“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…

Emma Anzai from Evanescence and Sick Puppies 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 #119 – Emma Anzai.

Emma Anzai, known for her dynamic bass playing with both Sick Puppies and, more recently, Evanescence, reflects on her evolution as a musician, her unexpected path to bass, and the impact of viral YouTube moments on her career. Her musical journey began in high school, where watching other bands perform piqued her interest in the electric bass. Emma’s career took off with Sick Puppies, propelled by the viral “Free Hugs” campaign that featured their song ‘All the Same’. This viral moment, which gathered millions of views on YouTube (almost 80 million views), played a huge role in the band’s success and remains a cherished memory for Emma, who values its power to connect with fans on a profound level. Joining Evanescence in 2022, Emma navigates the balance between her commitments to both bands. Her relationship with Evanescence dates back to their shared tours, where she connected with Amy Lee (singer), leading to her eventual recruitment. The transition has been seamless, with Emma’s approach to Evanescence’s music respectful of the band’s legacy. For her, adapting to the gothic, choral-driven style of Evanescence presents a new challenge that complements her rock roots from Sick Puppies. Emma highlights the distinct yet enduring appeal of rock music, observing how live performances remain crucial in keeping the genre vibrant, despite its shift away from the mainstream charts. She embraces the ebb and flow of the industry, maintaining optimism for rock’s place in music culture. For Emma, playing bass is more than a role – it’s a connection to the music and a constant evolution, balancing technical skill with heartfelt expression. 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 #119 – Emma Anzai.

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).