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Nam Chi Thi Vu, welcome to
BassGirls.Com. Where are you based?
I was born in Yokohama, Japan, but I was raised in Northern California,
Houston, TX, and now Southern California.
At what age did you first take a
bass in your hands? I was 13. I
remember feeling like lightning struck through my body. It was fate.
What attracted you to playing bass?
Originally it was because it looked easier than the guitar, but then I
found it addicting because it was just as cool as the guitar but not as
known. I was always the one to open up people's eyes, or at least try to.
Did you play any other instrument
before you started playing bass? I
played piano and guitar.
Do you come from a musical family?
Not at all, but my parents did force piano on me when I was 3. When I
wanted to be a musician at 13, they freaked out;)
Are your siblings and/or parents
involved in music? Not really, my
brother likes to mess around on my basses here and there.
Can you remember the first piece you
ever learned on bass? I do remember.
People will laugh, but it was "Evil Ways" the Johnny Mathis version. My
father had a thing for Johnny Mathis, and since my number 1 influence are
my parents, I wanted to play a song just for them.
What was your very first band?
My very first band started when I was 13. It was called Tripwicked, and we
were based out of a suburb in Houston, TX called The Woodlands, TX. It was
great. We played at all the bars, and everybody was cool with us because
Texas at the time was very lenient on minors being in bars to listen to
music.
What other bands were you a member
of? The last project I was in was
called PaperBack Statue as seen up above. I'm trying to get a new group
together with a talented singer songwriter named "Erin Ashe". Currently,
I'm in an all female jazz band that does jazz as
well as classical and contemporary standards called Femme Fusion.
Tell us about your Femme Fusion?
My current band is all female. My pianist is from Berklee, and my singer
is from Chapman University. We play everything from pop to the classics to
jazz standards. The whole idea of this group was to make it a working
group to appeal to a large audience.
How did you come to join/start this
band? My singer and I were best
friends since we lived in Texas, and one day we just mentioned it and
joked around about it. We would go to parties and mention our ideas, and
people took us seriously, telling us that they would
get us all these shows if we actually put it together.
What's your main bass?
My basses are primarily Carvins, a 4 and
5-string Bunny Brunel Signature. Although, on occasion my boyfriend lets
me borrow his basses! The two Carvins were both made at the factory here
in San Diego. They were custom of course. That's why they look "girly."
Do you think that the wood affects
the tone/sound/sustain of your bass?
It really depends what kind of sound you are looking for. Back in the 50's
upon introduction of the very first bass guitar which was a P-Bass made by
Fender, you needed that kind of tone for that style of music. Not
everybody prefers a $5000 tone with incredible sustain. That's why most if
not all bands have at least a Fender P-Bass handy, just for that old
school sound.
Have you a preference for active or
passive electronics? I prefer active
just because it sounds cleaner, but like I said it depends what the gig
calls for.
What type or brand of strings to you
like best? The funny thing is that
I'm not sure. I guess Labella.
How often would you change your
strings? Whenever I feel like it:)
If I play in a rock band, then I usually don't worry about it too much. If
I was doing studio work, and needed a cleaner tone, ohhhhhh yeah, damn
straight I'll be changing them.
What is your backline bass amp
setup? I usually like it pretty
basic. With my other bands I played out of combos like I do now. With
PaperBack Statue I played out of an SWR Redhead, and now I have a Carvin
B800 combo.
Fingers, pick or both?
Fingers all the way. I tried using a pick for that tone, but I'm
definitely a finger style woman.
Have you played double (upright) or
acoustic bass? Yes, most definitely.
What type of music do you play?
I started off classically which was perfect for sight-reading, pitch, and
learning how to use a bow, but now I'm more of a jazz girl.
Who do you listen to when you're not
playing? I listen to everybody. I
love everyone from Muse to Genesis to Hildegard von Bingen to Miles Davis
to Soul Circus to the Funk Brothers. I also love Brazilian and Cuban music
whenever I get a chance to listen to it.
Who did you listen to as a young
teenager? Wow, I would say Nirvana,
Veruca Salt, Hole, etc.
Tell us about any CDs you may have
recorded/released? My first album
was with Tripwicked. It was called "Cripples Hate Dancers,"
and my next album was with PaperBack Statue, self-titled. My first band
released their CD in TX of course, but PaperBack Statue only used theirs
for demo purposes before we split up.
What was your best gig/venue ever?
I would have to either say at the Playboy Mansion when I was sitting in
for a country singer, or at the 4th & B with PaperBack Statue. Then, last
but not least having the opportunity to audition for Veruca Salt.
What was your worst moment onstage?
I was 16, and it was at a bar in Texas. I didn't know what to do with
myself! I was petrified!
Has anything funny happened with a
fan or fans?I attract a lot of
lesbians, which is fine because I don't mind that people
think I'm gay. My singer in my jazz band was Ms. Gay Pride 2005, and I do
live in the gay community.
Do you have a day-job outside of the
band? I have just school.
Tell us about any magazine you have
been featured in or on the cover? I
don't have any magazines, but I am trying to get a bass instruction book
published with a girl that looks like me on the cover;)
Do you play/own any other
instruments? I have an electric
piano, a Carvin acoustic electric guitar, and that's it I think. I used to
have harmonicas and stuff:)
What other instrument would you most
like to play? I used to want to play
violin, but nothing else really. I'm pretty content
with the bass.
What was the best concert you were
ever at? I would have to say the
"Fuck Wasted" concert in Pamona. I got drunk for the first time. I usually
don't because I always drive, but I had some time to spare. The atmosphere
was just awesome.
Do you sing?
Yes, I do. Of course, I didn't realize my capabilities until I met Veruca
Salt. Louise really did open a can of worms.
Do you write/compose?
Yes, I mainly like to arrange and give ideas though. I leave up the main
stuff to the masters.
If forming your ideal live band,
what instruments would you have with you onstage?
Oh, my ideal band would have banjo and
violin and a drum machine believe it or not.
Do you see the bass as a solo
instrument? Oh most definitely, it
has always been a goal of mine at least.
Apart from your own projects, have
you played recording sessions with other artistes?
I have done things for groups here in there, but nothing fancy.
Have you ever been to Ireland?
No, but I used to have a pen pal named Bernadette who loved tennis. I
always wondered what happened to her.
If you could be taken to a concert
anywhere on earth tonight, who would you want to see live?
I would have to say Arturo Sandoval. That
man can really rip on that trumpet. His band is absolutely fantastic!
What CD are you listening to most
these days? I would have to say "The
English Beat Greatest Hits."
Do you have a pet?
Yes, the love of my life, my pomeranian "Cowboy."
Do you have a day-job or do you play
professionally?
I would like to play professionally. I've been mainly studying at school,
don't have much time for anything else really.
Give one piece of "golden" advice to
someone who has just bought their first bass?
Try one of my boyfriend's 14 bass
instruction books! (editing eraser poised here - Ed.) And... don't
be afraid to ask for help. The only perfect people are the ones we don't
know very well.
Have you ever performed onstage
without a bass? Nope, I always carry
2 basses with me just in case. (or just in two cases? - Ed.)
Have you played outside your own
country? I haven't been out of the
country since I was 1 year old.
Where would you most like your band
to play/visit? Vietnam just because
it won't happen. Europe and everything else will happen eventually.
What's your opinion on basses with
more than 4 strings? Nothing really,
do what suits you. Only you know yourself more than anyone
else. Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten play mainly 4-strings, so there's
nothing wrong with them.
What do you feel is the bass-players
function in a band? The bass is the
foundation, but on occasion and if no one is stepping on
each other's toes... a solo.
Did you ever have a famous person in
your audience? Hugh Hefner was in
his house eating dinner when I was playing bass in his
backyard;)
What are your ambitions, musically
and personally? To be myself, and to
get as much life experience as I can because that is
what improves my bass playing the most.
Have you any "bassist" jokes to
share? What do you call an upright
bassist with a pager? An optimist (Nice one! - Ed.)
Thanks Nam Chi. See our Links page
for Femme Fusion website - Ed.
thanks to Nam Chi for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Nam Chi Thi Vu and
BassGirls.Com
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