Short Bio: Before she was born, she was destined for greatness, but who knew
that it would be in the field of music for bassist and vocalist, Nik West. When
her mother was carrying her, Nik's father always said, "Mark my words, this one
is going to be a genius". Always a straight A student, she was often the tutor for
her peers in Calculus, Physics and other high level mathematics. Holding three records
at her high school in track and field, she received a scholarship to attend a university
as a scholar-athlete . "I was actually going to go to college to be a chemical engineer,
but later, music was driving me in its direction, imagine the surprise when I told
my family (smile)." As for the music side of Nik West, this Phoenix native started
singing 3 part harmony with her sisters at the age of 4 under the leadership of
their father, while he played guitar. As the girls got older, he put each one on
an instrument and taught them how to play together. Nik picked up the bass after
hearing a Michael Jackson song in her father's car and decided that she found her
perfect match. Let's fast forward and few years and now seemingly coming out of
nowhere, the world has seen her in Bass Player Magazine, in ads for SWR, and as
an artist for Fender. In an industry that is saturated with the standard pattern
of music and performance, eclecticist, Nik West offers a newness and hope "Just
in the Nik of Time." Because of her soulful voice and skilled musicianship, Nik
is a breath of fresh air to anyone who experiences her music. As a vocalist and
a bassist, her tunes ask you to be inspired, to be free from the norm, and to have
the audacity to dream again, all while handing you the FUNK.
Gear:
- Fender Steve Bailey Jazz 6 Fretted/Fretless
- Fender American Standard Jazz 5
- Fender Passive Jazz 4
- SWR Black Beauty Amp
- SWR Headlite Amp
- SWR Marcus Miller Go Light 410 Cabs
- DR High Beam Mediums 5 and 4 string
- DR Black Beauties 6 string
April 2010
AGB: I have to ask everyone this same question as it gives an insight on
what brought you to this point in your career. What really made you pick the bass
guitar as your instrument?
NW: 1. Honestly, at first, I wanted to play guitar like my dad. I got good
on it as my sisters decided to play drums and keyboard but when I heard Michael
Jackson's "You Wanna Be Startin Somethin", I begged to play bass instead. I had
always been a tomboy so bass actually fit me.
AGB: What do you think was the driving force to keep playing obviously you
did not know you would be where you are at now and were you ever ready to give it
up and do something else?
NW: My driving force to keep me playing was 2 people, my dad and my best
friend. Growing up playing in church, the boys never wanted me to play, they always
wanted their "buddy" to play bass instead. That made me upset because I felt like
they would never give me a chance. I told my dad I wasn’t playing bass anymore because
Im the only girl in the world that plays and no one wants a girl! My dad told me
that those boys won't always keep a job doing all those crazy chops on the bass
if they can’t hold the groove or keep the pocket. He said "girl you got a great
pocket and THAT'S what matters" his musician friends always said they would hire
me in a heartbeat because I could hold a nice pocket. Now, I look back and could
tell that a lot of those boys were trying to compete and play louder than all the
other musicians resulting in, well, a bunch of noise. Thanks, Dad! As far as giving
up, oh yeah, there has been a few times I was going to quit and go be an engineer
because I am not the Hollywood type of girl, I am really laid back and I felt that
the music industry was full of fluff and I didn’t want to be involved. I just wanted
to play my bass in my room and groove till the roof came off. But my best friend
told me that I would be stupid if I didn’t show the world what I could do and take
it as far as I could. So when others believe in me, I get inspired to keep going.
AGB: Looking over the list of gear that you use both live and in the studio,
what was it that helped you select the bass and amps that you use?
NW: Hummm…well, I have used a lot of basses in the past and though they sound
great live, they don't cut through the mix in the studio as clean as my Fender Jazz
basses. If there are engineers present, there is no guessing as to how to EQ my
bass track to make it sound great. If I am just recording it myself, I use my Fender
TBP-1 Preamp and record away! Simple, great tone, great cut through in the mix.
As far as live, that one is easy, comfort, and weight. SWR headlite and MM Go Light
Cabs are extra lightweight and have lots of power. I am excited that I can lift
it all myself! My Black Beauty combo amp is heavier, but the tone from the 15 inch
speaker with the horn is amazing, gives me tons of low end with a kick of clarity,
which is not something I am used to with just a 15 inch speaker.
AGB: I can’t help but ask this, you are playing Fender 6-string bass’s and
SWR amps as well as having an endorsement deal with the company. How did this happen
when you’re first CD hasn’t been released, please tell me the story on this.
NW: Truthfully, blindly, I contacted one of the electronics engineers for
Fender so I could find out how to tweak one of my basses to get a certain sound
and he saw my website, and did a little research on who I was before he responded
I guess. We started talking about my bass and he forwarded my information to an
artist relations guy named Tony Franklin and Tony saw my website and that I was
playing some other 6 string basses as my website name used to be www.6stringbassplayer.com
and mentioned that they had just came out with their first 6 string bass…and I kinda
screamed to myself and asked him how I could try one out. So he sent me the fretless
first and then a couple weeks later sent me the fretted in black. Soon after I became
an artist with Fender, it really seems that Fender actually discovered me. We kinda
stumbled upon each other. SWR came directly to me. I was endorsed with another amp
company at the time and SWR wanted to market a new amp they were coming out with
and wanted me to be the face of it. So I thought about it for quite some time before
I said yes to the opportunity because I wanted to make sure that I loved the amps
before I responded. Thank God for SWR and that headlite 3.75 pounds 400 watts! Saves
my life. By looking at Fender's artist roster, I have found that they are not a
company that just endorses the biggest stars, or those who have played with the
biggest stars but they also have a few artist that are based on pure talent, and
star potential. They are a great company to be associated with!
AGB: Would you tell us of any up coming events or projects that you will
be working on and may who with or your current and future plans?
NW: MY ALBUM -I know that many people have been anticipating my album. It
was supposed to be released last fall, but since I am not only an independent artist,
but a sideman also, opportunities come along that I have been blessed to be a part
of so that definitely slowed down the album process. Which is also a good thing
because from these experiences, I am bringing back more inspiration to add to my
album. I have been going back to my roots and playing some Bossa Nova, and lots
of Afro-latin music and that has inspired my writing in many ways. My producer Justin
James has really been bringing out the best in me and my artistry. Some of the tracks
you hear on my website are just two of the tracks that have been recorded. Black
Beauty is a song that was actually inspired after I became the face for SWR's Black
Beauty Amp. It was co-written by me and D. Scott. My management gave me the idea
to write a song about black beauty. The concept in this song is about women that
have been through so much in life so they don't realize what they are worth. They
don't see that they are such a gift to the world. These stories I sing about are
true and everyone has a story behind who they are. Eyes Closed is a song that was
inspired by me closing my eyes when I play my bass. I was told that when I close
my eyes I play even better. My response was "well, when my eyes are closed I feel
different and I use my ears completely instead of my eyes." Some people get a different
idea of what the song means when they hear it HAHAHA! But now you know what I am
feeling when I close my eyes and play bass.
AGB: You had the opportunity to work with Dave Stewart, can you give us a
little insight on your experience with that project and are you looking at some
similar ones in the near future?
NW: As far as other projects are concerned, Dave Stewart started an all girl
band of all-stars all from different parts of the world. Briefly, there is Latin
Grammy nominee-Lena Burke on keys, the Asian rock violinist-Ann Marie Calhoun, The
Indian sensation tabla girl-Tina Sugandh and, well, me. Very talented group Dave
found and very cool sound. The first single was co-written with Glen Ballard. The
second single was co-written with Dave Stewart. That is a project that is in the
works and hopefully I will be able to share more information about it in the near
future. Divinity (Beyonce’s bass player) contacted me about collaborating on her
project this summer. She raps, I sing, we both play bass. I figured this would be
interesting and fun to say the LEAST. I immediately thought of Floetry. Divinity
can RHYME HER TAIL OFF! I am just blessed to have so much talent around me. One
of my goals in the future is to have my female friends that play bass, Esperanza
Spalding, and Tal Wilkenfeld, on a project together and do something live. Kind
of like Stanley, Marcus, and Victor did. I figured that would be an exciting show,
filled with singing, and dope bass playing! I will keep you posted on this endeavor.
Anticipate that!
AGB: There are many more areas that I know I could ask however you are on
tour and I don't want to take up all of your time so let's make this last question
more of an open ended question, please feel free to give us a little insight on
Nikky West.
NW: Some insight on Nik West huh? It is hard to blab about yourself! But
I am a hard worker to say the least. I never wanted to get somewhere because I am
a girl. Some people tell me that since you are a girl you have to be twice as good
to be thought of half as good as the boys. I don’t know how much of that is true,
but I will say that a lot that I have learned has been from the boys including my
own dad. It kinda helps that my favorite thing to do when I am not doing anything
with music is play and watch basketball so I don’t mind hangin with the boys and
learning from the boys and bass just fits right in.
I have always been very book smart so if someone shows me something I am excellent
at going home and learning it until it is perfected and making it a point to apply
it.
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