to its sound.
“War In The Streets” is a hard-driving call for unity amid division and unrest, powered by the trio’s muscular rhythm section and Orianthi’s fiery guitar work.
“Treat Me Like A Lady” shows another side of the group. Built around Smith’s Motown-inspired bass line, the track brings together rock, soul and groove with an unmistakable sense of swagger.
The two songs also make one thing immediately apparent: The Power of 3 isn’t simply a collection of impressive individual players. There is a musical conversation happening between them. And that’s part of what makes this project so compelling.
