EPK

Ayden Blackman, Bass player

My name is Ayden Blackman, I'm 16 from the North East of England and I want to become a bassist and create my own music. I started listening to rock and metal from when I was 13. I used to hate music in my house because it was boring but then I got into bands like Queen and Led Zeppelin which drove me to begin playing music. I began playing bass in late 2020 but I could play a few songs on guitar before this. I find it hard to play at home due too many interruptions, but I usually try to practice 2-3 hours at a time. My favourite song to play is N.I.B. I like the picture above of me as I feel it shows the type of music I'd like to play. Heavy, Doom and Black Metal. Like a true Kvlt Norwegian Axe Wielder. This is the type of style I'd like to have as my identity since I want to be a bassist in my own band.

One of my biggest inspirations to music is Paul Rodgers who has sang in Bad Company, Free and Queen as he comes from a rough area close to where I live in Middlesbrough yet he has made it big in the music industry.

My biggest inspiration is Geezer Butler due to his song writing skills and his unique bass tone which helped invent heavy metal. He was the primary lyricist of Black Sabbath in their early days, writing about political issues and occultist lyrics. His down-tuned bass playing with the guitar riff helped the music sound heavier, especially on Master of Reality. He began playing in his first band Rare Breed, originally as a rhythm guitarist. His endorsements are Lakland and Hartke. He started Black Sabbath with the debut and then left after Born Again with Ian Gillan, rejoined for Cross Purposes with Tony Martin and finally ended with 13 back with Ozzy. In the 2000s, he was in the Heaven & Hell band with the Mob Rules line-up and also has a few solo albums out.

College drives me to keep playing more as it is helping me get better at playing and learning songs so I can eventually join a band and play original music and covers. Before joining the college I only really played rock or metal but now I've played other genres like pop for exmaple. I’ve already played 2 gigs with the college so far. My skills with the bass are the finger and picking technique, I can learn songs quickly if I have the time at home to do it. I am learning to play slap bass and improvise on bass better. I am going to be a session musician in the future. I want my target audience to be people around my age and area.

This is my first studio recording experience 

This was done as a full band with a keyboard player, guitar player, drummer, vocalist and me as the bassist. This took a few takes to get a good take as all of us had to play in time and get the pauses correct. The techies, Jack, Oli, Ritchie, Ash and Brad.

This was done as a three piece band with me as the bassist, a guitar player and the drummer singing. This session was much easier as there were less people to play in time, a much simpler arrangement, went well better. I feel like our performance was much better due to this too.

Gig performed at Basecamp, Middlesbrough 19/10/21

My first ever gig performed Personally I didn't enjoy the set list besides Zombie but I feel this performance went well for my first ever gig. I had nerves before going up onto stage but after performing the first song and hearing everyone clap I felt more confident.

List of songs I can do:

(With College Band)

Deceptacon – Le Tigre

You Really Got Me - The Kinks

Zombie - The Cranberries

Stuck in the Middle With You – Stealers Wheel

Freaks – Surf Curse

I’m A Believer – Monkees

Another One Bites the Dust - Queen

Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Respect – Arethra Franklin

Highway to Hell – AC/DC

New Rules – Dua Lipa

Smells like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

Lovely Day – Bill Withers

(By Myself)

For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica

Peace Sells - Megadeth

Dawn Patrol - Megadeth

Money - Pink Floyd

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly

N.I.B - Black Sabbath

Lord of this World - Black Sabbath

Into the Void - Black Sabbath

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Black Sabbath

A National Acrobat - Black Sabbath

Freezing Moon - Mayhem

Black Metal - Venom

Ace of Spades - Motorhead

Come Together - The Beatles

Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

Good Times, Bad Times - Led Zeppelin

Murders in the Rue Morgue - Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

Dragon Attack - Queen

My possible client list of people in the college: 

 
Leon – I have been playing guitar with them for 6 months now, I could play in a band with them outside of the college as we have a very similar music taste as well and we get along with each other. They could offer their guitar playing skills. 

Harvey – He has been singing in the college band for a while, we get along well. I could offer him my skills in a band outside of college or even play over any tracks he’s written himself. He can offer his wonderful singing voice.

Joe – Been playing in the college band for 6 months now, we play in time with each other well. He has improved my tempo skills. I could offer my skills in a band with him outside of college too and also add my bass to songs he has written. He can provide his drumming skills since he is very good.

Lexie – Known them for 6 years now, get along with them well. Been offered to join their band outside of the college. Can also play over tracks they have written themself. They could offer their singing and also songwriting skills (which they already have for one of me and Leon's original songs).

Jack L, Oli, Ash, Ritchie – These lot are part of the tech course, they produce hip hop beats for their own original rap songs. Get along well with them. I could play over any tracks they have written. For example, I could add a bassline to any beats they've made for a hip-hop track. They already set up the studio for me and the band and operating all the machinery and DAWs so they could offer that outside of college.

Jack R – Could offer him a bassline for his music project “Blu Ivory” which he could sample for one of his tracks he produces. 

Brad – Could potentially offer my heavy metal bass playing skills to one of his Nu Metal songs. He is a good lyricist so he could write a song for me.

 

My target audience currently is teenagers from around Middlesbrough who usually go to gigs around the area. I have already played a gig in front of them and been to gigs with them and I would like to continue playing in front of them. A lot of the music popular with the younger people in my town is metal which is obviously my favourite genre. I have also played in front of older people to from 30 and above for my 2nd gig at the college so there is a large age range of my audience. Since I listen to a lot of old music from the 70s and 80s, this is a good target audience to have as they will be familiar with the music I play. Hopefully this can help expand my audience to further out areas. 

In future I would like to join the Musician's Union to help fund gigs if I ever get in a band. I would also like to join PRS to get any music I've recorded published to earn money. I have met a few people outside of college to help expand my network. I have been going to venues such as Westgarth Social Club and Basecamp and met a few people in the bands like Louie from Undivine Telephone Line. Social Media has helped me build a network as I have been tagged in upcoming local gigs, this could help with getting my own gigs at these venues. I can also expand my network by going to Musinc at Middlesbrough Town Hall. Generator is also a good music agency to help fund me. Other local people are the Georgian Theatre, Tees Music Alliance and the Northeast Volume venue.