Amidst online topical discussions based around solo artist Zol Balint the earthy, Australian based, acoustic-electronic-hybrid-scape sound master, the question was raised about solo musicians as a whole.
Is it not better to breathe your own musicality as part of a group? If the best thing a musician can do or be measured by is their ability to effectively accompany and blend in with other musicians who are in turn responsible for their own instruments, are solo artists or 'loners' therefore limiting their own musical education?
For the sake of a bit of background, and for those who may be intrigued by experimental electronic-hybrid music but who do not know Zol or his stuff;
Zoltan Frecso, who goes by the name Zol Balint as an artist, is a solo multi instrumentalist from Melbourne Australia. Although having as few as 600 subscribers on his Youtube Channel, his videos have clocked over 54,000 views.
Personally considered one of the most experimental and outrageously underrated musicians on Youtube, Balint plays Piano, a range of raga and aboriginal percussion instruments which gives his experimental music an earthy yet psychedelic feel, but is doubltessly most importantly known for his custom acoustic guitar built by luthier Ian Noyce.
A completely original design, the Noyce/Frecso acoustic guitar aims to combine instrumental guitar music with the modern electronic scene and 'controllerism' by adding MIDI capabilities (MIDI Pickups) and a fixed Novation Launchpad Pro to the guitar body itself.
The Launchpad as stated earlier is fixed to the guitar body and is loaded to the max with samples from Balint's own limitless imagination and ranging from electronic synths to acoustic percussion instruments to just about any sample of sounds that can be discovered in the great outdoors.
I would recommend and encourage anyone who considers themselves serious about or a fan of music to check out the short 8 minute documentary 'Inside Organic Music' in which Zol Balint talks about his inspiration, his artisty and his progressive work with Ian Noyce.
'Inside Organic Music'
For more examples of Zol Balint's material see below:
Scribbles 1-10
Detritus
One Year
Zedeppelin EP
This now brings me on to the main part of this article.....
Are solo artists or 'loners' limiting their own musical education?
The answer of the above question is completely debatable, and the answer will vary from person to person. Personally, I feel a good musician should be capable of doing both. It is a great feeling as a person and as a musician to be part of something big, a collaborative art if you will, and music is undisputably the most collaborative of art forms but it is also nothing less to be able to create music on your own by emulating the parts of other musicians.
As a Bass player in the early years I found it difficult to practice on my own as I had been used to accompanying a track or other musicians and saw the instrument overall as an accompaniment but not as a lead or even a solo instrument. This is a very restricting mindset and I often found myself (and still do) in extensive and frustrating bouts of writer's (musician's) block.
It was through college and studying music formally and actively practicing the instrument without any accompaniment that I began to find ways of and pushing for new ways of the instrument accompanying itself which opened my eyes to a lot of potential and completely changed my style of playing.
As a Bass player in the early years I found it difficult to practice on my own as I had been used to accompanying a track or other musicians and saw the instrument overall as an accompaniment but not as a lead or even a solo instrument. This is a very restricting mindset and I often found myself (and still do) in extensive and frustrating bouts of writer's (musician's) block.
It was through college and studying music formally and actively practicing the instrument without any accompaniment that I began to find ways of and pushing for new ways of the instrument accompanying itself which opened my eyes to a lot of potential and completely changed my style of playing.
For example, playing by myself allowed me to discover Diads and Triads, which then progressed to 4 note chords and opened a whole new box of musical potential and changed the way I play with other musicians.
If the guitarist or pianist plays an A chord, by playing an A on the Bass, the chord remains solid and indisputably an A. right? ok.
If the guitarist or pianist plays an A chord and I play a C with a minor 3rd and 7th it completely changes the shape of the chord and leaves a lot of room for a brass player to enter with a G minor lick and that shit you got right there is Jazz, my brothers and sisters.
If the guitarist or pianist plays an A chord, by playing an A on the Bass, the chord remains solid and indisputably an A. right? ok.
If the guitarist or pianist plays an A chord and I play a C with a minor 3rd and 7th it completely changes the shape of the chord and leaves a lot of room for a brass player to enter with a G minor lick and that shit you got right there is Jazz, my brothers and sisters.
Which leads me to conclude that both is best for me.
There is also the argument that many have that using one instrument is restricting, and that an instrument traditionally seen as an accompaniment instrument is limited in it's own capability.
There are many artists who i've become inspired by in recent months to be able to conclude that that statement is complete and utter bollocks.
There are nothing short of hundreds of classical pieces that use Bass register as the lead, who ever said it had to have another instument to hold it's hand? who ever said it had to stay at the bottom?
you guys are confusing Bass with Base.
Not the same fucking thing!!
In order of how long ago I discovered them, here is my list of the 6 best Solo/Lead Bass players and musicians who you should know.
There are many artists who i've become inspired by in recent months to be able to conclude that that statement is complete and utter bollocks.
There are nothing short of hundreds of classical pieces that use Bass register as the lead, who ever said it had to have another instument to hold it's hand? who ever said it had to stay at the bottom?
you guys are confusing Bass with Base.
Not the same fucking thing!!
In order of how long ago I discovered them, here is my list of the 6 best Solo/Lead Bass players and musicians who you should know.
- Mark Sandman (Morphine)
I discovered Morphine in the summer of 2013 in the midst of being intrigued by artists such as Seasick Steve and Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America. Upon doing research into Ballew's equipment as well as his inspiration for sporting a modified Gibson SG, I discovered Mark Sandman of late 80s band Morphine was the sole if not only inspiration for the 2 string guitar filling in for the band's absence of Bass player.Sandman was a foundational inspiration for me as a Bass player, he managed to combine a lot of skills of an experimental musician, songwriter and band leader and is probably the most important name in this list.Sandman plays a 2 string Premier Bass which he plays with a plectrum and slide. It's gritty and murky tone is the most prominent sound of Morphine despite also playing alongside baritone saxophonist Dana Colley and drummer Jerome Deupree.
'You Speak my Language' - MorphineMorphine - Cure for Pain (1993)
- Aaron Gibson
The Oregon based, Aaron Gibson has quickly become one of my more favourite musicians, a relative unknown, any follower of No Treble can be assured of hearing his music before since the nice folks of No Treble are just as much Gibson fans as I am.As well as being a gifted Bass player and an exceptional vocalist, Gibson is also a humble, nice guy and a loving family man.
- Brian Gibson (Lightning Bolt)
The appeal of Rhode Island's Lightning Bolt as a duo is less so much the Bass player but moreso the level of Noise rock capacity that two people can create. Using a wide range of octave harmony, pitch shifter and distortion/Fuzz pedals Gibson's bass creates a wall of sound which packs a thundering blow with Brian Chipendale's Drums and vocals.
The experimental edge of this band is sharper than any other on this list, being primarily a jam band during the groups conception and early days, working from non-rehearsed material when playing live, and also the deliberate absence of lyrical content in the majority of their work.
Vocal noises through Chipendale's mask based microphone and for the latter part, techno chanting provide the additional voice to Lightning Bolt's sound, often being reminiscent of an Adebisi Shank, Die Antwoord and Buckethead lovechild.
The appeal of Rhode Island's Lightning Bolt as a duo is less so much the Bass player but moreso the level of Noise rock capacity that two people can create. Using a wide range of octave harmony, pitch shifter and distortion/Fuzz pedals Gibson's bass creates a wall of sound which packs a thundering blow with Brian Chipendale's Drums and vocals.
The experimental edge of this band is sharper than any other on this list, being primarily a jam band during the groups conception and early days, working from non-rehearsed material when playing live, and also the deliberate absence of lyrical content in the majority of their work.
Vocal noises through Chipendale's mask based microphone and for the latter part, techno chanting provide the additional voice to Lightning Bolt's sound, often being reminiscent of an Adebisi Shank, Die Antwoord and Buckethead lovechild.
- Mike Kerr (Royal Blood)
Like Lightning Bolt, Royal Blood are an alternative rock duo, and such it is impossible to assess Mike Kerr as an individual based on the importance Ben Thatcher also has in the unit that is Royal Blood.2014 was a great year for Royal Blood, with the release of their debut album which went to number 1 in the UK album charts, making them probably the most well known artists in this list.Using only a Garage Drum kit and a Gretsch Electromatic solid body Bass, Royal Blood create a sound that is much bigger than most 4 or 5 piece rock bands and are sure to appeal to a lot of Queens of the stone age fans.
Like Lightning Bolt, Royal Blood are an alternative rock duo, and such it is impossible to assess Mike Kerr as an individual based on the importance Ben Thatcher also has in the unit that is Royal Blood.2014 was a great year for Royal Blood, with the release of their debut album which went to number 1 in the UK album charts, making them probably the most well known artists in this list.Using only a Garage Drum kit and a Gretsch Electromatic solid body Bass, Royal Blood create a sound that is much bigger than most 4 or 5 piece rock bands and are sure to appeal to a lot of Queens of the stone age fans.
- Sneaks
I've only really heard of Sneaks recently through an article (below) about black artists in Punk, and since there is very little material online that I can get my hands on (I have only found a photoless Facebook page and an EP on bandcamp) I have ended up repeatedly playing her Album until my housemates hate me for it.I do not know what equipment Sneaks is using, but i'd presume that's an Alesis drum machine of some description. It has a sort of early 90s hip hop sampler style and feel to it, yet remains youthful and relevant. As well as this, the lyrical spoken word style is prominent and meaningful and works well to accompany the repetitive looping Bassline, a minimalist but nonetheless complete style that really gives Sneaks' music a lot of simplistic vibe and richness in character.
I've only really heard of Sneaks recently through an article (below) about black artists in Punk, and since there is very little material online that I can get my hands on (I have only found a photoless Facebook page and an EP on bandcamp) I have ended up repeatedly playing her Album until my housemates hate me for it.I do not know what equipment Sneaks is using, but i'd presume that's an Alesis drum machine of some description. It has a sort of early 90s hip hop sampler style and feel to it, yet remains youthful and relevant. As well as this, the lyrical spoken word style is prominent and meaningful and works well to accompany the repetitive looping Bassline, a minimalist but nonetheless complete style that really gives Sneaks' music a lot of simplistic vibe and richness in character.
- Remco Hendrix
Remco Hendrix is fast becoming my favourite funk Bass player on youtube, his channel; Hendrix on Bass has over 18,000 subscribers and over 2,680,000 views and he is regularly endorsed by the brilliant folks at basstheworld.com.
Hendrix plays a blend of experimental Funk bass solo pieces as well as a collection of riffs, licks and Jams and largely avoids everything I find boring about Victor Wooten and other Bass players solo funk pieces. He even has dreadlocks and despite being white, doesn't look like a fool.
All can be found on his channel.
Overdriven Fretless Bass Grooves
**There seems to be a technical glitch in the font of the paragraphs on the musicians making it very small and almost unreadable.
I will try and fix this ASAP. In the mean time, please revert to using the zoom function on your browser window.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Remco Hendrix is fast becoming my favourite funk Bass player on youtube, his channel; Hendrix on Bass has over 18,000 subscribers and over 2,680,000 views and he is regularly endorsed by the brilliant folks at basstheworld.com.
Hendrix plays a blend of experimental Funk bass solo pieces as well as a collection of riffs, licks and Jams and largely avoids everything I find boring about Victor Wooten and other Bass players solo funk pieces. He even has dreadlocks and despite being white, doesn't look like a fool.
All can be found on his channel.
**There seems to be a technical glitch in the font of the paragraphs on the musicians making it very small and almost unreadable.
I will try and fix this ASAP. In the mean time, please revert to using the zoom function on your browser window.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
