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Where are you based
Cassandra? I live in sunny
Newport Beach, California, USA. I moved there at the beginning of this
year for my job. Before Southern California, I was based in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, for three years. I'm originally from Kingsford, which is a
small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
When did you first take a bass in
your hands? The first time I
played bass was my first lesson in 1998. I signed up for lessons on a
spur-of-the-moment decision. I was driving by a music store and pulled
into the parking lot for no reason. I walked in and said, "I want to play
bass." And here I am!
What attracted you to playing
bass? Well, it's cool and Nikki
Sixx does it. That's reason enough for me. Actually, I just always loved
the sound of a great bass tone.
Did you play any other instrument
before you started playing bass?
I took piano lessons for three years in grade school. I also played flute
for a few years. They just weren't rock-n-roll enough for me.
Can you remember the first song
you ever learned on bass?
Oh....wow...the first song I learned was "2000 Man" by Kiss. The first
song I played on stage was "If You Could Only See" by Tonic.
What was your very first public
performance? My first
performance was with my ex-boyfriend's band in a small little dive bar in
Michigan. I talked them into letting me play that Tonic song with them. I
brought my own bass because their bass player had a five string and it
confused me.
What's your current band?
I'm currently in Pretty In Stereo.
I've been with the band for a month and we're recording a full-length CD
that's due in early 2006. I'm so excited to be in a band with three great
girls who are exceptionally talented.
What's your main bass?
My main bass, my baby, is a Warrior Angel. I bought it from a guy who
worked at Warrior, and he built it for himself. On the bottom of the fret
board it says "Angel Prototype," so it's definitely one of a kind. It's
got some amazing inlays, a great paint job, and it plays like a dream. The
first time I saw it, I was immediately in love. I knew I had to have it,
but I also knew I couldn't afford it. I passed up on buying it the first
time I saw it, went home and thought about it for a week traight, and then
went back and bought it. It's one of the most expensive things I own, but
it's worth every penny of the $3,100 I spent on it.
Body colour/wood?
It's a neck-through bass and it's painted mother-of-pearl white. The paint
has some sparkles of pink, blue, and green. The guys at Warrior told me
that the only other thing painted the same colour are some of Audi's cars.
If I need touch-up paint for it, I'll have to go to an Audi dealership!
What strings to you like best?
I'm not really picky about brand, because I can't be. My bass has a hip
shot on it, which means the E string gets strung through the entire body
of the bass, not just at the bridge. So, whatever brand has
extra-extra-long strings, those are the ones I buy. I prefer a medium
weight string if I have a choice.
What is your backline bass amp
setup? I have an Ampeg SVT-3 Pro
head, a compressor, and a MesaBoogie cabinet. I love my Ampeg!
Fingers, plectrum or both?
I use my fingers. I took lessons from a jazz musician, so I learned to
feel the song and the beat with my fingers.
What type of music do you play?
I play rock, but that jazz stuff sneaks into my bass lines every now and
then.
Who do you listen to when you're
not playing? I listen to a lot
of music. It's always on when I'm in the car, at home, and even at work. I
like a lot of older rock and I love some of the new bands. My favourites
are Cheap Trick, Kiss, Motley Crue, Fallout Boy, and Butch Walker.
Have you recorded/released any
CDs? I recorded a demo with my
previous band in Minneapolis. We were called Molly Gets Confused. I was
the only girl in the band, so people always thought I was Molly. I don't
know if that was because I was the only girl in the band or if it was
because I looked so confused all the time ;)
What was your best gig/venue
ever? My best gig was a 4th of
July holiday celebration in Michigan. The bar my band played at was filled
to capacity and we had about 250 people jumping up and down in unison. It
was a rush!
What was your worst moment
onstage? My worst moment was
when I completely blanked out on a song. I couldn't remember anything. Not
one note. I was so embarassed, I must have been bright red. I tried to
cover by pretending that my bass was shorting out. I turned around and
started fidgeting with my head, acting as if something electrical was
going wrong. I'm a bad actress :)
What's your favourite album/CD?
This is a tough question to
answer! I think my favourite album is "In Colour" by Cheap Trick. I think
they affected a lot of people with their music in the mid to late '70s. A
lot of bands and musicians list Cheap Trick as an influence for a reason—
they took great rock riffs and layered beautiful vocal harmonies over it.
Brilliant!
Do you own any other instruments?
I have a 1986 Gibson Explorer. It's crazy looking and I love it. I bought
it because it reminded me of all the '80s bands I loved when I was young.
Do you sing?
I do sing, but I don't feel it's my strongest talent that's for sure.
Did you ever perform onstage
without your bass? I sang with a
band once or twice. I felt weird without my bass.
What's your opinion on basses
with more than 4 strings? I
don't need more than four. I think people who do play 5, 6, or even
12-string basses use them well, but I'll stick to basics.
What do you feel is the
bass-players function in a band?
I think bass players are the bridge between the beat (the drums) and the
melody (the riff). I think that gives bass players a lot of power and a
lot of responsibility. With bass, you can play with the drums straight, no
fills or frills, and be a solid backbone. Or, you can get creative and
play a lot of great riffs that compliment the guitars. I like to do a
little of both. Bass players are also usually characters... well, the ones
I've met anyway.
Did you ever have a famous person
in your audience? No, but that
would be awesome! If you know any famous people, tell them to come see
Pretty In Stereo!
What are your ambitions?
My ambitions are to play music for the right reasons. I didn't start
playing bass because I thought money and stardom would follow. I started
playing because it felt good and it was a way to express myself. Plus I'm
a total ham and love being on stage. I want to continue making the best
music I can without losing sight of my initial reasons for playing bass.
See Pretty In Stereo
website on our Links page - Ed.
thanks to Cassandra for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Cassandra Clawson and
BassGirls.Com
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