Wonder Women: Antonella Mazza on Music, Motherhood, and Finding Her Voice
This month’s episode of Wonder Women – Stories from the Women Who Play Bass features Italian bassist Antonella Mazza, who joined us from her longtime home in Paris for a wide-ranging and candid conversation. With more than three decades of experience across genres like jazz, funk, blues, and pop, Antonella is a consummate sidewoman who’s carved out a powerful presence on her own terms.
We talked about the art of being a supporting musician, what it’s like to raise a child as a touring artist, her unlikely start with a double-speed Charles Mingus cassette, and why she still feels like the same 11-year-old who fell in love with the bass through The Beatles.
Antonella’s insights into music, identity, and resilience are full of heart and humor, and we’re proud to add her story to the Wonder Women series.
A Life in Music, but Not in the Spotlight
Antonella makes it clear early on: she doesn’t have a solo album, and she doesn’t want one. “I like being in my corner, surrounded by my amps,” she says with a laugh. As a sideman – or sidewoman – she thrives on interpreting the work of others, bringing her energy and personality to the music without needing to be front and center.
Even when playing note-for-note from a musical score, she believes there’s room for individuality: “It’s like classical music – you’re not changing a single note, but you’re changing the vibe. That’s the interpretation. That’s your fingerprint.”
From Double-Speed Mingus to Paris Stages
Her first exposure to jazz was a happy accident: a Charlie Mingus tape she mistakenly listened to at double speed. “I thought, wow, I really don’t get jazz,” she joked. But the energy – especially Mingus’s intensity – resonated with her, and she gradually found her way into the genre.
Originally from southern Italy, Antonella moved to Paris fifteen years ago, starting over in a new country, with no gigs, no support network, and a child to raise. “I had to start from less than zero,” she says. “But music always saved me. Every time I felt like giving up, something magical happened.”
Music and Motherhood
Antonella’s story is also a rare and deeply honest account of what it means to balance music and motherhood, especially as a touring artist. With no family nearby and no partner in the picture, she brought her baby on the road, playing festivals while juggling diapers and bass cases. “I had no examples. I had to improvise,” she says. “But I don’t regret it. I wanted to live my motherhood experience.”
That experience changed her, not just as a person, but as a musician. “Before, it was all about the bass. After, I had to make space in my life for someone else. And that made me a better player, I think.”
Learning Hendrix, Loving the Blues
Antonella is currently touring with Electric Ladyland, an all-female Hendrix tribute project that challenged her to go deep into Jimi’s harmonic logic and chromaticism. “He was a jazz guitarist at heart,” she explains. “Once I understood how he thought, everything got easier.”
She also continues to play the blues – her “first love” – and is preparing for a major tour with a well-known French artist. In addition, she recently performed upright and electric bass in a production featuring music from Pixar films.
On Gender, Image, and the Industry
Though she doesn’t dwell on gender in her daily work, Antonella acknowledges the unique challenges women face in music, especially mothers. “When I have a gig, my first thought isn’t the music. It’s: Who’s watching my son? What will I cook before I leave?”
She also reflects on the image expectations placed on women musicians. “I see these amazing female bass players online, all dressed sexy,” she says. “Are they doing it for themselves, or to fit a stereotype?” She’s not here to judge, but she believes the focus should be on the music. “We’re like angels—music doesn’t care about gender.”
Advice: Be Yourself, and Build Your Own Space
For those hoping to follow in her footsteps, Antonella’s advice is clear: Don’t. Not exactly, anyway.
“Don’t copy – build your own space,” she says. “You can take inspiration, but tell your story. There are already enough versions of Jaco out there.”
In a world of fast clips and fleeting trends, she still believes in the slow, deep, personal relationship with the instrument. “When I play, I feel like I’m home. It’s therapy. It’s healing. And if we heal ourselves, maybe we can help heal someone else, too.”
Explore more from Antonella Mazza:
Brittany Frompovich is a highly regarded educator, clinician, blogger, and bassist who currently resides in the Washington DC/NOVA region. For more content from Brittany, check out her blog, her YouTube channel, and her Bandcamp site. She also offers handmade unisex music-themed jewelry through her Etsy store. Get a Wonder Woman Tee!
