Features
Interview With Multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Emilio
Interview With Nicholas Emilio…
We sat down with LA-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Emilio about his new single “Kitchenware and Candybars” which debuted on what would have been the late Scott Weiland’s birthday (October 27th). Emilio’s reinterpretation of the classic Stone Temple Pilots tune pays homage to the singer and band that helped shape him as an artist, while also displaying his impressive musicality and production abilities. Read on as Emilio discusses how he painstakingly recreated Robert DeLeo’s bass tone and why this STP song choice seemed best as far as paying tribute to one of the most celebrated vocalists in rock and roll.
How did you and your producer divvy up instrumental duties for your new single? Who played what?
Hm. I don’t think we really divided it up in a strategic way. Tom Chandler, my producer, is a great multi-instrumentalist, and he did a lot of cool stuff on this record. He made it easy for me to lay on the parts that I cared most about, the vocals, keyboards, and guitar solo.
How did you capture the Robert DeLeo bass tone in your cover?
Personally, I’m still heavily obsessed with analog amplifiers, preamps, compressors, etc., The bass itself was run through an API preamp and a Distressor, which sets you up for success, right out of the box. I’d say API is one of the best preamps for bass, especially if you want fat, gritty tone. Then, finding the bass amplifier sound itself was actually done “in the box”, for better or worse! Like I said, I love the analog stuff, but modern recording and instrument software is getting really, really good… surprisingly good… kind of scary good. Finding this particular amp sound was done through a lot of testing and sifting through myriad options. Also, beyond that, it also comes down to the mix, of course – how you use EQ and compression in post-production to season it properly, so it sits well within the song. Tom was the mixer, so again, credit to him on that, but we went over a ton of tonal options to land on the chain and settings.
When you’re producing your own material, is it common for you to play all the instruments on the recording?
Yes. Haha. I was always a Billy Corgan fan, and he was notorious for recording all the parts himself, or even re-recording the parts that his bandmates played. I learned this as a wee lad… maybe consciously or subconsciously this affected me as I was growing up and learning how to play and make records. Even when I was in bands, I would re-track things if it wasn’t up to snuff, but I tried to do it with care and sensitivity. It’s not always easy. Playing everything myself certainly has pros and cons… the main benefit is being able to do it consistently and have things mesh well. For example, if you’re tracking a bunch of rhythm guitars, and you want them to be really tight, it’s better if the same person does them. James Hetfield from Metallica would double all of the heavy rhythm guitars, and as you probably know, that stuff was uber tight. The downside of playing everything, of course, is you could potentially lose some nice, subtle, analog variations, or lose diverse perspectives or additions. I’ve done some stuff with multiple players contributing, and it’s also great, sometimes beautiful, but I guess for the Icarus Landing stuff or my solo stuff, I’ve done a lot of it myself. Partially out of necessity. The one area where I often did not play was drums. I’m okay as a drummer, I can hold my own, and I played in a couple pop/rock groups back in the day, but I’d rather have a seasoned pro play the drums. An exception to that would be electronic tracks/drums.
Would you call yourself a bassist or do you just kind of know enough about the instrument to add some low end to a song?
I’ve played bass in a few bands, with quite wide range, actually – I’ve played in everything from old school hardcore punk bands, to metal bands, to Christian churn bands! And I enjoyed all of those experiences, in their own way, but I don’t know if I’d call myself a bonafide bassist, simply because my first/primary instrument was/is guitar. But I can throw down on a bass if needed. And knowing how bass works, and how it should fit into a composition, and into a mix, is super critical to writing and producing better songs. It helps you get better at everything else, including guitar, drums, piano, mixing, you name it.
What are your plans for playing this song and the crop of new songs that you’re putting out in a live setting? Do you have a bassist in mind or are you accepting applications?
Ah, yes… I’m in the process of putting together a killer new live band! And I do have a bassist in mind… Mr. Gregg Cash! He played on a few of my earlier songs, brought a ton of love and flavor, and is also a great engineer and producer in his own right.
How did you approach the bass in ”Kitchenware and Candybars”? Were you looking to completely emulate Robert’s playing, or did you want to put your own stamp on it?
I think we took inspiration from Robert in that we wanted to ensure that the bass was right for the song, and for this treatment. That is what’s most important. And we also wanted to keep it kind of simple to let the vocal stand out and shine. This is a pretty raw, emotional song, and it’s all about the words and the vibe of the vocal. So I think that was the guiding light.
Is Robert among your bass heroes? You said STP was a favorite of yours growing up.
I remember hearing STP as a very young kid, and being immediately drawn to the rawness, the visceral power, the unique sonic landscapes that they created, often with just the 4 of them and the core instruments. I also remember Robert’s bass playing standing out, more so than some of the other bands of that time. He’s super creative, plays in the pocket, but still stretches the boundaries. I also always loved his stage stance and presence. Long story short, yeah, he was a big inspiration as a bass player and as a band member. He’s got some heavy mojo and amplified those songs in special ways.
What made you choose this song to pay tribute to Scott Weiland and STP over some of their others?
It was meant to be a raw, pure, emotional tribute. The inherent starkness and nakedness of the original Kitchenware, and the heavy emotions in the lyrics and presentation made it ripe for an honest, raw homage. I didn’t want to pick one of the big mainstream hits. That would almost be too obvious, and I don’t think it would’ve carried the emotional weight and feeling that Kitchenware can and does. The song is about loss. We lost Scott Weiland way too early, and he influenced so many musicians and fans, so in the end, this is a lament.
Be sure to check out the official video, directed by Wesley Alley and co-produced by Emilio.
For more about Nicholas Emilio, visit the following:
linktr.ee/nicholasemilio
instagram.com/nicholasemilio
facebook.com/NicholasEmilioOfficial/
facebook.com/icaruslanding
Bass Videos
Artist Update With Bassist Derek Frank
Bassist Derek Frank…
Many of you will remember the last time I chatted with Derek Frank was back in 2017. The main thing that impressed me was how busy Derek was and how he juggled playing with many huge acts.
Now, I am happy to hear that Derek launched a new album last March titled “Origin Story” where he digs deep into his roots and pays homage to Pittsburg.
Join me as we get caught up after all these years and hear the details about the new album, how Derek gets his sound, and his plans for the future.
Photo, Stephen Bradley
Featured Videos:
Visit Online:
www.derekfrank.com
www.instagram.com/derekfrankbass
www.youtube.com/derekfrankbass
www.facebook.com/derekfrankbass
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Bassist Graham Stanush…
Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.
Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.
Featured Videos:
Visit Online:
linktr.ee/returntodust
instagram.com/returntodustband/
twitter.com/Returntodustbnd
youtube.com/@returntodustband
tiktok.com/@returntodustband
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes…
It is always great to meet a super busy bassist who simply exudes a love for music and his instrument. Erick “Jesus” Coomes fits this description exactly. Hailing from Southern California, “Jesus” co-founded and plays bass for Lettuce and has found his groove playing with numerous other musicians.
Join us as we hear of his musical journey, how he gets his sound, his ongoing projects, and his plans for the future.
Photo, Bob Forte
Featured Videos
Visit Online
www.lettucefunk.com
IG @jesuscsuperstar
FB@jesuscoomes
FB @lettucefunk
Bass Videos
Tour Touch Base (Bass) with Ian Allison
Ian Allison Bassist extreme…
Most recently Ian has spent the last seven years touring nationally as part of Eric Hutchinson and The Believers, sharing stages with acts like Kelly Clarkson, Pentatonix, Rachel Platten, Matt Nathanson, Phillip Phillips, and Cory Wong playing venues such as Radio City Music Hall, The Staples Center and The Xcel Center in St. Paul, MN.
I had a chance to meet up with him at the Sellersville Theater in Eastern Pennsylvania to catch up on everything bass. Visit online at ianmartinallison.com/
Features
Interview With Audic Empire Bassist James Tobias
Checking in with Bergantino Artist James Tobias
James Tobias, Bassist for psychedelic, Reggae-Rock titans Audic Empire shares his history as a musician and how he came to find Bergantino…
Interview by Holly Bergantino
James Tobias, a multi-talented musician and jack-of-all-trades shares his story of coming up as a musician in Texas, his journey with his band Audic Empire, and his approach to life and music. With a busy tour schedule each year, we were fortunate to catch up with him while he was out and about touring the US.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Dallas, Texas and lived in the Dallas area most of my life with the exception of 1 year in Colorado. I moved to the Austin area at age 18.
What makes the bass so special to you particularly, and how did you gravitate to it?
I honestly started playing bass because we needed a bass player and I was the one with access to a bass amp and bass. I played rhythm guitar and sang up until I met Ronnie, who I would later start “Audic Empire” with. He also played rhythm guitar and sang and we didn’t know any bass players, so we had to figure something out. I still write most of my songs on guitar, but I’ve grown to love playing the bass.
How did you learn to play, James?
I took guitar lessons growing up and spent a lot of time just learning tabs or playing by ear and kicked around as a frontman in a handful of bands playing at the local coffee shops or rec centers. Once I transitioned to bass, I really just tried to apply what I knew about guitar and stumbled through it till it sounded right. I’m still learning every time I pick it up, honestly.
You are also a songwriter, recording engineer, and a fantastic singer, did you get formal training for this?
Thank you, that means a lot! I had a couple of voice lessons when I was in my early teens, but didn’t really like the instructor. I did however take a few lessons recently through ACC that I enjoyed and think really helped my technique (Shout out to Adam Roberts!) I was not a naturally gifted singer, which is a nice way of saying I was pretty awful, but I just kept at it.
As far as recording and producing, I just watched a lot of YouTube videos and asked people who know more than me when I had a question. Whenever I feel like I’m not progressing, I just pull up tracks from a couple of years ago, cringe, and feel better about where I’m at but I’ve got a long way to go. Fortunately, we’ve got some amazing producers I can pass everything over to once I get the songs as close to finalized as I can.
Describe your playing style(s), tone, strengths and/or areas that can be improved on the bass.
I honestly don’t know what my style would be considered. We’ve got so many styles that we play and fuse together that I just try to do what works song by song. I don’t have too many tricks in the bag and just keep it simple and focus on what’s going to sound good in the overall mix. I think my strength lies in thinking about the song as a whole and what each instrument is doing, so I can compliment everything else that’s going on. What could be improved is absolutely everything, but that’s the great thing about music (and kind of anything really).
Who were your influencers in terms of other musicians earlier on or now that have made a difference and inspired you?
My dad exposed me to a lot of music early. I was playing a toy guitar while watching a VHS of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble live at SXSW on repeat at 4 years old saying I wanted to “do that” when I grew up. I was the only kid in daycare that had his own CDs that weren’t kid’s songs. I was listening to Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, and The Doors when I could barely talk. I would make up songs and sing them into my Panasonic slimline tape recorder and take it to my preschool to show my friends. As I got older went through a bunch of music phases. Metal, grunge, rock, punk, hip hop, reggae, ska, etc. Whatever I heard that I connected to I’d dive in and learn as much as I could about it. I was always in bands and I think I kept picking up different styles along the way and kept combining my different elements and I think that’s evident in Audic’s diverse sound.
Tell me about Audic Empire and your new release Take Over! Can you share some of the highlights you and the band are most proud of?
Takeover was an interesting one. I basically built that song on keyboard and drum loops and wrote and tracked all my vocals in one long session in my bedroom studio kind of in a stream-of-consciousness type of approach. I kind of thought nothing would come of it and I’d toss it out, but we slowly went back and tracked over everything with instruments and made it our own sound. I got it as far as I could with production and handed it off to Chad Wrong to work his magic and really bring it to life. Once I got Snow Owl Media involved and we started brainstorming about a music video, it quickly turned into a considerably larger production than anything we’ve done before and it was such a cool experience. I’m really excited about the final product, especially considering I initially thought it was a throwaway track.
Describe the music style of Audic Empire for us.
It’s all over the place… we advertise it as “blues, rock, reggae.” Blues because of our lead guitarist, Travis Brown’s playing style, rock because I think at the heart we’re a rock band, and reggae because we flavor everything with a little (or a lot) of reggae or ska.
How did you find Bergantino Audio Systems?
Well, my Ampeg SVT7 caught fire at a show… We were playing Stubbs in Austin and everyone kept saying they smelled something burning, and I looked back in time to see my head, perched on top of its 8×10 cab, begin billowing smoke. We had a tour coming up, so I started researching and pricing everything to try and find a new amp. I was also fronting a metal band at the time, and my bass player’s dad was a big-time country bass player and said he had this really high-end bass amp just sitting in a closet he’d sell me. I was apprehensive since I really didn’t know much about it and “just a little 4×10” probably wasn’t going to cut it compared to my previous setup. He said I could come over and give it a test drive, but he said he knew I was going to buy it. He was right. I immediately fell in love. I couldn’t believe the power it put out compared to this heavy head and cumbersome cab I had been breaking my back hauling all over the country and up countless staircases.
Tell us about your experience with the forte D amp and the AE 410 Speaker cabinet.
It’s been a game-changer in every sense. It’s lightweight and compact. Amazing tone. And LOUD. It’s just a fantastic amp. Not to mention the customer service being top-notch! You’ll be hard-pressed to find another product that, if you have an issue, you can get in touch with the owner, himself. How cool is that?
Tell us about some of your favorite basses.
I was always broke and usually working part-time delivering pizzas, so I just played what I could get my hands on. I went through a few pawn shop basses, swapped in new pickups, and fought with the action on them constantly. I played them through an Ampeg be115 combo amp. All the electronics in it had fried at some point, so I gutted it out and turned it into a cab that I powered with a rusted-up little head I bought off someone for a hundred bucks. My gear was often DIY’d and held together by electrical tape and usually had a few coats of spray paint to attempt to hide the wear and tear. I never really fell in love with any piece of gear I had till I had a supporter of our band give me an Ibanez Premium Series SDGR. I absolutely love that bass and still travel with it. I’ve since gotten another Ibanez Premium Series, but went with the 5-string BTB. It’s a fantastic-sounding bass, my only complaint is it’s pretty heavy.
Love your new video Take Over! Let us know what you’re currently working on (studio, tour, side projects, etc.)
Thank you!! We’ve got a LOT of stuff we’re working on right now actually. Having 2 writers in the band means we never have a shortage of material. It’s more about getting everything tracked and ready for release and all that goes into that. We just got through filming videos for 2 new unreleased tracks with Snow Owl Media, who did the videos for both Love Hate and Pain and Takeover. Both of these songs have surprise features which I’m really excited about since these will be the first singles since our last album we have other artists on. We’ve also got a lot of shows coming up and I’ve also just launched my solo project as well. The debut single, “Raisin’ Hell” is available now everywhere. You can go here to find all the links distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jamestobias/raisin-hell
What else do you do besides music?
For work, I own a handyman service here in Austin doing a lot of drywall, painting, etc. I have a lot of hobbies and side hustles as well. I make custom guitar straps and other leather work. I do a lot of artwork and have done most of our merch designs and a lot of our cover art. I’m really into (and borderline obsessed) with health, fitness, and sober living. I have a hard time sitting still, but fortunately, there’s always a lot to do when you’re self-employed and running a band!
Follow James Tobias:
jamestobiasmusic.com
Facebook.com/james.tobias1
Instagram.com/ru4badfish2
TikTok.com/@jamestobiasmusic
audicempire.com
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