KELVIN YU (BASS TALKS)

(The BASSISTS Edition)

(Kelvin Yu bassist for Itchyworms)

Many rises to top of the rock and roll arena, but few were left standing for their cause. This is what Itchyworms did for the solid decade that they're still on their feet. Kelvin Uy, on his base part would tell us how he did his own role with Itchyworms bringing their musical ground on solid state.

His versatility on instruments led him to playing the bass when one of their members, which is a bassist, left the band. “I was originally the guitarist of the band, and when our bassist left, the plan was for me to play bass until we found a suitable replacement. When we stumbled upon Chino, ang galing niya mag-gitara eh, so kinuha namin siya to play guitar, and ayun, na-stuck ako sa bass,” he asserted.

Tandem with the drums, jingles all the way for Kelvin when he is to play it with his universal playing technique, “when I play I just make it a point na kabit kami ng drummer para okey sa alright ang tugtugan, he asserts.” He further hints that comradeship with the drummer is the best way to define and bass line smooth and easy. “Always remember na dapat mag-partner kayo ng drummer, alam niyo dapat ang ginagawa ng bawat isa, para kabit ang tugtugan niyo, para okey sa alright,” he adds.

He knows at both ends of a string where should the base will sound to get into the jam. “In our type of music I guess y'ung role ng bass is to complement the guitars and drums sa mga accents and mga bagsakan sa mga songs namin,” he asserts.

At a certain thought, Kelvin would be one of best, if not the best, then the finest you could ever scout to play a tune at the base of every rock and roll platform.


BASE TALKS

Who are the bassist/s that you look for inspiration?
I like listening to Paul McCartney, Sting, and Rocco Prestia.

On influences, what bass parts were the most fun to reinterpret?
We used to do a lot of Beatles covers when we were starting out and it was always fun to play their songs kasi interesting y'ung mga bass lines.

What kept you interested in playing bass?
Mas tipid kasi ang mag-bass, bihira lang kasi ako maputulan ng strings. Y'ung mga kabanda kong gumigitara, every gig ata sila napuputulan!

What is your primary role as a bass player?
Hindi ako marunong mag-slap or mag solo eh, so d'un lang ako sa background.

What kind of warm-up exercises do you do?
I do a lot of yoga, abdominal exercises, mental crunching, and neo Middle Eastern meditation methods. Kung walang oras para gawin y'un, kakain nalang ako ng madami hanggang ma-empacho ako.

What can you tell about your plucking and picking techniques?
Bulok y'ung technique ko. I have no plucking or picking technique to speak of.

What are some of the things that have influenced your sound?
One of the first bands that I really listened to were the Beatles, and from there nag explore na ako ng iba’t ibang mga klaseng tugtugan, rock, pop, hip-hop, r & b, open ako sa lahat ng klaseng music (except country siguro), kasi nakakapulot ako ng mga ideas na puwedeng ma-apply sa mga songs namin.

What do you think makes a great bass line?
For me, a great bass line is simple and may recall sa listener, and kahit simple lang siya, kulang na kulang y'ung kanta kung wala y'ung line na y'un.

Do you play pick?
I used to play with a pick when I was starting out, pero sandali lang, kasi nahirapan ako. I sometimes use a pick during recordings pag gusto kong medyo may attack at lutong ang sound ng playing. Mas masarap kasi talaga ang feel kapag fingers ang gamit mo, mas may control ka.

What part of your bass playing are you experimenting with the most?
Sinusubukan ko mag-bass na pang kaliwete. Ang hirap masyado eh. Kaya magsisimula muna ako sa pagsipilyo using my left hand - baby steps.

What's one of your greatest strengths as a bass player?
I’m more often than not, on time sa mga gigs namin.

What have you learned from your years of playing bass?
At the end of the day, and at the end of it all, Bass is Bass.

How has your playing attitude changed over the years?
Akala ko dati na madali lang mag-bass, kasi apat lang ang strings, at paisa isa lang ang pagtugtog ng mga nota. Hindi pala ganun.

Where do your bass lines come in when recording an album?
Kapag nagre-record kami, we make it a point to record the drum and bass tracks first. Pagkatapos nun, bahala na si Batman.

How has your bass style evolved through the course of your band's career?
When we were starting out, puro Beatles lang mga covers namin, kasi y'un y'ung common influence naming apat sa banda. Eventually, nag-move on din kami towards listening to our personal influences, hindi naman kasi puwedeng puro Beatles nalang pakinggan namin. Mahilig ako makinig ng mga pop, r&b, hip-hop, jazz, soul music, at kung ano ano pa, so I guess mas marami na akong exposure as compared to when we were starting out.

How did your live playing differ from your studio approach?
Sa live enjoy lang! Sa studio siyempre kailangan mas plakado and mas metikuloso, kasi habangbuhay mo papakinggan ang album mo, so kapag may regrets ka sa mga na-record mo, well, sorry nalang, dear.

Which one of your songs gives you the biggest thrill when you're up there on stage?
I like playing the new songs from our album, “Self-Titled”, medyo nagsawa kasi ako sa mga songs na paulit-ulit naming tinutugtog when we were on the road promoting our previous album. Refreshing na tumugtog ng mga panibagong mga kanta.

What's something you've learned lately, either on the road or in the studio?
No matter what happens, don’t leave home without your vitamins! Importante 'yan!

Is there a certain sound that your listeners have come to expect from your band?
Yes. I guess kung nakarinig sila ng medyo harmony or riff based songs, naiisip ng mga listeners na kami y'un, we tend to gravitate kasi towards ganu'ng type ng music.

What musical concept have you had to learn the hard way?
Bass is Bass. Always remember this.

What non-musical thing inspires you the most?
Food…Oil based pasta, Longganisa, and Sinigang na Baboy.

What are your preferences when buying bass guitar?
I really like the classic bodies such as the Fender jazz and precision basses. Hindi ko masyadong trip y'ung mga medyo mukhang metal na shape ng body, hindi ko kasi kayang dalhin eh. Haha!

What are your favorite songs from any of your band's albums that incorporate your bass techniques?
I like “Freakout, Baby”, “Sino Ka Nga Ba?” and “Steady Lang Tayo”, both off from our 3rd album, “Self-Titled”.

As the bassist, how do you see your role in your band?
I’m the resident accountant, auditor, and Chinese bassist.

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