Name: Nik West
Nationality: American
Occupation: Bassist, composer
Recent release: Nik West's Moody is out via Queen of Strings.

Tool of Creation: Electric Bass Guitar
Type of Tool: Plucked string instrument
Country of origin: USA
Became available in: 1930s

If you enjoyed this interview with Nik West about the bass and would like to explore her music in more depth, visit her official website. Nik is also on Instagram, Facebook, twitter, tiktok, and Soundcloud.



What was your first encounter with the bass? What was it about it that drew you in?

My first encounter was hearing Michael Jackson’s “You Wanna Be Starting Somethin”.



Obviously it’s a popular song that plays all the time but that particular day (I was 16), I asked my dad what the deep sound was and he said “baby that’s a bass” and I said THATS what I want to play.

He went to a pawnshop and bought me a bass after. The strings were so much thicker than the guitar strings I was used to so it seemed harder to play. But I was sold on learning it!

Just like any other instrument, the bass has a rich history. What are some of the key points from this history for you personally?

The history for me comes in the form of names. Jaco Pastorius, James Jameson, Larry Graham. I just feel like they turned bass on its head and created a WHOLE NEW WAY of playing it. We all learn from them in some way. Even if we learn from someone that was inspired by them.

If I have people learning from me, they are ACTUALLY learning from those 3 innovators before me.

What, to you, are some of the most interesting bass recordings and -performances by other artists in terms of your personal development?

Marvin Gaye - "What’s Going On" - the FEEL of this groove. Seems simpler than the others I’ll be mentioning. But getting the feel right and the TONE right is the most important part of it. Listening and learning this really helped me sound more “professional “



Jaco Pastorius - "Teen Town" - it was the hardest thing I’d ever learned when I started playing bass. It was a challenge that I worked on over and over for weeks to get right.



I didn’t go to YouTube to learn it slowly. I listened to the original and used my ears to figure out what he was playing. And then I went to YouTube to confirm it lol!

Sly and the Family Stone - "Thank You" - It was the first song I played with Prince and getting that slap tone and that “walking clock” timing right is something I value and continue to master and play on stage.



Larry Graham is a living legend and being able to work with him on a song that he wrote specifically for me is hands down one my favorite moments of all time.



When talking about electronic devices, we often think about their “features”. But the bass is a complex device, too. What are some of its stand-out features from your point of view? How would you describe its sonic potential?

The deep sound for me is the BEST feature!

But being able to change the tone of that deep sound because of the pickups is really cool! I can get 4 different sounds out of one bass just changing the levels of each pickup.

Instrument design is an ongoing process. Are you interested in recent developments for the bass in this respect?

Honestly, not really. When it comes to bass, I like a clean sound. Of course, I can add extras with pedals but I ultimately love a clean sound and lean toward classic basses because they cut through the mix in recordings.

There are so many new basses that sound cool but for me, the way it sits in my hand matters most.

Tell me about the process of learning to play the instrument and your own explorations with it.

It was very challenging as I had to learn it right handed even though I’m left handed. My right hand couldn’t get the concept of keeping time the way my left hand could.

But I was determined. I had a metronome on every single time I practiced. All fingerstyle at first and then I discovered slapping the bass and it was on and poppin from there.

I was glued to the strings because for me it was an easy path to happiness in my brain.

What are specific challenges in terms of playing the bass?

I have an online course called Bass Domination and I constantly get asked about the fretting hand pinky finger from my students. It is challenging to stretch it onto the correct frets when practicing the “proper” technique. That comes with time.

But, I think when I play the bass, the challenges for me was always my right hand and getting that timing right (as I mentioned earlier). Now, that’s not an issue but the challenge is … creating your own sound that people recognize as YOU right away.

I have that when combined with my vocals but as strictly a bassist, I don’t think I’ve gotten that down yet.

What interests you about the bass in terms of it contributing to your creative ideals? How do you see the relationship between your instrument and the music you make?

It’s the groove that makes the booty move and I’m in the “business” of making booties move ha! So for me, I love coming up with something that, if needed, could stand alone.

This is why for many songs, I start with the bass groove and then add everything else around it.

Some see instruments merely as tools towards creativity, others feel they go hand in hand. What's your take on that?

I agree with both actually. I think for me, bass is my instrument of choice so my creativity comes naturally because of my experience and passion for the bass.

But I use other instruments only to create. I might play keys just to help create a certain vibe or to “finish” something I’ve created.

In the light of picking your instrument, how would you describe your views on topics like originality and innovation vs perfection and timelessness in music? Are you interested in a “music of the future” or “continuing a tradition”?

I am definitely the artist that moves toward the originality and innovation side. But I am like that with everything, I guess lol! I think the thing I love to do most is blend the two.

I’m not a perfectionist as I tend to do what just FEELS good to me. I love all kinds of music and funk music is a classic AND timeless because even if a song is not an all out “FUNK SONG”, there are elements of funk that just show up so much in new music on the radio …

I’m a bass player at heart so that particular instrument really drives the funk elements in songs.

How would you describe your personal style of playing the bass?

Heart! Well, so I’ve been told. I’m obviously a grandchild of Funk and I am known best for my slap style but the way I play FEELS a certain way to people. They feel heart.

I don’t know I guess you have to ask others about this one lol!

What does playing your instrument feel like, what do you enjoy about it, what are your own physical limits and strengths?

Joy!

I promise you my instrument is a mental health regulator. Life is sometimes stressful. We’ve all lost people we love and we can choose to be depressed and stay depressed or we can do something that fills us in our soul. And when I sit down to focus and play my bass it does just that for me.

Physical limits … the weight of the bass can sometimes be annoying. I have a small frame so moving that around on stage can be annoying AFTER the show … because I feel it … generally when I am wearing a traditional bass shoulder strap. If I wear my waist-only strap, it’s perfect.

Could you describe working with the bass on the basis of one of your pieces, live performances or albums that's particularly dear to you, please?

“Black Beauty” from my first album Just In The Nik Of Time. The lyrics and the content of that song touches me EVERYTIME I sing it live.



That bass line was super simple but the way it feels and sits in the track is hard to duplicate again live.

How, would you say, does the bass interact with other instruments from ensembles/groups you're part of?

Two ways for me: I’ve used it in its traditional way. Locking with the drummer, being part of the rhythm section in the band, setting the groove for the song, being responsible for being the heartbeat of a song.

And I’ve also used it as a front instrument. Playing chords on it to sing to and then establishing a groove that can sit all on its own without any other instruments.

Are there other bassists whose work with their instrument you find inspiring? What do you appreciate about their take on it?

So many … I love people that sound different and unique.

Victor Wooten, he has taken what Larry Graham did and added extra juice to it and made it his own.



My brother Mononeon is unique with his brand and what he sounds like,



Marcus Miller -any time your turn on a song, you know right away it’s him. Tone is his very own.



I love my sis Mohini Dey as well. She’s a prodigy on the bass.