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Britta Phillips, welcome to
BassGirls.Com, Where are you based?
New York, NY, USA.
At what age did you first take a
bass in your hands? I guess I was
about 30.
What attracted you to playing bass?
My band needed a bassist, so I switched from guitar to bass.
Did you play any other instrument
before you started playing bass?
Keys, guitar. Oh, and clarinet once upon a time.
Can you remember the first piece you
ever learned on bass? No, but it was
a Belltower song. I never really learned any covers.
What was your very first band?
Belltower.
What other bands were you a member
of? Ultrababyfat & Luna. I also did
a tour with Ben Lee.
What are you doing (musically) these
days? I'm writing and recording
demos at home for the next "Dean & Britta"
album.
What’s your main bass?
Fender Precision. Its an 80s reissue of a 50s model.
Body colour/wood?
Orange with a gold pickguard.
Neck/fingerboard?
Maple.
Do you think that the wood effects
the tone/sound/sustain of your bass?
I'm sure it does. I don't really know much about the different tones of
different wood. I just know that I love the sound and feel of my bass.
Do you prefer active or passive
electronics? I MUCH prefer the sound
of passive. I prefer the sound of old records. And I especially love the
sound of bass on old records.
What strings to you like best?
I don't have a preference, but...
How often would you change your
strings? NEVER. I hate the sound of
new strings.
What is your backline bass amp
setup? I have an Ashdown head (ABM
500 EVO II - 575 watts) and an Ashdown 4 X 10 cabinet.
Fingers, plectrum or both?
Both.
Which plectrum?
I used to use felt plectrums, but now I
like the gray Jim Dunlop ones, 0.88 MM.
Have you played double (upright) or
acoustic bass? I've noodled around
on them, but never played one live. I LOVE the sound of them, though.
What type of music do you play?
Luna was classic indie rock. The music Dean and I are doing now is less
rock. It's a bit folky sometimes and a bit lounge sometimes. Lots of
critics called "L'Avventura" 60s Euro-pop, but I don't think that's quite
it either. We have a lot of influences as is obvious in our choice of
covers for our first record which included songs by The Doors, Madonna,
Opal and Buffy Ste. Marie.
Who do you listen to when you’re not
playing? Neil Young, Johnny Cash,
Francoise Hardy, New Order, Richard Hawley,
The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, Bobbie Gentry.
What are your main interests outside
of music? Good films and good books.
What was your best gig/venue ever?
The last LUNA show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. I also love the Fillmore
in S.F.
What was your worst moment onstage?
Having a brain freeze and forgetting half the songs. I had to keep moving
up and down the fretboard until it "came" to me.
Were you ever on a TV show?
Conan, The Late Show with Craig Kilbourne, Late Night with Cynthia
Garrett.
Did you ever make the cover of a
magazine? Not a major magazine
(Come on Britta, tell us! - Ed.)
What’s your favourite album/CD?
Neil Young's Greatest Hits & The
Genius Of Bertrand Burgalat.
Do you play/own any other
instruments? I have a Kalamazoo bass
with flat-wound strings which I played quite a bit on the Dean & Britta
album, "L'Avventura."I also have a Micro Korg and an OmniChord. I play my
boyfriend's guitars.
What was the best concert you were
ever at? Hmmm....my memory
stinks....but the last one I can remember was The Fiery Furnaces at
Webster Hall. Also, The Strokes and David Cross on NY's Eve at the Apollo
about 4 years ago.
Have you ever performed onstage
without your bass? Yes. I sang one
song sans bass on the last Dean and Britta tour.
Do you come from a musical
family?
Yes, my father is a professional
musician (trombone and piano) and has played with jazz bands, on Broadway,
on commercial jingles, and with Philip Glass. My mother is also very
musical - sings, plays guitar and piano.
My sister is a singer, as well, in the musical theatre realm.
Do you see the bass as a solo
instrument? Every once in a while.
Apart from your own projects, have
you played recording sessions with other artistes?
Mostly singing commercial jingles
and demos for various TV and film projects. I have also done a few
sessions on bass with a couple of artists/friends.
What other instrument would you like
to play?
Drums. I'd also like to be able to
play guitar better. I used to be much better, but I never practice,
so.......oh well...
If you could be taken to a concert
anywhere on earth tonight, who would you want to see live?
Rather than anywhere on earth, I'm going to make it any place in time. I'd
have liked to see The Velvet Underground or Bob Dylan way back when.
Or Johnny Cash!
Do you have a day-job or do you play
professionally?
No day-job for the last 5 years,
thank goodness. I've had to support myself with a day-job when I didn't
live in a major city like London or L.A.
Give one piece of “golden” advice to
someone who has just bought their first bass?
Play along with great records.
Have you played outside your own
country? Japan, Australia, Brazil,
Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, France, England, Germany, Sweden, Norway,
Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, England, Scotland, Ireland & Canada.
(Ireland? Damn...we missed you! - Ed.)
What’s your opinion on basses with
more than 4 strings? I don't need
them. I rarely even use 4!
What do you feel is the bass-players
function in a band? That all depends
on the band, but I think groove is all-important. And that doesn't mean
funky or busy. If its a 3-piece, you can play more, but it's always
important for all the musicians in the band to listen to each other and
not overplay, I think. If the guitar is melodic, then the bass should be
simple. If the guitar is simple, then the bass can move around melodically
a lot more.
Did you ever have a famous person in
your audience? Let's see.....Ethan
Hawke & Richard Linklater came to a Luna show at
the Knitting Factory. Noah Baumbach & Jennifer Jason Leigh have been to
some Luna shows, as well as Eric Stoltz. Can't think of any more right
now...
What are your ambitions?
To make great, classic records...write
great songs....sing and play with authenticity and soul.
Many thanks for your time
Britta. Websites are on our Links
page - Ed.
thanks to Britta for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Britta Phillips
and
BassGirls.Com
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