Creative process..

[tonebrulee]

Hi Justin,

Really enjoying your forum here. Also the recent interview in Bass Player - thought your analogy to military/army was great and a funny play against expectations in the context of indie music success! But you're right on - the magic of how music and a band can be all about individuals melding into a powerful whole.

Anyway - I would really like hearing something about your creative experiences and process: the different ways you have worked with folks and the different ways you might go about composing a bass line. Outside the studio, I could imagine Trent/Beck/Macy/whoever giving you a tape with just a single instrument/vocals and asking you to start doing your thing. Once you've listened enough to write the chart, what might start going through your mind?

Thanks much.

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Thanks for the props, tonebrulee.

You know, I don't really know what goes through my mind. Kind of not much. In a way, the less that goes through my mind the better. It's really vital for me to remain OUT of a thought "process", because being super analytical tends to be very limiting to me. It might sound like a cliche, but I do need to react more emotionally or primally to what I'm hearing. That's how I get my best stuff.

Best,
JMJ

 

[tonebrulee]

Not a cliche at all... it's really illuminating. For a newcomer like me - a couple of years now - I think my lack of fluency had me assuming bass lines are built slowly, a piece at a time, ya know? But it makes sense that as you gain more experience and fluency, you come closer to being able to react and interact directly and immediately with what you are hearing. What a great goal - thanks!

 

[jmjbassplayer]

You're more than welcome.