(Bild: Kimberly Metz)
With her flashy outfits and hairstyles, Nik West stands out before you’ve heard a note of her music, but once you do, all appearances become irrelevant. As the child of a musical family in Phoenix, Arizona – all the children played an instrument – she lost her heart at an early age in roughly equal parts to funk, soul and rock, which led her to play bass.
On two solo albums to date, she fuses these styles with her charismatic singing voice and a wealth of experience gained alongside artists as diverse as seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer, pop icon Prince, bass virtuoso Marcus Miller and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics.
In addition to her work on American television, she gives online bass lessons, promotes young female musicians with the “Queen Of Strings” competition she initiated, and always provides energetic live performances. As part of her tour supporting Joss Stone and Lenny Kravitz, she will also be appearing in Germany for four concerts. We catch Nik, who finds conversations about equipment deadly boring, on her trip and talk not only about her career, but also about her self-image as a musician in general.
Nik, your first instrument was actually the guitar; was there a key moment that converted you to playing bass forever?
My father, who is a phenomenal guitarist, bought me my first electric bass and simply told me to try playing it. As soon as I held the instrument in my hands and played a few notes, I felt that it was made for me. Later, my father taught me how to play properly.
As a left-handed person, have you ever been asked to change your style, and would you say that sticking with what felt natural to you helped you develop your own style?
I don’t know, my father was right-handed and so he could only show me how he played. Over time, the left-handed orientation became so natural for me that I decided to continue playing in the same way.
You were said to be an excellent student and also a keen sports enthusiast. How were you able to reconcile this with your musical ambitions?
Sport and my academic performance took priority at first. By the time I graduated from high school, the bass had already taken on an important role in my life. I had fallen in love with it, so I knew I would pursue a career in music.
In addition to all of this, you also worked as a model for a while. Is this where your preference for eye-catching clothes and hairstyles comes from, and do you see them as another means of expression alongside music?
Yes, definitely. Also, modeling has helped me get used to being photographed at concerts. I know that many musicians are uncomfortable with this, but I don’t mind it myself and have photos taken throughout the show. I want the photographers to have the opportunity to get a fantastic shot to later convey some of the atmosphere of the evening to fans who weren’t there.
(Bild: Camille Misty)
Do you mainly use the bass for songwriting or do other instruments help you with arranging?
I also use other instruments, especially keyboard and guitar, but also drums. Since I record my music myself and produce my albums, it’s natural for me to be able to play more than just bass. Otherwise, you quickly reach your limits when writing and arranging.
It’s interesting that you play drums. What do you pay attention to when playing with other drummers?
The feeling. For me, it’s primarily about feeling a connection between me and the drummer. He or she must not only feel what I’m playing, but also be able to follow my every move. The same applies the other way round, of course, and we should really let ourselves fall into this feeling. The personality of drummers is also important; after all, I absorb a lot of energy from them during a show, and ideally it should be positive.
How would you describe your career as a solo artist based on your studio albums?
Each one has its own story, related to the time in which it was created, and therefore conveys its own message. When I record an album, it’s about sharing things from my life and what inspires me; giving the world music that comes from my heart.
(Image: Natalia)
Someone like you who gets invited to sessions by stars needs more than just musical skills. Did you have to learn the necessary soft skills first, or are you a naturally sociable guy?
Of course, to reach the level at which I work today, I needed hundreds of hours of practice, perseverance and passion for the job. Some things have always come easily to me when dealing with other people, but there are also many things I simply had to learn.
As a creative mind, do you sometimes have difficulty putting yourself at the service of the cause when collaborating instead of trying to push through your own ideas?
Actually, yes. However, I think that with all these years of experience, I now have a good handle on it and can contribute my views, thoughts and ideas constructively to the project in question.
What are the most important insights you have gained from working with greats like Prince or Eurythmics head Dave Stewart?
Several, but most importantly it has boosted my confidence and improved my leadership skills, not to mention the invaluable knowledge they have given me about music as a craft.
Over time, you’ve been able to get your own songs featured in Netflix productions and sports shows. Is that an important financial source of income for you or just a nice extra income?
It’s absolutely important. After all, practically everyone streams movies and series these days. Many people discover music through TV, so channels like Netflix or Apple TV help to get songs out there that would otherwise be forgotten. I’m actively working on continuing to pitch and license my music for TV.
Has anyone ever tried to convince you that you would never make it as a woman in the music business?
Let’s just say it was a rocky road and it still is. I have a young son now and during my pregnancy I was worried about how the public would perceive it.
How do you see the current situation of women in the industry in general?
As I said, it is still difficult. Many women in the music industry are afraid of having a child because it could damage their career and later regret not having children. Personally, I feel very confident right now and can’t imagine anything better than being a rock star mom. My son is a great support for me.
Who is the “Bass Domination” course you offer on your website suitable for, and do you plan to expand your teaching content?
The course is aimed primarily at beginners. Anyone who wants to learn how to play bass is welcome. Some of my former students are now giving concerts themselves, have performed with bands and are therefore very happy with the course. I actually have something new in the pipeline – a slap course in which I will share a few tips and secrets of my style.
(published in Guitar & Bass 06/2024)
