Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2014 Female Bassist Issue | Page 56

the way of ‘music’ and being professional. If that’s the case,
it’s better to tell people that you might seem grumpy because
you’re tired, or you had a stressful day, etc., otherwise, people
might think that you’re rude; as much as you play their music
well, they won’t call you again.
4) Dress the part – Always ask what the dress code is and
wear something appropriate.
5) Make sure your gear works.
6) Try to reply to emails within 48 hours.

a ‘bassist,’ not a ‘girl that playe
sought for information and inspi
over it, and began treating me lik

What can we look forward to
year?
My brand new project with drumm
‘Glasses, no Glasses,’ will be re
label Pimenta Music. It’s a mix of f

From a practical point of view, do you find
managing the weight of a bass challenging? If
so, do you have any special techniques/advice?
Weight used to be a problem for me when I did some
of those 6 or 7 hour long gigs, for many repeated
days, back in my Brazil days. Now, I think it’s a matter
of ergonomics and distribution of the weight. My Ken
Smith is not the lightest, however, because its weight is
so well distributed, it actually feels lighter than what it
is. Some of my other basses are not so balanced, and
might bother me a little bit after a 3-hour gig.
I’ve been doing Power Yoga for the last two years, and I have
strengthened those little muscles in the shoulder and back
area. This has really helped me with the ergonomics and
weight of the bass.
What do you wish someone had told you when you
were first getting started?
That music is not easy, and it’s an endless mixture of joy and
challenge.
Any advice for other females interested in getting
started on the bass?
Don’t label yourself as a ‘Girl bassist’.Just envision yourself
as an ‘awesome musician’. That for me could be seen as an
excuse for not practicing enough or thriving to excel.
While growing up in Brazil, a very macho country, I heard
comments about how ‘uncool’ I was, because I was a bass
player, since “girls play piano, not bass,” or how ‘weird’ I was
for doing so. But I chose not to focus on such; I chose to be

could adjust our headphone lev
to each other, we started playing

After we were done sound checkin
room to listen to our sounds, an
from our friendship was passing
a deep way, that that track was
Hence the first song is called ‘S
sound checking.

We recorded it in two days. O
improvisations, and then a mon
studio and recorded three origi
written by a different member.

Also, I’ll be performing with my
festivals in the East Coast, while
with many artists that I work with
steady studio session work.