The eccentric mohawk in the shape of a bass is Nik West's trademark. The American's new album "Catch Me If You Can" will be released in March 2018. In an interview with event., West talks about her relationship with Prince and her big dream of a music school for math geniuses.
The strikingly beautiful musician from Arizona has dedicated herself to music from head to toe. The string acrobat discovered her love of the bass as a teenager in high school. Michael Jackson's bass line in "YouWannaBeStartinSomething" gets under her skin. It's love at first note. Her passion for the instrument was born from Jackson's song.
On her debut album "Just in the Nik of Time" from 2015, the bass takes center stage. What's more, it is intended to be an instrumental work. Her producer balked when he heard her powerful voice. The studio boss is not the only fan of the first hour: Dave Stewart from Eurythmics is enthusiastic about the newcomer and takes her under his wing. They jammed together and worked on various projects. West gets off to a brilliant start. But her path is not clearly mapped out, as the Southwest stateswoman is a talent on several levels. She cuts a fine figure in the fashion world, on the catwalk or in magazines such as "Vanity Fair". She is also one of the best in high school. And she is also a sporting ace. Various universities vie for her. Although music wins the race, she still likes to use her brain. Arithmetic is one of her great passions: "Solving difficult problems is often what life and the music business are all about," says the 28-year-old.
Prince discovered her on YouTube
Prince discovers Nik West via YouTube. He tried to contact West for over a year. But no one had her phone number. One day, as he was sitting in the studio rehearsing, he asked the group: "Can anyone get in touch with Nik West?" Drummer John Blackwell can put him in touch. Prince is immediately taken with her: "She inspires me. Her stage presence is great, visually a feast for the eyes," he enthuses. West remembers this special encounter and his advice: "Let others inspire you, but do your own thing. Be yourself!"
West and Prince work in his famous recording studio and get on really well: "People still say today that I was his bass player. But that's not true. He was my friend and mentor, and not just in the music business. I learned a lot from him."
West has been going her own way ever since - and has risen to the top league of singing bassists. Not an easy path: "As a woman, I had to be better than my male colleagues to be considered equal," recalls West. Tempipassati, the Los Angeles-based artist, no longer has to prove anything to anyone. She has arrived, even if she trains hard for it: "I practise eight hours a day," she says. Her new album "Catch Me If You Can" will be released in March. She has a lot on her plate and is dreaming of her next project: a music school for children where West also teaches math. Because: "I can read music notes, divide the beats and feel the rhythm, all that comes from math. Math is definitely in the music."
Tip for listening:
