Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2014 Female Bassist Issue | Page 66

I had this overwhelming and empowering feeling that I wanted to do the same, to entertain with crazy and powerful music. I also love to listen to Prince, Michael Jackson, Lenny Kravitz and all the Motown Tunes. 
Richie Hawtin, Faithless, Lady Gaga’s Performances and countless others; James Jamerson, Marcus Miller, Larry Graham and Esperanza Spalding are some of my bass heroes. In an industry dominated by male musicians, do you find that this hinders or helps your opportunities? For me, it helps. Good female bassists are hard to come by, which makes us exotic; a good selling point. What, if anything, would you do to change the industry for female bassists? If anything needs changing, then it is the way males and females perceive each other. As long as we do not see each other as true equals, any changes in the music industry would be superficial. This is not a male or female only problem. What specific challenges do you face as a female bassist? The main challenge as a female artist is always having to be a bit better than my male counterparts. On stage you are constantly being scrutinized. You have to be at least as good as a male base player and deliver exceptional performances to be musically respected, without being reduced to female charms. Do you feel, as a female bassist, Photo Johan Visbeek