The Low End Nation Bass Podcast

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Joe Ayoub has become one of the busiest bassists on the LA - and now New York music scenes. Most people will recognize him from his many appearances in Scary Pockets videos, including Kiss, Humble Strut, Roxanne and Fantasy to name just a few. What most people don't realize is that Joe is currently holding down dual roles on two major TV productions: American Idol and The Kelly Clarkson show. If you watch any of the ABC seasons of Idol you will see Joe's highly recognizable silhouette backing up all of the great contestants.

Over the past 20 years living in LA, Joe has backed up Shakira, Miley Cyrus, Enrique Iglesias, Leonard Cohen, Sara Bareilles, Nikka Costa, Billy Currington to name just a few.

At the time of this interview, Joe is also currently holding down dual roles on the road playing with both Melissa Etheridge and Jewel each night on their tour. From this interview it's apparent that Joe is a kind, humble guy who loves bass and this interview is chalked full of insight on how Joe approaches bass and how he's managed to be a first call for some of the best gigs on the planet.

Hubert Eaves IV is well known for his incredible playing on Erykah Badu's 1997 live album, entitled "Live." Bass players across the globe are blown away by his tight, crisp pocket playing, locked in perfectly with drummer Poogie Bell. What a lot of people don't know is that Hue had been laying it down for years before the Erykah Badu album. Hubert's father, Hubert Eaves III, was a renowned keyboardist and producer who was part of the band Mtume....you know, the guys who wrote that groove sampled by Notorious B.I.G. for "Juicy." His father was also half of the duo D-Train and wrote and produced for many artists including Jocelyn Brown and Whitney Houston.

HEIV picked up both bass and drums at a young age and began to learn the ins and outs of performing and recording music. At the age of 21 he would play bass on Jocelyn Brown's hit single "Ego Maniac." You can hear how nasty his groove was even at age 21 on this track. Since then along with Erykah Badu, HEIV has played with Will Downing, Seal, The O'Jays, Freddie Jackson, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam and many others.

HEIV is also a talented composer and producer and has four self titled singles out which feature some of most funky-ass grooves you'll ever hear entitled: "Radio," "Dot-Da-Dah," "Incubated Funk," and "Get Up." His collaboration with his wife, Alisa Ohri, on her album "Cuz I Feel" is also a must listen for all bassists.

In this episode we talk about how Hue built up his incredibly funky groove, the advantages of being a bassist and drummer and how he originally turned down the Erykah Badu gig....twice!

At just 23 years old, Boston born bassist Kyla Wright is already making waves. A recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, Kyla has already performed with top artists including Chloe Bailey, Rico Nasty and Janelle Monae. She can be seen in the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts for both Chloe Bailey and Rico Nasty. Fueled by a deep love for music, Kyla brings a warm energy to the stage, along with her heavy groove and musicality and her innate ability to improvise without stepping on the song.

Kyla is also a 2x cancer survivor, and in this episode we talk about everything from her musical upbringing to her battle with cancer and her journey to Berklee to becoming one of the busiest bass players around. Kyla also shares some valuable advice for up and coming musicians on building a career and how to practice for the gigs you don't have....yet.

Kevin Scott is a bassist well known for his heavy groove, creative lines and dirty bass tone, usually on a P bass with flats. Having backed up artists like John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Col. Bruce Hampton his musical arsenal is deep and he has an innate ability to allow the music to percolate and evolve while holding down the groove. Currently on tour with Gov't Mule, I caught up with Kevin before a show at the Vogue Theater in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Jack Daley's resume is the thing of dreams for any session bassist. From his long tenure with Lenny Kravitz to his work with Joss Stone, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Naughty By Nature, Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen, Avril Lavigne, Boz Skaggs, Sara Bareilles, James Brown and Chaka Khan to his current role as bassist with the Spin Doctors, Jack has worked with and continues to work with the very best.

Jack is also the owner of Dug Deep Productions based in Asbury Park where he has produced and mixed some incredible records. I was able to sit down with Jack in the control room to talk bass and find out what makes - and keeps - him at the top of the list for some of the world's best.

New Orleans born bassist and vocalist Annie Clements is well known for her work backing up artists like Maren Morris, Sugarland, Amos Lee with her rhythmic bass playing and top notch harmonies. A well rounded musician, Annie lights up any stage she steps onto with her warmth, energy and love of music.

LA-based bassist Derek Frank is one of the industry's most in demand session bassists, having played with a who's who of artists including Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, Air Supply, Orianthi and many, many more along with having two incredible solo records titled "Let The Games Begin" and "Eleven Years Later." Listen in as we talk all things bass, including how Derek gets his incredible tone, his advice for building your career as a session player, playing with some legendary artists and the influences and gear behind the tracks on Derek's most recent album "Eleven Years Later."