Dunlop Presents Bass Freq's

As the co-founding bass player and primary songwriter of Motley Crue, Nikki Sixx was the foundation of one of the most iconic rock bands to come out of the 1980s. Recently, he sat down to talk with Bass Freq’s host Josh Paul, and we’re super excited to share that conversation with you here. Nikki took Josh on a journey through his whole story, from his start in Idaho to the barroom floors, stages, and backseats of cop cars in Los Angeles, to his unique approach to bass playing and songwriting, how he’s managed to survive in the industry, and a whole lot of gear talk among other fascinating topics.

Many of the guests who’ve come on the Bass Freq’s Podcast showed promise from an early age before being hailed as child prodigies on their way to amazing careers. This week's episode gives host Josh Paul the chance to talk to once such phenomenon while he is actually at the start of his meteoric rise. Aron Hodek, a 12-year old bass player from Slovakia, is already racking up chops, fans, and accomplishments that would be highly impressive for a player two or three times his age. Here, Aron tells us all about how he caught the bass bug and what steps he took to be able to get recognized, who he's playing with, the gear he digs, and how he still works his best to balance the important work of just being a kid while continuing to build a career that seems limitless.

Blue DeTiger is one of the shining stars among a new crop of highly skilled bass players on their way to becoming the icons of the future. She's been dedicated to the craft since the age of seven, but instead of following the traditional routes to success, she took advantage of the new medium of our age—social media, through TikTok—to make her biggest impact on the scene. On this week’s episode of the Bass Freq’s Podcast, she shares her story, inspirations, insights on gear, and what's on the horizon with host Josh Paul.

Respected performer and educator Rufus Philpot wears his love of the bass guitar on his shirt sleeves. He’s studied, taught, recorded, and performed at the highest levels, and in this conversation with host Josh Paul, Rufus dishes on that entire range of experience without holding back. Through stories about his influences, how hard he worked to make a name for himself, and the techniques and gear that aid him in his constant effort to take his art to the next level, Rufus’ passion for his instrument is evident in every word he speaks.

This week on the Bass Freq’s Podcast, we hear from LA-based award-winning bass player Pete Griffin. His resume includes some of the most respected acts in music, from Dweezil Zappa and Steve Vai to Stanley Clarke and Jean Luc-Ponty to name just a scant few. On top of being a top-tier journeyman of the stage and studio, Pete is a highly sought-after online educator. Here, he treats host Josh Paul to his own brand of eloquent wit and wisdom across a range of topics, from navigating the industry, getting and keeping gigs, and his approach to techniques and tones.

This week, we’re joined by yet another Grammy Award-winning artist to its roster—Tommy Sims. Launching his career as a session-and-touring bass player in the late 1980s, he has contributed not only his accomplished bass grooves but also his chops as a songwriter, producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist to a long list of artists that includes Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Michael Bolton, Kelly Clarkson, the Neville Brothers, and many more. Speaking with host Josh Paul, Tommy fills us in on his journey from starting out through cultivating his varied skills and performing at the highest level with some of the biggest names of the business. Add in a touch of gear talk as well as great advice for up and coming bassists, and you have another classic episode of Bass Freq's.

Nathan East’s tasty bass grooves have been making the hottest pop records pop for decades. He’s worked with the world’s top recording artists, from Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder to Sting and Daft Punk—and that’s not even the half of it. On top of that, Nathan is a founding member of the prolific jazz group Fourplay, and he’s put out three of his own records as a solo act. On this week’s episode of the Bass Freq’s Podcast, he chats with host Josh Paul about discovering the bass through and impromtu gig at a church, getting his start in Los Angeles with Barry White, many of the historic sessions he was part of, how to get great tone, and more.

Frank Brunot is s professional session and touring bassist who approaches his craft with a solid foundation of groove honed during his upbringing playing Gospel but counters that with his strong love the melodic nuances that a make a song stand out in any genre he applies himself to. Host Josh Paul gets to chat with Frank about getting his start, techniques, his thoughts on navigating the music business, and of course gear.

This week, we put the spotlight on Oskar Cartaya this week, yet another guest who possesses immense talent and exhibits unwavering dedication, to his craft. His unique style has garnered him an impressive list of credits playing, composing, arranging, and serving as musical director for the likes of Spyro Gyra, Herb Albert, Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Tito Puente, Robbie Robertson, Willie Colon, and Dave Valentin. Oskar chats with host Josh Paul about his beginnings in the music schools and clubs of Puerto Rico, the life experiences that have informed his career, and of course the tools of the trade that he relies on to get the job done.

This week's guest is Jonas Hellborg. Drawing from a diverse range of influences that includes eclectic jazz, Arabic music, and improvisational psychedelic rock, Jonas burst onto the scene in the late 1970s and stunned audiences with his command over the electric bass. He quickly established himself with gigs such as the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Bill Laswell, and Ginger Baker, and he has continued to inspire and astonish audiences and fellow musicians with his greatly varied and prolific projects ever since.Speaking with host Josh Paul, Jonas dishes all about his history, his inspirations, and his approach to musical challenges as well as a good dose of in depth gear talk.

Miles Mosely is a captivating artist whose unique stylings have invited many to refer to him as the Jimi Hendrix of upright bass. Combining a solid groove and improvisational prowess with his upright, bow, and an array of effects pedals, Miles has contributed his innovative tones to top acts from Chris Cornell and Kendrick Lamar to Korn’s Jonathan Davis and Rihanna—and that’s alongside his own solo records and work for film soundtracks. On this week’s episode, host Josh Paul goes in depth with Miles on his story, style, and playing philosophy which—despite its unconventionality—speaks to any musician with a passion for playing music and a need to be heard.

This week’s guest is Jacob Umansky, a bass player who demonstrates the powerful potential of playing with both great chops and killer tone. Jacob’s resume includes studying under the direction of such luminaries as Victor Bailey at Berklee College of Music and playing as part of masterful prog metal band Intervals. While his 6-string wonder of an instrument from Dingwall signifies his epic chops, Jacob is committed first and foremost to the most important role of the bass player—holding the band together with groove and authority. Speaking with host Josh Paul, Jacob gets deep with all things bass and more.

This week's guest Rich Brown. Hailing from Canada, Rich is a highly accomplished performer, composer, producer, and educator. He's recorded three albums as band leader and has been featured on over 70 recordings covering a wide range of musical genres. Rich has played, toured, and recorded with some of the most distinguished musicians on the planet, from James Blood Ulmer, Vernon Reid and Steve Coleman to Rudresh Mahanthappa, Angelique Kidjo, and David Clayton Thomas—just to name a few. Host Josh Paul talks to Rich about his upbringing, his performing and teaching style, and his philosophy on what it takes to be a multi-faceted musician in today's age.

Every episode of the Bass Freq’s Podcast brings you bass players from different walks of life, different genres, and different musical philosophies. But all are united by a true love of their craft and a dedication to pushing themselves to new levels of expression. This week's guest, the frighteningly talented fretless specialist Gary Willis, exemplifies that spirit. Known for his role as co-leader of the band Tribal Tech, Gary's career spans more than four decades and includes countless collaborations with many jazz and improvisational legends such as Wayne Shorter, Allan Holdsworth, Hubert Laws just to name a few. Here, Gary treats host Josh Paul to the story behind the player, what he’s working on, and his "outside the box” approach to composing, performing, and selecting gear.

This week, Josh speaks with Fernando Rosa. Hailing from São Paulo, Fernando’s deep appreciation and comprehension of the soul groove has developed and matured ever since he first learned to play bass as a child. Many sessions and tours later, he is truly a master of his craft. In recent years, he’s gained an online following through simple-yet-creative videos showing just Fernando and his bass as he explores his favorite musical realms. Here, he goes deep with host Josh Paul on a number of topics, from getting his start to how he approaches playing and his love of all things bass.

When Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters back in 1994, he tapped Nate Mendel to hold down the low end—and he’s carrying that groove to this day. Host Josh Paul speaks with Nate about starting out, stories from the road, what inspires him and how he approaches songwriting, and—of course—the gear that makes it all possible.

This week's guest is Daric Bennett. Not only a well-respected and consistently touring-and-recording bass player, Daric is also a great influence on the up-and-coming generation of players who take advantage of his popular online bass lessons. Speaking with Josh Paul, Daric shares how he discovered his calling as an educator as well as how he taught himself to play in church bands and embarked on a career as a professional musician.

Becoming part of music history takes talent, no doubt. But being in the right place at the right time also plays its own part, and prolific bassist Nate Watts has a perfect score on both counts. He grew up next door to Motown Studios in its heyday, watching the one-and-only James Jamerson walk to work from his window. This proximity to musical greatness and inherent musical gifts of his own lead to an amazing career backing up some of the biggest names in soul, R&B, and funk—and he’s been Steve Wonder's bass player ever since playing on 1976's Songs in the Key of Life. On this week’s episode, Nate speaks with host Josh Paul and shares many stories about his career, the artists and songs he's played on, and what his gear preferences are along with sage advice about surviving in the business.

This week, we’re joined by John Myung, a bass player whose high-school friendship with one John Petrucci would lead to the formation of one of the most successful and long-running prog metal bands of all time—Dream Theater. Speaking with host Josh Paul, John tells us all about the band’s origins at the Berklee College of Music, his discovery of the 6-string bass, how he constructs his bass lines to fit into the group's intricate symphonies, and more.

The Bass Freq’s Podcast, hosted by experienced recording and touring bass player Josh Paul (Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Daughtry), features in-depth discussions with some of the top bassists working today. This week, we bring you an insider's view of the Nashville session scene courtesy of Tully Kennedy. He’s a first-call for studio work and a long-time collaborator for country music artist Jason Aldean. Speaking with Josh, Tully tells us all about how he got his start, what gear he uses, and how to sustain a career that demands a delicate balance between fitting in and standing out. The Bass Freq’s Podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts—subscribe so that you can hear from more intriguing and inspiring guests every week.