Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

246: Lauren Pierce on YouTube fame

Lauren Pierce

Lauren Pierce started out on the typical music school path.

But something happened along the way.

In the midst of grad school, Lauren decided to quit. She struck out on her own and asked herself a critical question:

What if?

Instead of grad school, Lauren decided to:

  • put dozens of videos on YouTube
  • learn how to write code
  • build up a worldwide social media following
  • start a membership site
  • create video courses
  • teach Skype lessons

Learn how taking the road less traveled helped Lauren launch her career in this interview, and check out her rockin’ performance of Zigunerweisen below:

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Check out these links:

Lauren’s website

Lauren’s YouTube channel

Lauren’s teaching site

Bowing course on Discover Double Bass

Codeacademy

245: Emilio Guarino on Making It

Emilio Guarino

This is Emilio Guarino. He plays bass.

But that’s not all he does. He makes music with computers. He also teaches and performs in many musical styles.

He’s even written a book to help musicians figure out how to find a foothold.

On his blog and Youtube channel, Emilio asks questions like:

  • Are you the type of person you’d hire for a gig?
  • Are auditions a problem-solving activity or a chance to beat up on yourself?
  • When does the real world actually start?

We dig into these topics and much more in this interview!

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Check out these sites:

Emilio’s website

Make It (book)

Emilio’s YouTube channel

Book recommendations:

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

The Art of Deception by Nicholas Capaldi

Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

James Clear (writer)

Mark Manson (writer)

244: Christine Hoock on DJs, egoless playing, and patience

Christine Hoock

Christine Hoock is a tossed salad of musical genres.

Maybe she’s playing Phillip Glass.  Perhaps she’s performing Arvo Pärt.  She could even be playing tangos or jamming with a DJ.

But regardless of what she’s playing, it’s with her beautiful, compelling sound.

Günter Klaus and Franco Petracchi taught her, and she has taken the double bass a new level.

She has total command of the bass and is a compelling world-class artist.

Learn how she does it in this interview!

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Resources we covered in this interview:

Christine’s website

Christine on YouTube

Christine on the Vanhal Concerto (Strad Magazine)

Contrabajisimo  (album)

other albums by Christine

243: Pablo Aslan on tango bass life

Pablo Aslan

Pablo Aslan breaks bow hairs.

A lot of bow hairs.

In fact, he rivals the guys in the Met for most-frequent rehair at his NYC bow shop.

He also makes killer bass lines. He’s truly the Ray Brown of marcato tango bass lines.

Learn how he does it in this interview!

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Resources we covered in this interview:

Pablo’s website

AvantangoMedia (Pablo’s YouTube channel)

Piazzolla in Brooklyn (album)

Tango Grill (album)

 

242: Sam Suggs on Music Cognition, Jamming in Bars, and the Elements of Execution

Sam Suggs

Sam Suggs calls himself an omnivorous musician.

I love this tagline.

I feel like I’m eating at a fantastic fusion restaurant when I hear Sam’s music.  I’m not expecting these flavors to work, but they are so good together.

First, he takes a little 1750s galant style.

Next, he adds a dash of Verdi.

He finally tops it off with—I kid you not—Skrillex and Daft Punk.

Then he marches over to a bar and gives it a battle test in front of the patrons.

Best of all, he does this without a looping pedal in sight.

Learn more about how he works his magic in this interview.

Sam is also kicking off the upcoming International Society of Bassists convention.  We dig into what he’s planning in our chat, and I know you’ll love what he’s got in the works.

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Resources we covered in this interview:

Sam’s website

Sam’s YouTube channel

Study with Sam at James Madison University

Music in the Galant Style by Robert Gjerdingen (book recommendation)