CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Q&A With BassKase (Performing at CHIRP Night at the Whistler on 11/7)

Chicago artist BassKase (Bandcamp | YouTube) will perform at CHIRP Night at the Whistler on Tuesday, November 7th. We caught up with BassKase recently to ask him a few questions about himself and his music…

So...What’s going on? Tell us about your current releases and/or upcoming shows (such as CHIRP Night at the Whistler!).

The next BassKase EP called Rabbit Holes dropped on Bandcamp on October 27 and will drop on all streaming platforms on November 3.  Hopefully, it’ll be in rotation before CHIRP Night at The Whistler, as I’ll bust out one or two tracks on that night.

Other than CHIRP Night, my next show is in Toronto on October 26 at Decoy Bar.  Starting to set up dates in Chicago for 2024 soon!

How do you go about turning your thoughts, ideas, and feelings into sounds?

Generally, if a kernel of an idea pops, I’ve lay it down on whatever element is driving the idea (typically bass and drums, but not always).  Then, I create more elements that I think either add more to the vibe/texture or work as a counterpoint to it.

After that, it’s an iterative process stripping bits down and slathering on sonic confectionary.  

If your music was a kind of beer, ice cream, or coffee (take your pick), what would it taste like?

Beer!  I’m Canadian, after all.  It would taste like the Northern Lights on a December eve (hopefully my lips wouldn’t stick to the can…)

Do you have any particular or unexpected influences? Are any other artists or bands catching your attention at the moment?

My influences are all over the place. Those that might be less obvious are improvisational artists, be they jazz through to experimental hip hop.

A couple of artists come to mind. I really like what Afrikan Sciences from the West Coast (aka Eric Douglas Porter from the Bay area) and Chancha Via Circuito (Pedro Canale from Buenos Aires) are doing. 

If you couldn’t make music or be involved with music, what would you be doing right now?

Likely traveling

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done in a basement?

The list is too long to even get started... I’m the Tolstoy of regrettable choices.

If you were someone’s life coach, what are the top 2 life lessons you’d teach them?

Taken from two cards in the Obscure Alternatives deck to shake one out of ruts:  “Resist the urge” and “Make the least important thing the most important”.

Are there any stories or anecdotes you want to share but haven’t been asked the right question to do so? Or do you have anything you’d like to declare to the world? Feel free to share…

Since it’s CHIRP Night, I would like to reinforce how much I enjoy CHIRP as a listener. I am always getting turned onto new and interesting artists that would have otherwise escaped my attention in the vast sea of music releases.  Cheers!