CM : How did you get started in music ?
IB : Other than being forced to learn violin and quickly quitting because my teacher was really mean , I discovered that music could be fun when I was 11 or so . My dad had a classical guitar in the house and he was really badass at it . He was really good . He was always playing The Beatles in the house , and The Doors . Just awesome music . I would pick it up every now and then and make a bunch of noise on it . I was curious to figure out how it worked .
I started on guitar , taking it more seriously in my teens , doing the private lesson thing and just teaching myself . Then I heard “ Dead Disco ” by Metric and everything changed . “ What ? A cool girl can do this ?” It changed my life . So , I started to get more into that scene , getting into synthesizers and music production , then getting my first laptop and fiddling around on that . For the past 15 years or so , I ’ ve been teaching myself and trying to get better at as many instruments as possible as well as the production side of things .
CM : When did you pick up the bass ?
IB : Lana , our drummer , often laughs because we ’ ve been playing music together for over
10 years and she knows I ’ ve often said , “ I never thought I would be a bass player .” Sure enough , early in the Caveboy days , we started writing songs and we were just like , “ Hey , this would probably sound better with a live bass .” You know , bringing in a little more of that human factor . We were like , “ Who wants to play it ?” I was like , “ I ’ ll do it !” Fast forward and now it ’ s my favourite thing to do out of any instrument I ’ ve ever gotten my hands on . I ’ m so happy that it happened .
CM : How do you approach synth bass lines versus electric bass lines ?
IB : I mostly have a co-dependent relationship with Lana , who is really a genius bass-wise . Her mind goes places I would never think of going . It ’ s cool to have her around to inspire me to try things that are either a little on the wacky side or really straightforward , like cut out all those extra notes . I find if you want to make things groove and dance-y , it ’ s locking it in with the drums . It ’ s finding ways to have a relationship , bass and drums together .
With the synth it ’ s different , because you ’ ve got almost too much freedom , just changing the sounds in the moment with all your setting knobs . Something as simple as playing around with filters can make all the difference . I ’ m lucky to have those two worlds
to create with . CM : The first thing that struck me about Caveboy was the ‘ 80s vibe , but then it was like , “ Oh , they write good songs !” Nowadays , a lot of pop stuff has an ‘ 80s vibe , but the songs aren ’ t very good !
IB : We try really hard . Thank you for noticing . We definitely learned over the years that a good song is a good song . A good song is timeless . If it ’ s honest and not over complicated then people can latch onto it . We want to reach as many people as possible .
CM : What have your experiences been like as a woman in the music industry ?
IB : I think it ’ s so similar to every other industry , especially at a time like right now , when everyone is talking about issues that relate to this . For a long time I tried to not think about it . I think things are heading in a more positive direction . It ’ s becoming more and more inclusive and mutually respectful . You know , I won ’ t lie , there have been times I show up to a gig and know they ’ re expecting nothing from me . I slay on stage and then they start showing me respect . And that ’ s fine , I ’ m happy to earn my place by playing good music and being a tight musician . Slowly but surely we ’ re on our way to being musicians , not female musicians .
My 10-year-old bass-playing daughter inspired the idea for this feature . I would like to dedicate this article to her . Stella , I am very proud of the young woman you have become . Bass Buddies forever !
Jason Raso is a professional bassist from Guelph , ON . His latest album , Live At The Jazz Room , is available at www . jasonrasomusic . com . Jason proudly endorses Fodera basses , Aguilar amplification , and D ’ Addario strings .
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