“Success lies in giving your best and in offering good music”
His deep voice greatly resembles the sound of his inseparable bass, and his temperament is that of the great jazz musicians... His warmth and approachability become evident as the interview goes on, while he takes care at every moment to show enormous loyalty and admiration for what has been, and still is, his band for more than two decades, ‘Fourplay.’
Yet at 57, Nathan East can also boast of having been the faithful ‘sideman’ to some of the most prominent artists in the world of music: he has shared the stage with legends such as Eric Clapton and Phil Collins and has tasted the sweetness of success... A success he takes on with complete humility, as part of a life totally devoted to music, his weakness. Nathan East is more than an artist and more than a bassist; he is a man with melody and rhythm running through his veins, and indeed, even as a child he showed promise... And he did not disappoint. Meet now one of those great musicians who never go unnoticed...
Nathan, first of all: you have a very broad and long musical career. How does it feel to be such an admired and respected bassist?
I'm a very humble and modest person. Still, I appreciate that people value and respect everything I've done over many years, and honestly, it makes me very happy.
You started playing piano when you were just a kid; after that, you started playing the cello... Why did you decide to trade those instruments for the bass?
(Laughs) It came about naturally. The truth is that the bass became something very simple for me, something very easy to understand, and besides, I love its strings. I fell in love with it right away!
And who are the musicians who have influenced you the most?
Mainly I've been influenced by the musicians I've played with, especially my bandmates in Fourplay: Bob James, Harvey Mason, and Chuck Loeb. Also people like Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, and many more...
I was just about to say that you've worked with some of the most famous artists in the world, such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, and Lionel Richie, among others. What did that mean for your career?
First of all, it brought me a lot of fun... And I toured all over the world and recorded different albums with these guys. So I think it was the most fun time of my life. As a result of all this, I met a great many people, some of them great artists like Elton John or George Harrison, and plenty of musicians I later had the chance to play with too.
Your band Fourplay was formed in 1990, and since then you've sold millions of records. What is the secret to your success?
I think the secret lies in staying together and also in making good records and performing and giving concerts. Also, I think it's very important to give your best and offer the best music, and I think that's what we've done.
What has Fourplay recorded lately?
In October we released our latest album, called ‘Esprit de Four.’
This is a question we ask every musician we interview: How do you describe yourself: as a musician, as a bassist, or as both?
As both, because I actually listen to many different styles of music and then try to play them, so I don't listen only to bass players. I don't really like using labels, but I'd definitely say I consider myself a little more of a bass player... (laughs)
On another note, what does Nathan East consider more important: technique or message?
I'd say the message, because I feel the technical side comes more easily if you practice a lot, but getting a message across is much harder. It's something much deeper; it's a spiritual level.
What is your favorite bass?
My Yamaha Signature bass model, which I designed myself, so it has everything I've always dreamed of in a bass! (laughs) Obviously, it has become my favorite.
And what do you expect a bass to give you?
Really, what I expect from a bass is feel and low end. Something you can feel more than hear. In short, it has to give me a deep feeling.
And now, could you tell me what the audience likes most when they're enjoying a Fourplay concert?
It's funny, because in our repertoire there are some songs where we stand still on stage, and we have a joke among ourselves, which is this: What the audience likes most about our concerts is when we get off the stage! (laughs)
Just kidding... (laughs) Really, what audiences like is when a band plays good songs, plays with emotion... That comes across.
Let's talk now about live shows... What makes a band sound great live?
I think one of the most important things is for the whole band to listen to each other... Playing together, you know? It's like a conversation. It's not just practicing something and then playing it live. It's very important to listen and react as if it were a dialogue.
Let's talk a bit about you now. What are your current projects? And future ones?
Right now, the main thing is the release and promotion of our new album ‘Esprit de Four,’ but I also recently recorded a project with David Foster for Andrea Bocelli's latest. I've also recorded with a new band that just put out its album. I've been producing a few things as well, and I've been on tour with Fourplay and with a band called Toto. And recently Yamaha asked me to record a solo project.
Wow! I see you're working hard...
Yes... I really am! (laughs)
So, are you going to visit Spain soon?
Well, I was supposed to play with Fourplay in Madrid, but I was told the concert was canceled... I don't know exactly why, but we're very sad about it, because we love Spain... ¡Gracias! (original in Spanish)
Please, Nathan, to finish the interview, could you give some advice to our readers?
Go into music if you truly love it and feel real passion for it. But don't go into it if you only want to be famous and make a lot of money (laughs). Whatever they do, they should do it for themselves...
At ISP Música, we want to thank Nathan East for his warmth and friendliness in conducting this interview. It was a pleasure to have him!
