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Merel Koning, welcome to
BassGirls. Where are you based?
Utrecht, the Netherlands
At what age did you first take a
bass in your hands? I started
playing double bass when I was 11 years old. I picked up bass guitar when
I was 14 years.
What attracted you to playing bass?
I like to combine rhythm and melody. And I like the sub-low of the
bass-sound
Did you play any other instrument
before you started playing bass? No
Can you remember the first piece you
ever learned on bass? I Feel Good,
by Mr. Brown and Under The Bridge from the RHCP on bass guitar.
What was your very first public
performance? I played a lot when I
was 12 and 13 years old, in jazz-clubs. I do not remember the first time.
I do remember the first big performance, at a jazzfestival. I was
nominated for a jazz-award and had to play for 4000 people. I received the
award, that was really cool, I was 13 years old.
What’s your current band?
Dolores and also Lushus (see Links page
- Ed.)
What’s your main bass?
Fender American Deluxe Jazzbass 1999,
Fender American P-Bass 19??.
Body colour/wood?
jazz bass - cherryburst, ash; P-bass
- baby blue, ash .
Neck/fingerboard?
both rosewood
What strings to you like best?
Jazzbass GHS-Bassboomers 45-105 P-bass GHS Bassboomers 45-115
What is your backline bass amp
setup? Trace Eliot 4x10 12EQ with
mossfets, build late eighties
Fingers, plectrum or both?
mainly fingers
Have you played double or acoustic
bass? Yes, double-bass used to be my
main instrument
What type of music do you play?
In Dolores I play pop-rock, In Lushus I play newwave punk
Who do you listen to when you’re not
playing? jazz, pop, rock, electronic
music from the eighties
Have you recorded/released any CDs?
3 with Lushus and 2 with Dolores.
What was your best gig/venue ever?
In the yail in Amsterdam. For a lot of criminals with my chick-band
Dolores. That was rock 'n' Roll!
What was your worst moment onstage?
I had many. Once I had a black out. I did not remember the song, but I had
to play the intro... so I started it in the wrong key and rhythm.... But I
think we handled it well, the crowd hardly heard it.
Were you ever on a TV show? Local
interviews. Videoclips on local TV.
Did you ever make the cover of a
magazine? Not the cover, but we made
the middle page with Dolores. One big picture in the largest magazine of
the Netherlands.
What’s your favourite album/CD?
Blood Sugar Sex Magic, RHCP
Do you play/own any other
instruments? I own 3 bass-guitars, 1
electric guitar, 1 double bass, 1 acoustic guitar, 1 banjo, 1 trumpet and
I'm babysitting a cello.
Do you sing?
I sing parts in Lushus, In Dolores I only
do the backing vocals
Have you ever performed onstage
without your bass? Yes, I did one
gig on drums last month.
Have you played outside your own
country? Yes, Germany, Denmark,
Austria, Belgium
What’s your opinion on basses with
more than 4 strings? I don't need
it. But if you think you need it, and your hands are big enough, go for
it!
What do you feel is the bass-players
function in a band? Making the link
between melody and rhythm, and of course driving the van!
Did you ever have a famous person in
your audience? Bassplayer Charlie
Haden.
What are your ambitions Merel?
I want to keep on playing with my
bands. And we will see where it ends..
thanks to Merel for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Merel Koning and
BassGirls.Com
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