Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2014 Female Bassist Issue | Page 156

Do you feel, as a female bassist, that you
receive the professional respect afforded male
bassists?
I do; if I do not, I will not involve myself in those
particular projects.
Any advice for other females interested in
getting started on the bass?
Do it! You won’t regret it. At worst, it’ll be an experience!
At best, a life-long career and hopefully tremendous
happiness practicing your craft and creating music.
Don’t take sexist remarks too seriously, but if they
persist or make you uncomfortable, you have the right
to walk away from absolute negativity and unrelenting
sexism. Always know your own truth; you are not solely
on stage because you’re pretty. Learn to let go of other
people’s opinions, good or bad.
Final thoughts?
I have so much respect for the players making a living in
Nashville. Male or female, we all have got tremendous
guts to take a shot at making music for a living. For
me, it has definitely taken the entire ‘village’ of male
and female players to continue to ‘raise’ and teach this
player. I make no bones about my rock background.
I have been playing country music catch-up for five
years here. I would like to express a very special thanks
to these female players and artists I’ve worked with
throughout the years, either exclusively and/or with
regularity: Kassie Jordan, Goldy Locks, Beth Garner,
Ivalee Pitts, Holland Marie, Caitlin-Nicol Thomas,
Karen Dee, Jennifer Friend, Sharie Bardo, Shelly Bush,
Amanda McCoy, Fran Horton, Hali Hicks, Kristy Lee
Cook, Olivia McPeek, Paula Jo Taylor, Amy Acklyn,
Vera Herten, Anna LaPrad, and Melinda Curtis.
My final thought is this: the men may chase you, but
the women will save you: I would like to thank Leah
Newman for