Today we’d like to introduce you to Zuri Appleby.
Hi Zuri, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hello again! I’m really glad we could reconnect and I can share more of my story with you here on this awesome platform for us underground musicians and artists!
I was born into a musical family with both of my parents being musicians and teachers- my mother who I came to learn also played guitar but ultimately to be recognized and revered for being a proficient pianist and music/choral teacher and my father also being a multi-instrumentalist who is best known for his bass playing, singing, and teaching. I remember being pretty submerged in the arts as a child and throughout my developmental years. I remember going to my moms school concerts, going to my dads gigs, being around for rehearsals at the house or going along with our parents to them, being involved in our church choir, being involved in theatre and acting, taking a variety of music lessons and trying different things, but music is what really stuck with me.
I remember my mom teaching my sister piano which made me want to be a piano player like my sister. I didn’t really take to piano as naturally as my sister so I didn’t really get that far. Around age 8 and I played on a guitar we had around the house. Thinking back now I’m sure the set up was terrible and the action wasn’t really ideal for an 8 year old girls hands but I would try tirelessly to get better. Took some classes at school, could play a couple songs but felt like I just wasn’t really getting it.
This one year my dad had a summer music camp in our basement and kids would come by and we would learn how to play together, learn the blues changes and make up our own blues songs. There were a few guitar players but no bass players. I think I was going into the 6th or 7th grade. My dad knew I already knew guitar fingerings and could read and knew my notes well enough so asked me would I try the bass for the blues song we were playing telling me it’s the same just without the top two high strings so in my head I’m like ok-this should be easy enough. Less strings works for me. I remember I picked it up and it felt so much more natural and open like there was more room for my fingers to aim and for my brain to focus on one spot at a time whereas with guitar I just felt like I was trying to do too many things at once and didn’t have the finger strength, but for some reason my fingers seemed to naturally fit on the bass. From then on I basically never looked back and kept playing bass until today. I would ask my dad to show me what he was doing and would sit in on his students lessons studying his fingers movements and drilling myself until I blistered and felt like I was getting into a flow. I tried a few other instruments along the way-french horn, violin, piano, but bass was the one I loved to play the most. I stuck with the bass and we’ve been jamming and growing ever since! In my last interview I talk more about the turning points and going from a girl who loved bass to how I got into music and some of the stops along my journey till now! But I wanted to share how I got into being a bass player so people can maybe see another angle of how my journey to the bass itself started.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not sure if you mean obstacles learning bass or obstacles in my music career so I’ll talk a little about both.
As far as playing the bass itself, it’s an on going journey to “mastery” as if that’s even a thing. There have been and continue to be obstacles in expanding skills and gaining confidence. I used to struggle with alternating my first and second finger on my right hand and had a James Jamerson approach of just using my pointer finger. Shoutout to my jazz band teacher at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts for helping me learn how to get my middle finger in the game and helping me realize how helpful using both actually is. I also used to heavily struggle with using my pinky finger on my left hand and would use my ring finger to hold my pinky finger down or just avoid it at all costs. My dad helped me to get out of that and would allow me a lot of leeway with approaching the bass however I felt most natural but would let me know how important that pinky was and how there was power in it if I stopped trying to avoid it. He was of course right lol. In my more experienced years of playing the challenges have become more more mental although physical wear and tear does take it’s toll, proper form and regular stretching/strengthening helps with some of that but the mental challenges are something I don’t know anyone can really walk you through or prepare you for. As I’ve become more aware and conscious of aspects of music, the interconnectedness of the sounds, how it all comes together and what “makes” it or allows it to feel good, people’s projections, my own insecurities, expectations and things like that, I’ve found the challenge of the mind being more obvious versus the challenges of the ability to handle the instrument or navigate through physical aspects of playing. Lately I’ve found the biggest challenge is balancing the involvement of control and freedom in playing, Intentionality and spontaneity, directing what I’m doing musically while simultaneously experiencing what’s happening and enjoying the ride all the while without taking it too seriously.
Now when it comes to career challenges as a bass player, man that could be it’s own complete interview topic lol. Normal things like navigating through different personalities in the work place, different work styles from situation to situation, last minute asks and music changes, stuff like that are some of the expected challenges. Some also I guess expected challenges but difficult ones are navigating respect or lack there of, feeling as if you’re not valued as highly as someone who gets paid more but a lot of times understands and cares a lot less, the energetic drain of charting out or learning music and especially touring and sometimes feeling more like a machine than a person, having multiple gigs worth of music of your brain at a time because of spreading yourself thin to stay financially afloat, maintaining an ever changing and inconsistent schedule with a fatigued brain and body, trying to balance self-care, family even when distant or in other cities, friends, staying active in your own community… I mean the list goes on and on. There’s a ton of challenges to be honest. Knowing how to protect your intellectual property and image in this new age of everything being recorded and monetized. knowing how to ask the right questions so you don’t feel taken advantage of, fair pay, knowing how much to step up or sit back in any given situation without overstepping titles, respecting yourself and the music.. Just know this music thing is NOT for the faint at heart. We’re not even gonna address the challenges being a woman, being type casted, sexual inappropriateness… this could really be it’s own interview all in it self lol You gotta REALLY love this music journey or it will break you or can make you callous af.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
So I play bass primarily, and also am a vocalist, teacher, inspirer, fashion enthusiast, a developing producer and DJ. I specialize in bass playing,,vocals and teaching. I think as of late more commonly known for having played bass with Doechii on last year’s Tiny Desk but I guess essentially for showing up where you didn’t expect to see me and being a part of a wide spread of projects and performances over a large scale of genres and visibility levels. I also think I’m known for caring intimately for the music, attention to detail, being a hard worker, and being able to handle or fit into a lot of different styles and circumstances. This is such a weird question to answer because I’m trying to assume what people think about me or notice about me but another thing I’ll say within my peer group and fellow performers especially here in LA is, I think I’m known for being authentic, not being afraid to speak up when things don’t feel right and advocating for musicians care and respect as well as maintaining a level of professionalism in how I show up and communicate.
I think I’m most proud of my consistency and just the fact I keep showing up and keep growing ,keep learning, keep doing my best, keep observing, and hopefully keep improving even if it’s more internal than in my paying ( but hopefully keep growing into a better musician and player too lol.). I’m proud of my ability to navigate through this industry away from home and largely on my own and that I’ve shown up in a way which allows me to keep getting called to work and perform. And I’m proud at how I’ve matured through this tough ass industry without growing into a total bitch lol but also not just a pushover who takes any work thrown at me. I’m proud I’m still here.
What matters most to you? Why?
I think for me authenticity and care matters most. Being authentic allows you and others to know and recognize what’s actually being dealt with so people can move and act accordingly. I believe care is important because I mean- without caring what really is the point. We all could benefit from some care and it helps us to connect with ourselves and others when we care and to keep our eye on a common goal when other factors may or may not align. Nothing gets done well if at all without some level of care, and you can’t really know what you care about without being authentic and real so I feel like they go hand in hand.
Pricing:
- Lessons: $45 half hour/ $90 an hour
- Session Work: $300+ depending what’s needed
- Modeling Work: $400 +
- Visual/Video Appearances:$300 +
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ZuriAppleby.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ZuriElise_
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ZuriAppleBass
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/HerHighnessOfLowness
- Soundcloud: https://Soundcloud.com/HerHighnessOfLowness
- Other: https://TikTok.com/HerHighnessOfLowness
Image Credits
Alexandra Waespi
Mark Peaced
Mychal Brandon
