Features
Jasmine Cain: Rock and Roll with a Gypsy Soul
I will freely admit that when I first met Jasmine Cain at the GHS Strings booth at NAMM, I thought she’d be taller. Her larger-than-life personality precedes her, commands any stage she sets her foot upon and demands the attention of everyone around her; no surprise that she has a loyal army of followers online and off. She’s also a genuine person, full of wit and humor, always willing to spend time with fans.
Name: Jasmine Cain
Website: jasminecain.com
Facebook: jasminecainrocks
Twitter: jasminecainrock
Band(s) I Play With: Jasmine Cain
Gear I Use: Warwick Basses, Ampeg Amplification, GHS Strings, Line 6 Wireless, Telefunken Microphones, Epiphone Acoustic Guitars/Mandolin.
What made you decide to play bass? I actually learned how to play bass guitar out of necessity. I had been in 3 different groups where the bass player either left suddenly or just didn’t show up. Because I was a rhythm guitar player, I could step in and play the bass lines well enough to get us through the shows, but after the 3rd time it happened, I saw it as a sign that I was meant to play the instrument permanently. Before I really fully understood the instrument, I saw it as boring. I saw it as the job that was given to the least talented member of the band just to include them, but the more I played, I realized that it was one of the most important…if not THE most important part of the band. The drummers could lay down a straight beat and get through a song, and the guitarist could noodle around the melodies, but the bass player always has to be on. The bass could single-handedly carry the band when necessary. I grew to have an incredible respect for bass guitar and good bass players. You come to find that they are quite few and far between.
How/Where did you learn to play? I’m self-taught, but I’ve taken lessons from some of the best. They may not know they were teaching, but I was taking notes the entire time. I am a lead vocalist as well as the bass player, so I paid attention to those that were doing the same thing and doing it well. Players like Doug Pinnick from Kings X and Geddy Lee from Rush were always fascinating to me. Ultimately, I got my first actual “lesson” from Russell Jackson, a blues cat from Vancouver, BC who after 10 years of playing with the master of blues (BB King) decided to break off and start his own project. He always claimed to be a player and not a teacher and had no interest in teaching anyone anything about technique, but after seeing me perform, he took a special interest in my ability and told me “If any of these knuckleheads have a chance of making it in this business, it’s you and I want to help you achieve that”. He told me I had the worst technique of anyone he’s ever met and I doubt I’ve changed a lot since then, but many of the things he taught me, I still use to this day. When I feel myself getting sloppy, I resort to what he taught me and it keeps me in check.
Who are your musical inspirations, both male and female? I grew up on country music and was fascinated with Wynonna Judd’s voice. All female country singers had pretty voices, crystal clear like bluegrass angels, and she was raw and sounded like a female Elvis to me. Joan Jett was the reason that I became a player and why I chose to have a career in rock n roll instead of county music. Pat Benatar set the bar for vocal abilities and I trained myself to sing as much like her as possible from the beginning. Chris Cornell was my songwriting inspiration. His lyrics were poetry in the most abstract ways. I’m inspired by all styles of music. I love anything that is pure emotion.
As a bassist AND a front-woman, do you feel that gives you an advantage (doing both) or is it a challenge? I absolutely see it as an advantage and a challenge. The advantage is that not many females fronting a band are playing an instrument and especially and essential instrument. It sets me apart. But it’s also an incredible challenge to lock down that groove and pay attention to the music side of it without sacrificing the performance. You have to completely split your brain and feel the music with one side and read the audience with the other. It’s a good thing I’m ADD.
In an industry dominated by male musicians, do you find that this hinders or helps your opportunities? That is a constant question mark. Some male counterparts are more than welcoming of me and my talents whereas others have a real problem with me being there at all. I hear comments about how I only play the top 2 strings (hahahaha) so I don’t qualify as a true bass player. Ultimately, I think they’re just intimidated or jealous of the attention I’m getting. REAL players with REAL talent have always been really welcoming. They are too confident in their own abilities to be intimidated by anyone else. Those guys can play circles around me, but they’re more interested in sharing the love for the music rather than beating anyone down…and I’m down with that. I’ve had great opportunities by being female and I’ve been shut out because of it as well.What is your advice on how to be taken professionally in the music industry? Be consistent. Be professional. On occasion, someone will challenge me and it’s nice to have an army of people behind me that will have my back saying “She would never do something like that”. They know that and can say it without question because I’m consistent. Take pride in your integrity. It still counts for something…I promise.
What do you wish someone had told you when you were first getting started? I studied. I read books about the music industry and I listened to people that had done it for years. I took notes. I learned a lot. But what I absolutely could not grasp for many years was that people would just blatantly lie to you. Sometimes they have a motive, and sometimes they have no reason at all, but they will lead you on wild goose chases forever just for the attention. I wish someone had taught me about how to be a better judge of character. I see the best in people and it still blows my mind to this day why anyone would want to waste their time and energy just to ruin your day or career, but they do and they always will. I just wish I wouldn’t have been so trusting of some people.
With the landscape of promotion going more and more toward online interaction, how do you keep current with social media? Anybody that does it knows, it’s a full time job! I have the option of hiring an intern to keep up with posts and managing my 10 sites, but I love the interaction with everyone. I like being able to respond to everything. I don’t see it as a bother, but a privilege to be able to speak directly with the people that are supporting you and your music. It’s the ultimate gift. Basically, how I keep up with it is I just don’t sleep and I’m a fast typist….so I’ve got that going for me. I try to keep my posts fun and light and humorous. I think my fans enjoy chatting with each other as much as they do with me, so it turns into like a giant cyber living room of friends and whoever shows up joins the party and the first one to crash gets their eyebrow shaved off. It’s just like college.Any advice for other females interested in getting started on the bass? Do it! Women have a natural rhythm. We were made for this! Besides, it looks totally bitchin’ when you’re holding a giant axe and commanding the stage. I like to joke about how I have the longest stick in the band.
What can we look forward to from you in the coming year? I’m releasing a new single called “Nightingale”. It’s basically about the misconception of love based on what you’re taught through fairy tale storybooks as a child and what you actually come to find out about love. We are going a big radio push in August and releasing a new music video for it as well. It’s an amazing song and it rocks! I can’t wait to present it to the world.
Bass Videos
Interview With K3 Sisters Band
K3 Sisters Band Interview…
It is very rare when I talk to a band where all the members play bass. The K3 Sisters Band is a perfect example of a group where Kaylen, Kelsey and Kristen Kassab are all multi-instrumentalists and take turns playing bass.
Hailing from Texas, these three sisters have been playing music since they were very young and have amassed an amazing amount of original music, music videos, streaming concerts, podcasts, and content that has taken numerous social media platforms by storm. On TikTok alone, they have over 2.5 million followers and more than a billion views.
Join me as we hear the story of their musical journey, how they get their sound, and the fundamental principles behind these prolific musicians.
Here is the K3 Sisters Band!
Photo, Bruce Ray Productions
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Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Danielle Nicole
Bassist Danielle Nicole…
Blues music has universal appeal. We all have our ups and downs and this particular musical genre often fits our reality. Just hearing that we are not alone makes us feel a bit better.
Danielle Nicole writes and sings the Blues. She does an amazing job at delivering both exquisite smoky vocals but plays just the right bass line to drive the tune home. Danielle recently released “The Love You Bleed” last January and will be touring the album this upcoming year.
Join me as we learn about Danielle’s musical journey, how she gets her sound, her plans for the future and more.
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daniellenicolemusic.com/
IG @daniellenicoleband
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Photo, Missy Faulkner
Features
Bergantino Welcomes Karina Rykman to Their Family of Artists
Interview with Karina Rykman…
Karina Rykman…The high-energy bassist discusses her path on bass, her upcoming tour, how she came to find Bergantino through another Bergantino artist, and more!
A lifelong Manhattanite diehard New Yorker, Bergantino welcomes new Artist Karina Rykman. Jim and Holly had the privilege of meeting Karina and her band in Boston to see her perform. She lights up a stage with her charismatic passion as a bass player and singer – a true powerhouse of joy and energy. On stage, she smiles from ear to ear, hopping, jumping, and dancing; the entire room overflowing with positivity! If you don’t know this titan of bass yet, you will soon enough. Karina’s JOYRIDE 2024 tour picks up this month with the debut of her new album. We had the opportunity to ask Karina some questions about her career so far.
You have quite the career that began at a very young age. You have so much going on!! Can you share some of your musical path highlights you are most proud of?
Oh man, thank you! What a long, strange trip it’s been. I’m proud of still being so absolutely enthralled by music after playing in a million bands and finally ending up at this current juncture: being able to make my own music and tour under my own name. It just seems completely surreal – every gig, every recording…I’m on cloud 9 being able to continue to do this, and we’re just getting started. I’m extremely proud of being so young and being able to learn so much from Marco Benevento, without whom I’d be absolutely nowhere. Being put up to a large task with enormous shoes to fill, and stepping in even though I barely knew what I was doing at the time. Every gig with Marco is extremely special to me.
Tell us about your new album release Joyride and your 2024 tour.
Joyride is my debut record! It came out in August 2023, and we’ve been touring behind it nonstop ever since. You only make your first record once, and I’m so proud of this one – it’s fun, searing, lush, with chantable choruses and, of course, incredibly thick bass and infectious grooves. It was produced by Phish’s Trey Anastasio, who also contributes guitar parts to 5 of the 9 tunes.
What makes the bass so special to you particularly, and how did you gravitate towards it?
There’s nothing quite like feeling the subs rumbling under your feet in a venue and being responsible for those sounds is thrilling. I played guitar first, at age 12, but essentially completely switched over to bass when I was 22 and got the gig playing bass with Marco Benevento. I haven’t looked back since, except for a few gigs on guitar here and there (notably in the house band on Late Night with Seth Meyers and on The Today Show backing up Julia Michaels).
People hate this question, but: If you were constructing your personal Bass Mt. Rushmore, who are the four players that would make the cut and why?
Geddy Lee, Cliff Burton, Bootsy Collins, Les Claypool. The list goes on and on, of course, but those four have imprinted their unique styles upon my brain since I was so young, and I’m perpetually learning from them – even in the case of the deceased Cliff (RIP), going back and watching Cliff ‘Em All videos is something I do all the time. Endlessly compelled by these four players and their original takes on the instrument.
How did you learn to play?
I never took lessons, but in middle school and high school, I just surrounded myself with equally music-obsessed people. All we did was play music and go and see live music, which is wildly accessible when you grow up in New York City. I had a really tight-knit crew of amazing players as my friends, and everyone would teach each other riffs and licks. I was fearless – playing with people much better than me and saying “yes” to every cool opportunity that came my way. I essentially learned from playing in a million bands and playing along to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin records.
Are there any other instruments you play?
I started on guitar, and still love to write on guitar. I can get around on keyboards a bit, but you’d never hire me as a keyboardist. The same goes for drums – I LOVE playing drums but you’d never hire me as a drummer.
Describe your playing style(s), tone, strengths and/or areas that can be improved on the bass.
I play both with a pick and my fingers, depending on the specific needs of / vibe of the tune. I love playing fuzz bass and writing bombastic “lead bass” moments, which are a staple of my live show. I’d say I’m about the least “traditional” bassist in just about every way – which is both a strength and a weakness depending on how you frame it. I play what I hear, what I like, and I adhere to very few rules. I’ve always hated rules, and I didn’t start playing rock n roll to follow them.
How did you find Bergantino Audio Systems?
I’m pals with Mike Gordon, bassist of Phish, and his tech is named Ed Grasmeyer. Ed suggested he bring Mike’s Bergantino for me to try out at a show I was playing in Vermont, and I fell instantly in love.
You have been using the Bergantino Forté HP2 head. How have you been setting the controls on this and what changes to those settings might you make as you plug into your other individual instruments?
I love my Forté HP2! The versatility and headroom are incredible, and I’ve been having a lot of fun dialing it in at home. The real fun will begin this weekend when I take it out for 2.5 weeks of tour – dialing something in an apartment just isn’t the same as on a big stage with a PA and subs and all that good stuff. I like to roll my highs a bit and I keep “punch” on all the time. So far, it’s been a dream.
You are the inspiration behind Bergantino cab the new NXT410-C. Can you tell us more about this cab and your experience so far?
Firstly, I’m beyond touched to be the inspiration behind, well…anything! But this is truly insane, and such an honor. I love this cab. Not only is it light and extremely good-looking, it can handle all my loudest, most abrasive and obnoxious effects. My old amp didn’t come close, and could just fart out or I’d have to turn down to appease it. I’m a big fan of playing at earth-shattering volumes, so this is going to be a match made in heaven.
We all love your custom-made Goldie Hawn bass guitar! Can you share more with us about this bass design and why it is so special to you?
Thanks! That’s made by “Zeke Guitars” – it’s the second custom bass he’s made for me! He reached out in the summer of 2019 and asked what my dream bass would be, and I said it was basically my 1978 Fender P-Bass, but lighter, whiter, with Lindy Fralins, gold hardware, and shorter scale. And, well..he did exactly that! I love that bass so much. And the gold, which is referred to as Goldie Hawn, was born in December of 2022, and has the same specs. I just love it, it sounds amazing and looks, arguably, even better.
Jim and I were lucky to get to meet you in person when you came to Boston with the band. The members of the band are such a great group of people! Can you share more with all about the band and crew.
I’m so lucky to keep such incredible company. My bandmates, Adam November and Chris Corsico, are not only unbelievable musicians but also incredible humans. We just laugh and laugh, and we’re there for each other when the road gets tough or we’re exhausted or whatever life throws at us. It’s the joy of my life to get to tour the world with these guys. And the crew! That night was Connor Milton on sound and Nick Koski on lights – we have a rotating cast of people who play those roles based on availability, and everyone who works for us are absolute consummate professionals and the sweetest humans. They are my team of experts and I just adore them so much. Shout out to Zach Rosenberg, Jeff Volckhausen, Dylan Hinds, Dom Chang, for being the best rotating crew a gal could ask for!
What else do you do besides music?
Not much! I love going to the beach! I love eating dinner!
Because I am a foodie, I always ask people what their favorite food is!
Oysters, caviar, sushi. I’m a raw bar fanatic.
At a very young age, Karina is a diligent hard worker. She juggles many balls managing her business and is savvy beyond her years. We are very happy to be working with Karina and are excited for her continued success!
Follow Karina Rykman:
Instagram: @karinarykman
X (formerly Twitter): @KarinaRykman
Facebook @karinarykman/
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Ciara Moser
Bassist Ciara Moser…
Ciara and I sat down for this interview a few months after the launch of her debut album, “Blind. So what?”
Blind since birth, she is a powerhouse of talent; she is not only a professional bassist, but also composes music, and is a producer and educator. I am just blown away by her talent and perseverance.
Join me as we hear about Ciara’s musical journey, the details of her album, how she gets her sound, and her plans for the future.
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Visit online:
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IG @ moserciara
FB @ ciara.moser
Photos by Manuela Haeussler
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Travis Book
Interview With Bassist Travis Book…
Bluegrass music has had a very solid following over many years and I am always happy to hear from one of the pioneers in that genre.
Travis Book plays bass for the Grammy award-winning band “The Infamous Stringdusters” and has recently released his first solo album “Love and Other Strange Emotions”. As if he wasn’t busy enough, Travis also hosts a podcast, Plays a Jerry Garcia music show with Guitarist Andy Falco, and is constantly gigging locally in his neck of the woods.
Photo, Seyl Park
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