Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2014 Female Bassist Issue | Page 177

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Do you find that you constantly have
to prove yourself... as a musician,
or a musician that happens to be a
female?
I do feel at times that I have to prove myself,
prove that I can handle the pressure,
handle the stress, handle being on stages
in front of thousands of people, and handle
the music itself. That I am not going to
fall apart, I am not a fragile doll. As I said
before, sometimes it’s hard for people to
believe that I can run with the big boys,
but I feel I have proven that I deserve to be
up there just as much as anyone.
It can be hard to be taken seriously as a
female musician, and I think there are times
I’ve not gotten gigs because I am female.
For example if there’s already another girl
in the band, they’ve filled their quota. But
maybe sometimes I get the gig because I
am a woman. I think ultimately I would not
be where I am if I didn’t have the chops.
But I have definitely had the experience of
being helped/hindered by my gender.
What is your advice on how to be
taken professionally in the music
industry?
My advice to women on being taken
seriously in the music industry is to hone
your craft, practice and take yourself
seriously, but not too seriously. And try
not to get discouraged. It can be brutal,
but you can’t take it personally. It definitely
takes a thicker skin to be in this world, but
you just have to dust your shoulders off
and carry on.

Advice for playing live... Get ‘in ears’! They
changed my relationship with the drums in
the best way possible. I can literally hear
where the pick is landing on the string
in relation to the kick drum. It makes it
impossible to not lock-in with the drums.
Also, it improved my singing by about
75%. Some people don’t like wearing them
because they feel that it’s not rock & roll.
But I know that I never want to go back!
Advice for touring... Get a backpack for a
purse; it makes life so easy. And get super
cozy orthopedic shoes. You don’t have to
wear heels ALL the time.
Advice for recording... Don’t over think it.
Sometimes you have to just let a part or a
song be what it wants to be. But don’t be
afraid to take risks either.
What do you wish someone had
told you when you were first getting
started?
I wish someone had told me to play drums.
(Sort of kidding) If you think people are
surprised to see girls playing bass, just
ask a female drummer that question. Also,
there is just something incredibly freeing
about using all of your limbs to play music.
What can we look forward to from
you in the coming year?
In the coming year you can expect a new
record from The Cold and Lovely, touring
with Night Terrors of 1927 and other
endless possibilities. I am totally open
and excited about new opportunities. Bring
it on. ;-)

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

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we’ve over come so much and I think we
are well on our way.