BUTLER BASS

RALEIGH, NC

Butler has been known for being the dopest pianist, bass player ever. He knows how to crank up a tune when it comes to Jazz, Neo Soul, or Rnb. Butler is one of the greatest and will be soon, and has the magic touch when it comes to playing instruments. You better watch out, this guy is a killa.

KLVO: Do you have a record collection, and if so what are your favorite records?

BUTLR: I have a pretty huge vinyl collection that I’ve just been adding to since I got a turntable, mostly old jazz records and R&B stuff. Too many favs to count but some of my favorite groups are EWF, Ahmad Jamal Trio, Weather Report, Curtis Mayfield, Return to Forever, and on and on . As far as newer stuff I usually just stream since it’s hard to find a physical copy but I hate the way artists aren’t being paid fairly, hopefully a new platform will be developed soon 🤷🏻‍♂️

KLVO: Why do you think learning about music is so important?

BTLR: Learning about music forces you to learn about yourself. You have to listen to your body and respect it; just because you understand something doesn’t mean you can play

it and this gets you out of your head and into your body. Beyond learning to play and instrument though, I think it’s important to study music as a listener because it is a human thing that connects us all, a universal language and it has the power to bring all kinds of people together.

KLVO: I know that you play the bass, but I remembered that you also play the piano really good, what other instruments did you play?

BTLR: I started on the trumpet in 3rd grade in band and kept that up til High School. I also started to teach myself piano and drums but I wasn’t taking lessons at this time. Once I got to Enloe I switched to the tuba and joined the marching band. I was already

into jazz music just hearing it growing up, and playing the tuba got me interested in the New Orleans brass band tradition. This led me to starting a brass band with some friends, and then after some pressure from the drummer and rapper, I started to

teach myself bass my senior year so I wasn’t playing tuba in the band tradition. This led me to starting a brass band with some friends, and then after some pressure from the drummer and rapper I started to teach myself bass my senior year so I wasn’t playing tuba in the band . Luckily with the piano and drums background I knew some theory and I already knew how to make basslines from playing tuba, so bass came very naturally to me and I was accepted into the Miles Davis jazz studies program at UNCG, where I got my degree. Lately I’ve been learning to play guitar as well, so I would say I can get by on a lot of instruments but bass is definitely my main.

KLVO: If you can play a song with an other artist, who would it be and why?

BTLR: If I could work with any artist alive right now I would probably say Kanye West, just because his concept of sound has been a huge influence on me and I would love to witness how he creates. I also love how true he stays to his vision. Would love to work with Pharrell, The Roots, Quincy Jones,

Anderson Paak, Bootsy Collins, Derrick Hodge, Christian Scott, DJ Harrison, the list goes on haha

KLVO: Would you start a YouTube soon? Or do you have one?

BUTLR: I don’t have a youtube but I have been working on getting stuff together for one. My big project since April is building my recording studio, Worry Less Music, and now that the studio is more or less up and running I plan to invest in some good cameras so I can document the sessions and post them online. It seems like these days people don’t want to listen to your music as bad as they want to see you make it. I know I get a lot more out of a performance when I can see the connection between the musicians on stage.

KLVO: What advice you can give other people who wants to be in the music industry?

BTLR: My advice would be, be prepared financially because very few artists that I know make their money from their music. From what I’ve seen, if an artist is making music successfully they usually have another source of income and they are constantly

reinvesting in their product and brand. Very few artists see much of a return on that. All that to say, don’t get into the music industry with the hope of getting something out of it.

"If you have a gift that you want to share with the world, and you are truly motivated by the love of the craft, then by all means put yourself out there, because people need art, especially right now in these times, but be prepared."

It’s better to have a part time job and be able to support yourself and your vision than to try and work full time, because you may end up building other people’s dreams, and losing yours in the process.

CHECK OUT ONE OF HIS VIDEOS:

IG: @BUTLER_BASS