Jason St. Angelo (Tired Radio – bass/backing vocals)
SPB: What type of detail or opinion do you like to see in reading music coverage?
St. Angelo: This is incredibly self-centered, but I love when reviewers or journalists can hone in on the subtleties of a bassline and pick it apart from the mix to analyze its role. I think it's rare for most music coverage to fully grasp that and put it to paper.
There's so much that goes into writing a quality bass part. For me, it's a delicate balance between subtlety, playing to the song, groove, drive, tone, locking in with your drummer, and taking it for a walk or introducing a countermelody. Take our single "Dead & Gone: The Sequel" for example. It ping-pongs between a few of those elements. I love a strong, deep pocket, and I love when music journalism can expound on one, but it’s not often you read a piece highlighting when a bass player skillfully sits slightly behind the beat, unrushed and nuanced to accentuate a groove. Why?
Treating bass as an afterthought leads to commentary that falls back on vague cliches without any real analysis. But David Byrne from the Talking Heads has a great quote in print that I think applies to a bassist’s role perfectly. When asked why he wears those giant suits on stage, he said:
I wanted my head to appear smaller, and the easiest way to do that was to make my body bigger. Because music is very physical, and often the body understands it before the head.
I love that! A listener's body will always be affected by the bass or drums first. What about a journalist’s? Could they articulate that a bit more? I’d love to read about it!
