Midnight at the Oasis: A Lesson in Funk

Introduction

"So this one's called Midnight at the Oasis. It's one of our biggest singles and it came about in a strange way..."

The Story Behind the Hit

• We had just finished the Brother Sister album.
• The record company felt there wasn't a big enough hit on it, which was hard to hear.
• They challenged us to come up with a cover to add to the album, if it was good.

Inspiration Strikes

• Everyone started thinking about what type of song to do.
• The obvious choices were covers of artists like Stevie Wonder or Earth, Wind & Fire.
• However, our previous rhythm guitarist had sent me a cassette with a lot of jazzy, folk-style music, including the original version of Midnight at the Oasis by Maria Muldaur.

The Transformation

• I noticed that the music, with its chord changes and uplifting, psychedelic feel, could be turned into a funk track.
• I envisioned how it would sound played by us in a funky way, even though I was nervous about taking it to the meeting at London Records.
• Our drummer understood how to change rhythms, so we decided to present it.

The Creative Process

• To our surprise, everyone at the meeting was on board: "Guys, fine, let's go to the studio."
• We entered the studio and came up with a groove which ended up being our biggest single, propelling the band globally.
• We received significant airplay on Capital Radio.

Lessons Learned

• Think outside the box: Sometimes, the best ideas come from the least obvious choices. Don't always follow the expected path.
• Embrace creativity and risk: Doing something different can surprise and delight your audience.

Understanding the Bass Line

Structure of the Bass Line

• The bass line remains almost identical in both the verse and chorus to maintain the groove.
• I'm going to slow it down because there's a beautiful interaction between the bass and the kick drum.

Technique Breakdown

• Unconventional Technique:
  • I use a half-slapping method combined with a bit of pulling to create a sound that resembles a slap bass.
• Grace Notes:
  • There are lots of grace notes and little taps that add a percussive quality rather than just musical notes.

Key Details

• "So I'll try and play that again. If you listen closely, you'll hear the extra taps I'm doing."
• The first note is just a tap on a dead string, and these small additions give it a funky edge.
• Realization: I've come to understand that these extra notes really enhance the funkiness of the bass line.

Final Demonstration

• "I'll do it one more time to show you that the first note is a slide with a hammer-on."
• It's all about the detail: "Those little extras give your bass line a lot of feel and life."

Conclusion

Ultimately, it's important to focus on the intricacies of what makes a piece of music come alive. Explore, experiment, and don't be afraid to inject your own unique style into your playing!