Interview with Emily Farrell
Emily Farrell is a bass player for PRINS.
How did you get involved with performing with PRINS?
PRINS made a great impact in the music scene so I had of course heard her music, but it wasn't until 2020 that I started working with her. Everyone knows everyone in the Christchurch music scene so I think it was a case of me and the singer Alannah crossing paths at the right time and I felt super lucky that she wanted to work with me!
What do you like about performing live?
I love to play music because it literally fulfills my soul haha! I love bringing music to life in a live performance setting, and seeing the impact it creates on the listener.
Recently we were lucky enough to play this incredible festival "Castaway" in the Philippines to about 15,000 people. Definitely the biggest audience me or the band had ever played to. Nothing beats the feeling of walking out on stage to that number of people. It was one of those capacity building moments in life where I will be chasing the feeling of that performance high forever.
That feeling is essentially where my drive to succeed in music derives from.
What do you like about touring?
What I love about touring is the people we meet, the knowledge gained in different cultures. That we get to share music and live performance abroad with people that may not ever get that chance! Mostly I love the new experiences we gain when travelling together with such a great group of friends!
Was it always your dream to go on tour?
Yes! I feel that this is surely every musicians dream, to combine your passion and travel and to share music throughout the world. So in my own little world I am "living the dream" haha!
Was the decision to go on tour easy or difficult. and what went into that decision?
Easy! It has always been a goal of mine to incorporate my work and passion in music with travelling!
What is your favourite song of PRINS?
My favourite PRINS song to play live is "Follow Me". But I also am fond of a bit of DnB so her collab song "Come Down" is also a fav of mine!
Where are your favourite places in New Zealand to perform?
I really enjoyed all of the places we played in our North Island tour with artist Vikae a few years ago, especially Mount Maunganui and the beautiful area. But I think my all time favourite is in my hometown Christchurch, where it all began for us, as our current group. It's always special having your friends and family in the audience.
How did you learn to play bass?
I picked up the bass in highschool when I was about 15 years old, so I have been playing for about ten years now. But I have always loved music and did lots of busking in my earlier years!
What drew you to this instrument?
The story goes, I wanted to create a band with my friends and I decided to pick up the bass and give it a whirl! And after that first jam I never put the instrument down. I love the feel, the combined melodic and percussive elements it creates, how I can express myself through it. I love it all. It is an extended part of my soul at this point haha.
Which artists inspire you?
Bass players that I take inspiration from are Joe Dart (Vulfpeck), Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Jaco Pastorious and Victor Wooten to name a few. I have always loved and enjoyed playing funk music, so I feel that is where a lot of my musical roots lie.