Excerpt from the book, Minds Behind the Music (HERE)
In 1993 the legendary engineer/producer Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton) took a Pignose amplifier and bass guitar to the Hollywood Hills home of British rock bassist, Kim Gardner. Kim was a member of The Creation and The Birds with Ron Wood, was surprised when Johns handed the bass guitar to his 14-year-old daughter, Eva. Johns then goes to turned up the volume on The Kinks’ classic “You Really Got Me” and proclaimed, “Now this is a solid bass line!” Eva never looked back.
Eva began performing with live bands in her home town of Los Angeles at the age of 14. She decided to further her musical studies and attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and then at UCLA, graduating with honours. Her professional career began when she toured and recorded as the original bassist in The Mars Volta in 2001/2002. Since then, Eva has performed and toured with numerous artists worldwide, including Pink, Gwen Stefani, Cher, Tegan & Sara, Moby and Veruca Salt.
In 2014, Eva became the first female artist to have a signature bass with Fender. It has been released for public purchase and is available worldwide. So there, now you know! And then to even greater acclaim, she put down the bass and answered my questions.
If you could be any other musician past or present, which one would it be and why?
I would be Chopin! He had such a distinct and individual style. His music is intimate and delicate, conveying so much emotion.
Jimi Hendrix, “Bold as Love.” As Harry Shapiro’s says, “Love comes in many hues, love is hard work and to get properly involved takes commitment and courage.” Like a shift in the axis of the earth, love can change everything.
What was the happiest day of your life and why?
Happiest day of my life - playing at the Isle of Wight Festival in the UK - it truly felt like I “had arrived” as a musician. It’s such a legendary festival and I met Paul McCartney backstage, as we were opening up for him (with Pink). I was introduced as Pink’s bass player and he proceeded to sing a walking baseline to me and proclaimed, “Us bass players gotta stick together!” A momentous day all around!
As an expressive artist in the music industry, how does the state of the planet make you feel?
The state of the planet often makes me feel very overwhelmed and heartbroken if I allow myself to go there. I’m very interested in history and I realize that humans have always been this way - it’s all about “survival of the fittest,” “divide and conquer,” etc. Human nature can be quite cruel and selfish which, in turn, wreaks havoc on the planet and those inhabiting it. It feels so heavy.
Excerpt from the book, Minds Behind the Music (HERE) with over 80 music stars speaking out on aliens, God, the meaning of life and the environment!
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