Reader Spotlight: Hector “Hexbass” Rodriguez

Hector "Hexbass" RodriguezMeet Hector “Hexbass” Rodriguez, a bassist who clearly marches to the beat of his own drum (or bass). A musician who doesn’t want to do “same cookie-cutter stuff”, he’s navigating the world of music and doing his own thing.

Hexbass is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story…

Bio:

I was born during a storm in 1975 in which the thunder was emitting record low frequency sounds. In 2009, after 17 years of playing bass in bands, the powerful wizard Valderash came to me. He endowed me with a restless, yet brilliant creativity, which could only be satiated by making my own music, leading my own projects. Hence my name, Hexbass. The caveat: I’d always be broke, and the musicians I’d need to realize my musical masterpieces would be hard to come by.

It’s both a blessing and a curse.

Location:

Tampa, FL

Day gig:

I sleep all day, and prowl the streets at night in search of sustenance (music).

Years experience:

Twenty-four years.

Bands & Gigs:

I only pursue my original music via four very different projects. The world appears to not be ready for this level of mad musical alchemy. Almost everyone would rather hear the same cookie-cutter stuff. It’s a sad landscape of conformity to the most vapid, derivative sounds imaginable.

Gear:

  • Traben Havoc bass
  • Johnson acoustic bass guitar
  • TC Electronic RH450
  • Hartke Transporter 4X10 cab
  • Zoom B2.1u multi-effects pedal
  • Electro Harmonix B9 Organ Machine pedal
  • Upright bass bow
  • Recorder flute
  • Triangle

Why I play the bass:

In middle school, I had a dream in which I flew up to the heavens through the power of low frequencies. Then, I was in a free fall, but a bass guitar, acting as a sort of magic carpet, caught me and got me back to the ground safely. My destiny had been laid before me.

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I’m always getting sideways looks, or getting frowned upon for even suggesting to pursue music that’s out of the norm.

My influences:

Cliff Burton, Peter Brötzmann, Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse, Blotted Science, Conquering Dystopia), Cachao, Cecil Taylor, Antonio Vivaldi, Bill Laswell, Mick Karn, Portal, Steve DiGiorgio, Cecilia Bartoli, My Dying Bride…

More on the web:

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Share your thoughts

  1. Keep up the good work, Hector.
    Eventually the right people will appear to help you realize your dreams….

  2. Anaughtybear

    Good to know the wizard has visited others. I was feeling kind of alone.