Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A) I didn’t come from a musical family, but I do remember my Grandma’s clear and strong operatic voice singing “La Vie En Rose” by Perry Como while cooking and listening to Jazz through her little stove radio. Everybody liked music, and had an affinity for it, but no one really had a passion. I discovered my passion for it after my big bro found a plastic organ in the trash and brought it home. I was at that thing every minute until it got thrown out one day. I never had lessons growing up but was always singing. The first time I heard Ella Fitzgerald’s voice through the speakers at Christmas at the Easton Centre, I was smitten. I bought my first record “Ella and Louis” and then “The Best Of Ella Fitzgerald”. I studied her voice like crazy and cried when I couldn’t hit those chromatic notes she was bending. After a few years of that and keeping my singing a secret from everyone, my family walked into the bar I was working at and found me singing Karaoke. The song was “I Won’t Dance”, by Ella of course, and they were shocked. After that, they just supported me. It was shortly after that, that I had a breakdown and after recovering somewhat, headed to Switzerland to be an Au Pair (fancy word for nanny). The night before I left, a waitress gave me her guitar- it was Souvlaki Hut! and Anna, the mother of the child I looked after taught me to play it. There, I began singing in my first jazz combo and the rest is history. I had discovered my true path in life and have been following it ever since.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Denielle Bassels”?
A) By sharing with fans, the stories that brought me to this point in my life. I remember I had been going through such hell before I got to Lausanne. Sometimes I would close my eyes and picture myself years from that point looking back on myself and saying “you’re here, you’re fine, and we made it! “ This is kind of what the album is all about. It’s about finding that little bit of love, whether it’s for yourself, someone else, or from a stranger. Just a little can be just what you needed and can make a huge wave of change. My turning point was a dream that brought me to Switzerland via Jacqui, a counsellor from the church down the street. I ran there after a terrible dream, the peak of a series of them due to my depression, and, not even being religious, I just asked the first person I saw for help. She helped me on her own dime and her own time, all the way to Switzerland, and I’ll just never forget that love and selflessness. That’s the story of “Tangled Thread”, track 3. Did I get a chance to pay it forward? Yes, and that’s a whole other story for another day. 🙂
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A) I just love everything Jacob Collier is doing right now. He seems to have this magical connection with music mixed with an exuberant energy for wrangling it’s secrets. It’s all just so infectious. I feel like this is the dawning of a new renaissance in music and I’m so ready to be a part of it. As far as where I find inspiration, I guess lately from my experiences. I avoided this for so long, not wanting to talk about anything, but once I tapped in, there was an overflowing well of events that needed attention and channeling. I found it hard at first to make sense of it all and to get it into song form, but now its gotten easier. I’m learning to put things to paper as they come now instead of burying my emotions. That was my vice as a pleaser; I tend to suppress everything and put on a happy face- (oh that’s actually the premise of my newest song). I feel like making peace with the real me is helping me grow as an artist.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the album, “Little Bit a’ Love,” which recently earned a JUNO nomination for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year?
A) The album theme is about being non-judgmental, paying it forward, and connecting on a deeper level. It’s inspired by a personal encounter with a homeless man who I helped rediscover his passion for painting and for life, and seeing him turn his life around, inspired me to turn mine around. The message is to show love to others, to yourself, to let go of fear, and to understand that we’re all in this together, regardless of our circumstances. It’s about levelling the playing field and giving a little bit of love to make the world a better place
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A) Whimsical
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Little Bit a’ Love”?
A) Oh yes. I thought for a while that the album was doomed. It was nearly complete but pandemic issues prevented its finishing. As I scrambled to find solutions, I discovered technical damage to some tracks, requiring meticulous rectification. With limited funds, I tackled the issues bit by bit. A friend recommended Thomas McKay for vocal recording, and upon meeting him, we immediately clicked. Despite the obstacles, we persevered over a couple of years, piecing together the album and in the meantime, I rode a huge learning curve with regards to arranging and production. Tears turned to laughter and then to great music, with Tom handling most of the technical aspects of production and also some playing. He’d dive into a booth to add a guitar, or percussion track and came up with the cool vibraphone riff on Big Bad Wolf. Together, we crafted something truly special, and I couldn’t be prouder. It was also the musicians that really brought it to life too. Julien Bradley Combs, Andrew Scott, and Scott Hunter were the bass band. They just made the tunes sing. We actually had 3 bass players on the album due to illness and travel related issues. Everyone is ok thank God, but it really seemed like a sliding door of musicians with Little Bit a’ Love. I think, in retrospect, it was a blessing. I got to play with so many new talents like Chendy Leon and Rob Christian. After the devastation of my initial blow, the fixing of the album was the most glorious part of the journey.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A) The message of my music revolves around empowerment, self-love, and community, emphasizing the importance of embracing emotions and seeking help when needed. I hope to be like a big mama bear one day that shares her crazy memoires with the lost and lonely because that was me more than a few times so far. My goal as an artist is to spread this message through storytelling, connecting with people, and sharing experiences. I aim to reach diverse audiences worldwide, collaborate with musicians from various backgrounds, and one day I hope to win an Oscar and a Grammy and even better yet, touch as many lives as possible through my music.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A) My dream artists to collaborate with would be Jacob Collier and Ella Fitzgerald and definitely Nina Simone. Whoa, Freddie Mercury, there’s just so many! I cant pick one! Jacob’s immense talent and infectious energy make him someone I’d love to work with, even if it’s just doing bg’s or a duet. And as for Ella, she exudes such joy and humour, I imagine singing with her would be an absolute blast. I bet she’d have a lot of great jokes and stories to tell along the way. To hear her scat in person?! Nina would whip me into shape and just not put up with any shenanigans but we’d get to the root of the music and create something memorable. , and Freddie seems like he would be so patient and kind. I actually believed he was my father when I was a little kid.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A) Stay true to yourself and your art. Take the time to master your craft and dedicate yourself to it wholeheartedly. Keep learning and don’t worry about what other people think. Surround yourself with supportive and talented people who share your passion.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A) Learn piano
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