Today, Freekbass joins us to share insights into his creative process, influences, and artistic journey. Originating from Cincinnati, Ohio, Freekbass’s path into music began with his early enthusiasm for rhythm and performance, eventually leading him to work alongside various industry VIPs like Bootsy Collins and Catfish Collins. Having been demanding attention with his unique blend of traditional Funk grooves and modern electronic elements, Freekbass continues to refine a distinct signature sound, aiming to set himself apart with his original approach. As he integrates live bass guitar and keys into his electronic productions, Freekbass keeps pushing the boundaries of his art, establishing himself as a refreshing innovator within Electronic Music today.
So, join us as we uncover the mind behind the creative Freekbass in this exclusive interview.
Can you describe your musical style and influences in a phrase from a song lyric?
Cool question. Well, I get this lyric posted in my chat at my TikTok Lives all the time… “play that funky music,” by Wild Cherry.
Do you have a morning routine, and how does it set the tone for your day?
Coffee first… always. And within the first hour of waking up, some kind of exercise. A bicycle ride, lifting weights, or even a simple walk through my neighbourhood. Getting my body warmed up and feeling good always sets my mind on a positive path to take on whatever I have planned for that day.
When you’re playing a live set, what’s typically playing in your pre-show ritual, and do you have any favorite tracks to hype yourself up?
A lot of Funkadelic and Sly & The Family Stone. «Cosmic Slop» and «Hit it and Quit It» by Funkadelic, and anything from the Fresh album by Sly!
Which international music communities do you regularly engage with for inspiration in your creative work?
Even though I’m from the States, I’ve always been drawn to music from all eras in the UK. Right after high school, I went to London, Manchester, Sheffield, and Newcastle to see if I could discover where that attraction came from. In London, I stayed with a band in a flat, and one of the folks staying there had just started playing guitar a couple of weeks prior. But the cool and fascinating thing to me is they were working on a new song on that guitar. They didn’t have a lot of technical ability yet, but the song in them was the goal. In the States, we tend to focus on getting to a certain level of playing before writing music as a thing… I found this to be one of the reasons I might be drawn to music of the UK for inspiration. We also have many folks from the UK engaging nightly, as part of my community on TikTok Live.
How would you describe your personal style, both in your music and in your daily life?
I don’t separate the audio and the visual… they are both parts of the same thing. They drive each other. One of the first music videos I saw as a kid was a Bowie video, and both his music and his visuals hit me at the same time, with the same amount of impact. When I’m writing or producing, I tend to see the music as well as hear it. I know it probably sounds strange, but it’s all one thing to me.
As far as my daily life, I’m thinking about music 24/7. An idea or inspiration will sometimes come to me at the oddest times: driving, working out, a dream… I like to jot that audio idea down right away. I like to use my voice memo on my phone to record a melody, lyric, or song idea as they come. Then I pull those ideas back up when I have a chance to get into the studio.
Can you recall the moment when you realized you wanted to pursue a career in Electronic Music?
A specific moment when I knew I wanted to create Electronic Music was when I saw the film Koyaanisqatsi with music by Philip Glass. Again, it was both a visual and aural experience. Years later, when I was starting to tour, I performed at the electronic festival Camp Bisco and felt this was the artist community I felt inspired by. Electronic music has no boundaries and is constantly evolving. And that’s why I like it. Classic and new sounds mixed with grooves have always been intoxicating to me.
Looking back on your childhood, what kind of kid were you, and how do you see those traits reflected in your work today?
A kid always mesmerized by rhythm and performance. I started when I was very young as a drummer and was always hypnotized by anything rhythmic. Even the sounds of the windshield wipers in a car. At the same time, my mom raised me on all of the classic showbiz movies of the 30s, 40s, and 50s from Gene Kelly to Marilyn Monroe. I think if you saw me perform today, that would all make sense with both musically and visually who I am.
Who are your favorite Electronic Music artists at the moment, and what about their work resonates with you?
I dig deadmau5 for both his music and production. I always have a special place for The Prodigy being one of the first electronic artists I got into as a kid, and although not a deep cut, Daft Punk because of their Funk and Disco sensibilities and how they incorporate live musicians into their music.
What are some must-have gadgets or tools for your live performances?
Besides my bass guitar, which everything starts with, my Roland RC-505 is everything to me. It’s how I write, perform live, and create new beats and grooves (paired up with my AKAI MPC in the studio).
If you could bring back any music festival from the past, which one would it be and why?
Bear Creek Music Festival in Northern Florida. It was a Funk-based music festival that touched anything under that umbrella from organic acts such as Dumpstaphunk to electronic such as Headtronics (which I was a part of along with DJ Logic).
Who or what inspires you the most in your creative projects or ideas?
Creating, itself, is an inspiration for me. Having a simple bassline and beat which continues to evolve as I bring in new instruments and elements makes me want to push forward. Plus, I have an amazing community of fans and friends who I play live for nightly at TikTok and that gives me inspiring and motivating vibes.
Are there any specific challenges or obstacles that motivate you to push yourself further in your career?
I’m not one to worry about obstacles, but if I had to pick one challenge, I think it would be how I don’t particularly fit into one genre. I know in a world of streaming and search engines, it’s natural to place labels on everything. So, I think the challenge to find my label also makes it a challenge for music listeners to find my music. Many find me as a happy accident. With that said, having no box to fit inside makes creating new music feel boundless and always fresh.
Everyone has a guilty pleasure—what’s yours when it comes to tracks or artists?
I love 70s ballads… Elton John, Ambrosia, Boz Scaggs… you name it. I would love to do an all-ballads project under a pseudonym.
If you could collaborate with any three artists, living or deceased, who would they be and why?
Dr. Dre is definitely #1. I feel with my bass playing and sense for the groove, along with Dre’s production style we could do something very special. David Bowie is right there too. He was such a huge influence on me as an artist. And Daft Punk. I think our musical vocabulary is very similar, and their blending of the organic and the electronic is right in my wheelhouse.
Lastly, what’s your favorite place to find new music, and how does it influence your sets?
I tend to find a lot of new music through movies, films, and streaming shows. I don’t sit down and listen to music on my own a lot, because I’m usually creating something new on my own in those times, so I find myself hitting Shazam a lot when watching new shows or films.
We end our interview by thanking Freekbass for his time and providing a glimpse into his creative world. As he continues to make strides, driven by his passion for creating unique and engaging music, Freekbass no doubt remains a vibrant talent on the scene, distinct in the sonic identity he continually puts forward. As he looks ahead, fans can anticipate more innovative tracks and live performances from Freekbass, so be sure to keep following his journey by staying up-to-date with him via social media.
Freekbass Online
