Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2014 Female Bassist Issue | Page 155

How do you handle gigs when you are
called to fill in on short notice?
I use several methods. I have an iPad with my
own hand written charts to songs in my library
that I’ve collected over the years from various
set lists. I will also closely watch a bandleader
or stronger player on the gig who is familiar
with the particular gig’s nuances. My eyes,
ears, charts, and other’s help are essential to
my sub or short notice work.

Who are your musical inspirations, both
male and female?
I’m a musician first and bass player second.
Janis Joplin is my biggest musical inspiration,
and she has been since I was a young girl. Her
passion and soul have always spoken volumes
to me. And I believe my desire to play rock
music on a stage was completely and entirely
fueled by Green Day and Hole. My influences
are across the board and tend to be more bandoriented than player-oriented. I have so much
respect for The Who, The Rolling Stones, Joe
Cocker, Tool, Tori Amos, Radiohead, Flogging
Molly, Elvis Costello, and Lynyrd Skynyrd; I
could go on and on. Additionally anyone who
attempts to make music in the industry, male
or female, inspires me; it takes a lot of guts.

What is your opinion of the image
of female bassists in today’s music
industry?
I believe female bassists are well represented
in the music industry. Tal Wilkenfeld is an
absolute monster player. Well-respected male

players I speak to have such sheer admiration
for her playing, passion, and musical hangability. She seems to have reached an almost
Goddess like status in the industry.
Locally, I feel this way about Jasmine Cain.
She is an artist. She plays bass. She fronts her
band. She plays original music. She makes
records. She has endorsements. She tours.
She is an absolute powerhouse.
In general, female bassists are well represented
as artists unto themselves and not just as band
members anymore. Melissa Auf der Maur, Paz
Lenchantin, D’arcy Wretsky, Kim Gordon, Kim
Deal, and Sean Yseult: Thank you for doing
what you did and thank you to the industry for
noticing.
Do you find that you constantly have to
prove yourself... as a musician, or a
musician that happens to be a female?
I did when I was much younger. As I mentioned
before, it’s a learning curve. Experience and
the journey are my biggest teachers. It’s been
a fool’s game to set myself up with a negative
attitude of, “They’ll never respect me or take
me seriously because I’m female.” Additionally
foolish, is for me to come off half-cocked,
over confident, aching for someone to ruffle
my feathers, and bitter because I’ve just been
hit-on or told, “That’s pretty good…for a girl,”
for the millionth time.
Things that used to bother me just don’t
anymore. It’s more important to prove to myself
that I belong in the industry, do the best job
I know how, and realize that it is just that, a
job. Knowing that life is unfair in general and
having a sense of humor about it are keys for
me now.

bassmusicianmagazine.com | aug 2014 | #bassmusicianmag | the face of bass

particular boss or artist for the evening, the
sound person if you have one, the bar staff,
and also the door guys. Common courtesy,
respect for others, and personal integrity go a
long way.