Los Angeles, CA (November 11, 2026) — From trading a path towards a psychology PhD from UCLA for a life in rock and roll, singer-songwriter and guitarist Ali Handal has built a career entirely on her own terms with playing defined by a fierce dedication to authentic, uncompromising tone. Celestion is pleased to welcome Handal as the latest induction into our Partners in Tone programme. In our exclusive interview Ali discusses her musical journey, her recording process, and why she relies on the Celestion G12M Creamback for her signature sound on her new album, Slow Burn.
Ali’s journey to the stage began while she was a straight-A psychology student at UCLA. “Ultimately, I was miserable and realised I needed a change,” she recalls. Having temporarily put down the guitar due to her own perfectionism, she noticed a trend in her life. “At the time, every guy I dated was a guitar player. Eventually, it got to the point where I realised I didn’t want to date these guys—I wanted to be these guys. So, I picked the guitar back up, committed to making it happen, and never looked back.”
Today, her sound is heavily influenced by the guitar tones of the 1970s, which is proudly on display in her upcoming album, Slow Burn, just released in October 2026. Recorded in Mark Mothersbaugh’s studio, co-produced with Grammy-winning engineer Seth Atkins Horan, and mixed by 5-time Grammy-winner, Ross Hogarth, Ali partnered with this all-star team to elevate her original songs to new heights and incorporate unique sounds.
“We experimented with some very interesting sonic textures. We ran my guitar through an old Russian tape delay distortion box to get a really nasty, gritty sound,” Ali shares. “For another song, we took the tube off a talk box and miked the direct output for a highly unique texture. And because we were at Mark Mothersbaugh’s studio, we also had access to a brilliant collection of vintage amplifiers loaded with Celestions, including a 1957 Fender Tremolux combo loaded with a Celestion Vintage 30.”
Ali’s first real amplifier featured Celestion Greenbacks. “The sound of that amp was incredibly warm and fuzzy… A beautiful, warm, distorted tone that I absolutely loved.” she reminisces. “That was the first time I was truly aware of what speakers were in my cabinet and the profound impact they have. Since then, nearly every single amplifier I have ever used has featured Celestion…they represent the highest quality for professional rock guitarists.”
Today, performing frequently in clubs and theatres, she requires a rig that is easier to transport without sacrificing sonic quality. “All my research pointed directly to the Celestion G12M-65 Creamback,” she explains. Loading it into a lightweight 1×12 cabinet provided the perfect solution. “It sounds phenomenal while being incredibly easy to transport.”
After years of touring internationally and mastering her craft, Handal has learned exactly what it takes to achieve a great guitar sound. “Tone ultimately originates from your hands and your body. That being said, you must bring yourself to the gear and learn how to use it,” she observes. “You can get a remarkably wide array of tones out of a simple setup. My advice: learn your gear and find a speaker—like a Celestion—that perfectly reproduces and accentuates your tone.”
Click here to read the full interview with Ali Handal on the Celestion Speakerworld blog. You can also listen to Slow Burn on all major streaming platforms.
About Celestion
With worldwide headquarters in Ipswich, England, Celestion design, develop and manufacture high-quality professional audio loudspeakers and compression drivers for sound reinforcement, as well as premium guitar and bass guitar loudspeakers. These world-renowned speakers are used onstage and in clubs, theatres and other venues the world over. With more than 100 years of success, the company continues to offer the latest technologies and innovations in the world of loudspeakers. celestion.com
