|
Ariane Cornelia Cap, thanks
for giving us some of your time. Where are you based?
San Francisco Bay area, California, US
At what age did you first take a bass in your hands?
I have played music since I was 4,
classical piano, guitar, flute etc. First time I laid hands on a bass was
when I was 21. It was love at first sight, though. I played my first gig
after 2 weeks!
What attracted you to playing bass?
The way my body feels when I play a groove. The supportive role of the
bass, its close relationship to the drums... the bass feels like the
subconscious mind of the band! Was it Ray brown who said the bass is like
the heartbeat of the band? And I like the fact that the electric bass is
such a young instrument and there is so much more to explore technically.
I love solo bass pieces, tapping, harmonics, any way that stretches the
instrument beyond it's rhythmic, pulsating function (to which it is always
nice to come home to, though. Grooving on a rhythm with a drummer who
listens is a great trance for me!). The TONE. The big fat low stuff (I
play 5 and 6 string) that is just earthy and very female to me. Playing
bass helps me be in my somatic center, it makes me feel sexy, one with the
music, my body, who I am.
Did you play any other instrument before you started playing bass?
Yes. Classical piano, flute, guitar.
Can you remember the first piece you ever learned on bass?
Sharp Dressed Man and Cheap Sunglasses by
ZZ TOP.
What was your very first band? An R
'n' B Cover Band called Sitting Bull
What other bands were you a member of? Too many to name.
Highlights were the MozartBand (Mozart a la
funk with members of the Viennese Philharmonic and Falco's Band), Shelia
Michelle (Willie Nelson), several Jazz bands, Big bands etc. Currently I
play with the Celtic Rock Band Tempest
What’s your current band? Celtic
Rock Band Tempest (see Links page for Tempest and Ariane Cap websites -
Ed.)
What’s your main bass? 5 string
Marleaux and a 6 String Ken Smith (and a fretless custom-made Hemage)
Body colour/wood? Marleaux is a
birdseye maple top with an African Walnut body, the Smith is made from
Polonnia ( a very light Japanese wood) and dark walnut on top, maple neck and
rosewood board.
Do you think that the wood effects the tone/sound/sustain of your bass?
Of course! The wood itself and how
it was treated.
Do you come from a musical
family? My grandfather from Mom's
side was a conductor, my Dad is not into music AT ALL, however. My brother
plays the piano.
If forming your ideal live band,
what instruments would you have with you onstage?
Bass (at least one!), fiddle, a DJ, drums, percussion, sax, Indian and
celtic flutes, piano. Flautist doubling on bag pipes.
Do you see the bass as a solo
instrument? Yes and no. I like
soloing, and also playing solo bass pieces. Bass is most and foremost
supposed to groove like crazy in most band situations, however, so less is
often more, depending on the context. Listening is the most important! Be
musical!
Have you ever been to Ireland?
No. Is that an invitation ;) ? (Ahem - well, okay then! - Ed.)
What other instrument would you like
to play? Drums, percussion. I'd like
to be a total computer wizard playing EVERYTHING, from loops to orchestra!
If you could be taken to a concert
anywhere on earth tonight, who would you want to see live?
Haven't checked what's on tonight, but if Sting is on, get me a ticket.
Peter Gabriel...!
Do you have a pet?
There would be Miss Lucky the Cat, who has
us
Do you have a day-job or do you play
professionally? Play professionally
and teach bas students and rock seminars etc.
Give one piece of advice to someone
who has just bought their first bass?
Get a tuner, open your ears, have fun!
Have you any views on the active .v. passive debate?
Depends on the sound I am going for and the
style I am mostly playing. For the Celtic Rock I like a more mid rangey
singing sound that cuts through, as I am playing melodies there and get to
stretch out all over the neck. My Marleaux is passive pick ups with active
electronics (Marleaux has this frequency switch/high/mid/low patent, which
allows for great freedom of tone with some simple click/dialling in. I can
make it sound Fenderish for walking bass jazz or fat and round for reggae
etc.). Even though the pick ups are passive (German Bartolinis called Bass
Tech) it has quite some oomph.
What strings to you like best? Dean
Markley SR 2000 Will Lee
How often would you change your strings?
That is a money problem. I cook them in
alcohol every other week or so, new ones when I do studio work.
What is your backline bass amp setup?
I use an Eden Nemesis Combo as a backline
with Tempest. If there would be enough room in the tour-van I would bring
the Glockenklang, though.
Fingers, plectrum (pick) or both?
Whatever the song needs. Mostly fingers at the moment.
If plectrum, which ones? I am not
'picky' there at all... :)
Have you played double (upright) or acoustic bass?
Yes, I studied it at the university of
Miami and Vienna.
What type of music do you play? I
have done everything from Jazz, Bebop, to Pop Rock, to shows, musicals...
my favourite is World Music.
Who do you listen to when you’re not playing?
Too many to name. Peter Gabriel, Bruce
Hornsby, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey... I like Film Music (Howard Shore,
Danny Elfman), African music, chants... Bach! etc. And I love Bonnie Raitt
and the Dixie Chicks... Natalie Mac Master...
Have you recorded/released any CDs?
Yes. Just recently with Kim and Krista and Bekkas Frogland.
What was your best gig/venue ever?
Philly Folk Fest 2005
What was your worst moment onstage?
When my wireless transmitter fell through my shorts and dangled there for
a whole song.
Were you ever on a TV show? Yes,
several. Recently Bethlehem Music Fest.
Did you ever make the cover of a magazine?
No
Do you play/own any other instruments?
Alembic fretless 4 string, Bohemian
Upright, a piano, a fully equipped recording studio with loads of toys...
What other instrument would you most like to play?
In the next life after the next (I need
another one for bass!) I would either play sax or drums. I would like to
learn some percussion, work on my back up vocals and improve my software
skills so I expand my composing capabilities. Learn more about
orchestration.
What was the best concert you were ever at (in the audience!)?
Sting, Mercury Falling Tour.
Do you sing? yes.
Have you ever performed onstage without your bass?
yes. I have sung solo, played piano and
flute..
Have you played outside your own country?
yes. many places in Europe and US
What’s your opinion on basses with more than 4 strings?
Whatever fits the music. I like 5 and 6
personally, but if you check out what Victa, Michael Manring and some
other cats do with 4 shows me clearly that it is not in how many strings
one uses!
What do you feel is the bass-players function in a band?
Heartbeat. Make people's necks bop and feet
move. Lock in, support, GROOVE!
What are your ambitions? I want to
become the best player I possibly can in this lifetime.
Highlights of playing? Victor Wooten
asked me out on stage when he played in Philly with Soul Circus. That was
majorly cool! I attended several seminars with Victor Wooten and Steve
Bailey and Gerald Veasley which have been a huge inspiration.
thanks to Ariane for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Ariane Cornelia Cap
and
BassGirls.Com
|
