“Wait… did I miss something? Why is there an article about a bass podcast on Six Pixels of Separation?”

Here’s why:
In the late nineties my first job was as a music journalist (actually, my first interview was with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue right before the band released Dr. Feelgood).
I spent many years interviewing musicians and artists for local weekly alternative newspapers, national and international magazines (and even published three music magazines – before we had the Internet).
I also studied and played the electric bass (in high school and post-secondary) and always felt like bass players never really had a chance to tell their stories.
So, about ten years ago, Seth Godin introduced me to Corey Brown (founder of No Treble – one of the world’s biggest bass platforms – and he also worked on Squidoo with Seth).
From there, Corey and I decided to try this monthly podcast where I would interview bass players and talk about their music, art, creativity and more.
I’m hopeful that these conversations will inspire your work, creativity and innovation as much as they do for me…

Amy Tung Barrysmith is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #123 – Amy Tung Barrysmith.

Amy Tung Barrysmith is a bassist, vocalist, and songwriter best known for her work with the Seattle-based doom duo Year Of The Cobra. Her journey into music began with classical piano, but her transition to bass was fueled by necessity and a love for low-end frequencies. Originally jamming casually with her husband, drummer Jon Barrysmith, the duo quickly developed a signature sound, driven by Amy’s “Rig of Doom,” which allows her to create a full-band experience with just bass and drums. Influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin and The Jackson 5, Amy’s approach to bass is both melodic and powerful, and she has embraced the challenges of being in a two-piece band by crafting a style that is heavy yet deeply personal. Beyond Year Of The Cobra, she has expanded her musical repertoire with projects like Amenra and Slower (which is… Slayer but slower… seriously), demonstrating her versatility and ambition. In this episode, Amy shares insights into her songwriting process, the evolution of Year Of The Cobra’s latest self-titled album, and the balancing act of being a musician, teacher, and family person. She also dives into the technical side of her gear choices, the impact of working with producers like Matt Bayles (Mastadon and Isis), and her experiences touring both in the U.S. and internationally. Whether you’re a musician looking for inspiration, a fan of doom metal, or simply curious about the creative process behind heavy music, this conversation will give you a deeper understanding of Amy’s approach to music, life and the bass. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #123- Amy Tung Barrysmith.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends).