Innovative bassist talks Adrian Belew/Jerry Harrison tour, playing Talking Heads music, and finding her own voice
Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
May 1, 2023
Bassist Julie Slick has a knack for conjuring up interesting tones and melodies. Sometimes they can hit you like a whisper. Other times they’ll slam right into you and leave you reeling. But make no mistake, Slick is an innovator.
She began honing her bass skills around the age of 12 at the Paul Green School of Rock Music in Massachusetts and continued her music studies at Drexel University. By her mid-teens, the bassist and composer had already distinguished herself by playing alongside Jon Anderson, Stewart Copeland, Ann Wilson, Alice Cooper, and alumni of Frank Zappa’s bands.
Her breakthrough moment, however, came in 2006, when she joined the Adrian Belew Power Trio. Slick’s other collaborations over the years have included Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Tony Levin, Robert Fripp, Les Claypool, and Victor Wooten. In addition to her continuing role with the Belew’s trio, she’s also a member of the bass duo-fronted band EchoTest and the Remain in Light project, which celebrates the music of the Talking Heads.
Watch our interview with Julie!
See Jon’s blog, with key takeaways from this interview here.
