An interview with Sweet Felicia

1.  Describe the early years of your musical roots and how your talent was nurtured.

It wasn't really nurtured, just always mucked around and never really learnt properly. I first picked up acoustic guitar at 13 and my brother (who was a drummer) showed me a few chords. I used to learn tunes from the radio.

That all changed when I first picked up a bass, I knew immediately that's what I had to do. The sound reverberated through my body and that was it..... I was hooked. From there I just learnt from playing to records and after about 12 months, found a band that was looking for a bass player, joined and stayed in that first band for three years. I was 22 years old.

I was also writing at the time and began writing for the band, we were an 80's rock band so I wrote for that style. I am still surprised that people used to request my songs!

2.  Were there any events, people or catalysts that were musically influential?

My earlier influences reflect differently to now, but I still salute the roots of where I began. I would say my biggest influence was a band call Budgie from Wales UK whose lead singer also wrote all the songs and played bass. They began in 1969 and were called metal in the old days. He inspired me greatly, I loved his riffs and songs and
decided that I would try and sing and play also. Having never sung whilst playing bass I found it a bit tricky, certainly not like guitar, but anything can be achieved with practice and determination. I still get comments about singing and playing and a lot of bass players find it difficult to sing and play and appreciate the fact that I do.

Now I play swing and jump blues and am also influenced by the great Jazz players. Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ray Brown and singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Billie Holiday etc. I have many favorites, but mainly I love anything from the 50's and before.

3.  How would you describe your sound?

My sound is definitely big, loud and warm. Like me. Ha Ha. Seriously though I do love a bass to sound like a bass. I play a 72 Fender Telecaster Bass and you don't get any fatter than that. It's very heavy tho, so after back surgery last year I acquired a Danelectro SG shaped bass and customised it to sound as deep and fat as possible. I had Jim Dyson work on it and put in some Chandler lipstick pickups that Chris Wilson gave me. It sings like a beauty now. Much warmer and fatter and ever so light!

I'm a finger player now, whereas I used to play with a pick, so now I can alternate to get different sounds also. Softer and sweeter with fingers or more top and attack with a pick.

4.  How many CDs have you released as a solo artist?

I have made several recordings with other bands, my favorite being the Delta Rhythm Kings purple album and have done two under my own name "Sweet Felicia & the Honeytones" and am about to embark on another album project.

5. What is the name of your latest CD and describe the creative process?

It was a hurried job and recorded in my drummers lounge room, I was still pretty happy with it. It was meant to be a demo, but I never got round to re-recording the songs and everyone kept asking me for an album at gigs, so I chucked a cover on and off we went.

6.  Where did you record your latest CD and who was involved in the recording and production of it?

(As above)

7.  How involved are you in the recording process of the projects you have worked on?

Always, very involved, but I have found it hard in the past to be taken as someone who knows what they're talking about because I'm not a man. Have butted heads a few times, but I find the people who really know what they are doing don't have a problem.

8.  Describe some of the highs and lows of your musical career so far?

Highs: Supporting BB King and his band when they came to Brisbane and meeting the big man himself. I don't think I'll ever top that. He also signed my Telecaster, smack dab on the front. It looks great.

Winning Band of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year at the Brisbane Blues Awards 2000. I was very surprised and chuffed.

Working with Chris Wilson (I am currently his bass player). He is one of Australia's greatest Blues Artists and a gun harp player. He's a really top bloke too. A great friend and a wise man.

Lows: Keeping inspired when doing the hard yards, keeping faith in the industry when everything is changing and it's harder to get gigs because venues aren't finding it viable to put live bands in anymore, or being limited due to noise restrictions etc.

Just keeping the faith gets hard sometimes.

9.  How do you feel about playing to a live audience?  

It's the best trip and what I am here for. To help people forget about the daily grind and take them out of their head for a while. Music is a healer and I believe strongly in empowering my music with a happy energy.

10.  What does your live set up consist of?

It's currently down one 15'' EV Cabinet that I had stolen last week. I hate thieves.

1 x Galleon Krueger 400RB 200w Head
1 x 15" EV Cabinet (Now missing)
1 x 2x10" EV Cabinet (now getting more use that it used to)

I need to replace the 15 as the ten's of course are too thin sounding for me. I only really had them as a bit of top-end for the rig as the Tele is so bottomy

11.  Who does your booking? Are you under management?

Book myself and wait for calls to come in. No management.

12.  What are your musical ambitions?

To make the next album the best it can be and perhaps tour to Europe and the States. Have never been outside of Australia!

13.  Have you ever insured your music equipment?  If so, with what company and would you recommend them to other musicians?
no comment

14.  What are some of your favorite venues to play?

The Bluestrain. It's a buzz and everyone has such a great time. I love old things and the train is a beauty.

The Transport Bar in Federation Square Melbourne City. It's a glass venue that passers by are intrigued by. It's fun for the bands too. Gives you a wide playing field to have some fun with.

15.  What music organizations are you affiliated with?

Only APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association).

16.  Is there a venue that you play regularly at?

The Bluestrain. Had a residency on that for about 3 years now and I still dig it.

 

 

 

 

 

© 2008 Yonge Music

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