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Where are you based Laura?
Brooklyn, NY, USA
When did you first take a bass in
your hands? At 18
What attracted you to playing bass?
Musically, I've always found myself drawn to minimal and straightforward
lines. I'm very pop-oriented, but when I think about songs that really
grab me, often a thing they have in common is a simple 'hooky' line or
else a very HEAVY sound (Black Sabbath, rap from the Dirty South). I found
I was able to create this myself, as a bass player. I'm sure there are a
million reasons I chose the bass, but today this is my best guess as to
the original reason.
Did you play any other instrument
before you started playing bass?
Piano, when I was growing up in Minnesota. I took lessons for a few years
and we had an upright piano at home.
Can you remember the first song you
ever learned on bass? In my
dormitory, during my first year of college. I taught myself to play "Don't
Mind the Mind" by the MAKE-UP. It felt exciting! I think there's only four
notes in that song. But sometimes that's all you need!
What was your very first public
performance? My band The Assault
played our first show on Saturday April 27th, 2002 at a really tiny bar in
Brooklyn called The Charleston. It was great!
What's the line-up of The Assault?
Me, Laura Leontine (bass/vocals), Margot Bianca (guitar/vocals) and Julie
Pop (drums/vocals) [See Links page for The Assault website - Ed]
What's your main bass?
Kramer "The Duke" Headless Bass
Body colour/wood?
It's white, it's beautiful.
Neck/fingerboard?
This Kramer has an aluminium neck
What strings to you like best?
I use D'Addario, XL, long scale because my bass is weird and headless.
It's what I have to use. But I don't really care so much about strings.
What is your backline bass amp
setup? I play a vintage Sunn Concert
Bass head and a Sunn 2x15 cabinet which is huge and a pain to carry around
in New York but sounds great. When I don't want to haul that out to shows,
I take my old Ampeg combo.
Fingers, plectrum or both?
Fingers, always.
What type of music do you play?
Rock, Folk, Metal.
Who do you listen to when you're not
playing? Todd Rundgren,
Tyrannosaurus Rex, Free Kitten, Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre,
Wire, Beat Happening, Kleenex/Liliput, Thin Lizzy, The Frumpies, Kool
Keith, T.I., Suicide, Trina, Pavement, Quix*o*tic, Alex Chilton,
Girlschool.
Who do you admire in the music
business? Lita Ford, Dolly
Parton,Tina Turner.
Have you recorded/released any CDs?
"Written In The Stars" (2003, self-released, CD only), "Come On In" (2005,
Unicorn City Records, CD + 7" Vinyl), "Heart/Muscle" (2005, Unicorn City
Records, CD promo)
What was your best gig/venue ever?
Can't decide. Last month, 9/27 at The Hook in Red Hook, Brooklyn with
Weird War. October 2004 at Ladyfest East at North Six in Williamsburg,
Brooklyn with The Gossip. Anytime we go on tour is always a blast - Chapel
Hill, NC with our friends Fashion Design, Knoxville, TN and Rochester, NY
were my favorites.
What was your worst moment onstage?
One time, Margot fell off the stage
during the middle of a song and picked herself up and walked right out of
the room with the microphone. Julie and I just kept playing the song, I
think it was 'Children's Song'? I can't remember...it was definitely a
ballad. Julie and I just kept rocking, then Margot walked back into the
room and proclaimed the show over and started trashing the club. It was
great. So wait, this might actually be my favourite moment onstage!
What's your favourite album/CD?
Can't decide, so I'll list more stuff I listen to: The Runaways, Prince,
The Fakes, Kim Deal, Spitboy, Stevie Nicks, Yoko Ono, the Sonics,
Francoise Hardy, Motorhead, Tracy & the Plastics, Def Leppard, Roger
Miller, Heart, Alice Cooper.
Do you own any other instruments?
My backup bass is a Kay, semi hollow
body from 1966. It's nice. There are keyboards, mandolins and guitars in
my house for spontaneous jam sessions.
Do you sing?
Yes, frequently.
Did you ever perform onstage without
your bass? Yes, I play in a band
called FORELOCK which has three members (M.L. plays drums and sings, C.L.
plays bass and sings, and L.L. (that's me) plays bass and keyboards and
sings. This is mostly a cover band and we rarely do shows. The 'normal'
set up is C.L. and I both on bass at the same time, but when we do our
version of 'The Weight' by The Band, I play keys. We also cover 'P Poppin'
by Ludacris, and when we do that I just rap and my bandmates hold down the
rhythm. Also, the lead singer of The Assault, Margot Bianca, frequently
does solo acoustic shows, so occasionaly she'll bring me up to sing backup
for her.
What's your opinion on basses with
more than 4 strings? Whatever works
for you, but four is good for me.
What do you feel is the bass-players
function in a band? In a band?
absolutely anything - break the rules! In MY band? Obviously, as a power
trio, the drummer, Julie Pop and I keep the rhythm; however, I like to
think I am often equally a part of the harmony and melody of songs. For
example, in our song 'The OC', the bass line creates the melody.
What are your ambitions?
First, Quit My Job And Go On Tour. Then, play music forever. I want to be
FREE to do what I LOVE. Take all our friends and family with us to the
top, so they can do what they love to do, too. Play big, huge stadiums -
open for the Stones before they stop/die. Madison Square Garden. Influence
other people, especially young women, to express themselves and be happy.
Anything else Laura?
Yes, I believe that everyone, regardless of skill level or technique,
should be encouraged to play music if they wanna do it. Thanks for
starting a website that highlights women in music. I'm sure hearing
directly from these women through BassGirls will inspire lots of people!
You are awesome!
thanks to Laura for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Laura Leontine and
BassGirls.Com
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