BASS Davie Braaten / Jesus Culture
[ WM ] Tell us about how you got started playing bass?
[ Davie Braaten ] My Dad is why I got into music. Growing up there was always some guitar laying around the house, or the bass that I eventually used at my first music lesson in high school. We were always playing music. Michael W. Smith’ s Concert DVD from 2001 was a very popular choice. I have a very distinct memory of hiding in my older brother’ s bedroom with a tiny alarm clock radio listening to“ Don’ t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult. Kind of a bold move listening to secular radio when I was 6, but I was hooked, man. As I said earlier when I got into high school, I was able to start taking music lessons. My brother Mark wanted to play guitar, and I wanted to play bass. It really took over my life from that point on.
[ WM ] Who were your main bass influences?
[ Davie ] As a kid I really liked Flea, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee. A lot of the big proponents of playing with your fingers. I definitely was a finger only bassist at first.
My music teacher Larry Brohman, he got me into using a pick. That really changed how I viewed the instrument. Jeremy Davis was always a great guy to learn parts from. His live album playing and tone was so cool to me. He would always change how he approached songs that he recorded prior when they did them live. And I really loved that. Paramore’ s current touring bassist Joey Howard is really great too.
Ross Macdonald of The 1975, I really love how he and the drummer are supremely locked in. Mikey Margott from the Neighbourhood. He is the reason I bought a P bass. He’ s not very flashy, but his lines always served their songs so perfectly.
Jared Followill from KOL. I think I have probably learned more of his bass lines than any other bassist I’ ve mentioned. I would say that I think similarly to him in how I approach playing. Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes. Last but not least I would say Chris Squire from Yes is the biggest inspiration I have tonally. I will never be able to play like him, but I sure am determined to get his tone.
[ WM ] Do you play bass outside of the church? Do any session work?
[ Davie ] I do. I am currently in a blues band; we’ ve played a handful of times. Mostly in our
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