Reader Spotlight: Robert Asencio

Meet Robert Asencio, a bassist from NJ who has overcome a lot through his music. We love his description of his day gig: “playing bass 24/7”. Nice.

Robert is our player in the spotlight for the week of June 26, 2012.

Robert Asencio

Bio:

“All is possible through faith in the Lord & hard work.” These words have come to symbolize my blessed life as a bass player. Hailing from Newark, New Jersey, I overcame the dangers of gangs and drugs to find peace in music with my band Killed The Fixtion. Knowing that I started playing late – at the age of 17 – I began to practice non-stop, up to 10 hrs a day, building a reputation for myself in the NJ music community.

I have a never-ending quest for knowledge, which has led me to become a student of renowned bassologist Anthony Wellington (Victor Wooten Band). I continue to study with him today.

I am also an endorsed artist under the Michael Tobias Design Kingston line of basses and La Bella Strings.

Location:

Newark, New Jersey USA

Day gig:

My day job is actually playing bass 24/7. I’m very blessed to have a family that supports my dream so I stay home and play bass all day.

Years experience:

Four years

Bands & Gigs:

I’m currently involved in two side projects. One is Six Realms, which is a metalcore band where I help in writing and composing songs along with my Killed The Fixtion singer, Nelson Ceron.

The other project is Power The Machine, which is a metal cover band where we cover all types of of metal classics and put our own spin on them. It is an extremely fun project because I’m in a band with two of my my bandmates from Killed The Fixtion, one from Six Realms and the owner of Hellhound Rehearsal Studio.

I’m also an on-call musician at Hellhound Rehearsal Studio where I have played shows alongside some of the best bands in New Jersey for one-time gigs. I’m a live member for a local metal band Windfaerer who are getting a lot of positive feedback from the local metal community.

My main project – and the reason I started playing bass – is Killed The Fixtion. I play in this band with my best friends that I grew up with. We’re a funky, jazzy, east coast Pantera with a bluesy flavor. We have gotten a lot of critical and public praise with our music including being named a 2012 On The Verge Band by Rock & Fall Hall of Fame music publication, The Aquarian Weekly. In addition, we have a #1 request local band on our local radio station 89.5 WSOU FM. This is where my heart and soul is at.

Gear:

  • MTD Kingston Z
  • MTD Kingston ZX
  • Boss GT-10B Multi-Effects Pedal
  • I don’t own a rig because I’m broke, but I only play Gallien-Krueger Heads & Cabs. Big shout out to Hellhound Rehearsal Studios for always providing me with gear for shows.

Why I play the bass:

To be completely honest, I really didn’t have anything else to do. My friends were starting a band, and they needed bass player.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I have no superpower or claim to fame. I just live by a quote one of my bass homies Robert “Bubby” Lewis: “Figure out who you are, be you, love all music and don’t worry about anything else just express yourself the way you feel”.

My influences

My influences is all life and God. All music and musicians inspire and influence me. If you want to know bass players who influence me, they are Robert “Bubby” Lewis, Katsuji Morioka, Andrew Gouche, Justin Raines, Thundercat, Hadrien Feraud, Damian Erskine, Janek Gwizdala, Mark Peric, Anthony Wellington, Marcus Miller, James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Norm Stockton, Dammo Farmer, Ethan Farmer, Tim “Rawbiz” Williams, David Dyson, Aram Bedrosian, Jean Baudin, Evan Brewer, Kevin Keith, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Flea, Dywane “Mono Neon” Thomas Jr., John Patitucci, Reggie Young, Anthony Crawford, Nate Watts, Anthony Jackson, Louis Johnson, Bob Babbit, Donald Dunn, Charles Mingus, Willie Dixon and Joel Smith.

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  1. Ah, New Jersey. The people you meet here are awesome. Hope to run into this guy one day, seems like a pretty cool dude.

    • Yo Whats gud homie!! Like @[100000166342888:2048:Tana] said I’m always at @[127065502119:274:HELLHOUND REHEARSAL STUDIO] always down to hang man

  2. A well-deserved accredidation to Mr.Robert Asencio from Killed The Fixtion, Six Realms & Power The Machine. Keep Kicking ass Rob! You guys should check out the Killed The Fixtion Tribute to Alice In Chains – Nutshell here from YouTube: http://youtu.be/akeHORfJGPY.

  3. so I listened to your band…yuck..is that the kind of music youd play for Jesus..don’t think well be hearing that kind of music in heaven…you need to play music that will showcase your bass playing more..then I think the Lord will give you a rig.

    • Hey Dennis Thanks for listening to my band appreciate it man & also i just wanna say that the Good Lord doesn’t owe me a rig or anything as a matter of fact..”I owe the Lord everything”…That being said “I Love All Music” And I’ve been listening to Metal Music my whole life i absolutely love it & proud to be a Metal head:) & I Thank God Everyday for bringing it into my life, it saved me from the Gang Life & looking back i can say that without Metal Music i would have probably still Been Gang Banging and possibly in Jail or Dead…In my Life’s journey so far Metal has given me Some of the Best Friends in my Life That I Love with all my Heart…I can truly say that “Metal” saved my Life and I Thank God for it Everyday of my life…Also I just want to say that i could have just thrown back Harsh Word’s right back at you but instead I’ll leave you with a verse from the Bible:) “Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” There’s no Anger in my heart my friend, let go of that a long time ago only Love remains:) God Bless.

    • Rob, you’ve got nothing but class!

    • Dennis: What makes you think you’ll go to heaven with that attitude? (if there is a heaven that is)

      Robert: After reading this article I headed straight to your YouTube channel to check out your videos, and I have to say I am impressed, you’re an excellent bassist, and best of all you can play pretty much anything. As a fellow bass playing musician I have a lot to learn from guys like you, who are so dedicated and passionate about music and their instrument. Thumbs up from me :)

    • satan comes as an angel of light,and it obvious people are deceived by him everyday.the Lord doesnt bring the devils music into anyones life. even satan can sling Bible passages around to make himself sound holier than thou. sure the Lord doesnt owe anyone anything…but He blesses those who do His work. Ill pray for your salvation !!!

    • Awesome! Thanks @[734550240:2048:Daniel Bass] truly appreciate the Love homie & Thanks for watching my vids man means a lot glad ya enjoyed them!! ..Inbox me if you ever want to talk some Bass homie Thanks again:)

    • I Don’t want to Argue with you Dennis & this is why..2 Timothy 2:23-24 – Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” Blessed are the peacemakers my friend and that’s all i want “Peace”:) Again Thank you for taking the time to listen to my band and Checking out my Bass Player Spotlight! & Thank you for the Prayers:) I will do the same for you my brother God Bless!!

  4. I love Rob, so glad you featured him, he’s an artist straight through to his core. Hey Mike, he is a very cool dude indeed, you should stop by the studio sometime for a jam! HELLHOUND REHEARSAL STUDIO.

  5. Wow Dennis,
    I didn’t know people of the lord can be so judgmental and close minded…Don’t pass judgement less ye be judged yourself. Last time I checked God is the power behind Rob’s recent happiness and success. Rob, I am so proud of you! You And the rest of Killed The Fixtion have been a pleassure to work with! the easiest and most refreshing gig I’ve ever known :) You are an inspiration to me and our scene. Your hard work and determination are traits I wish everyone could have. I luv ya Brotha! Congrats and BILENCER ;) You are single handedly the greatest Bass player ai have ever vibed with. NEVER GIVE UP! Keep up the hustle.

  6. Robert Asencio is the most humble musician and human being that I have the pleasure of knowing. He is truly one of a kind. Very immature Dennis. Shame on you, turn in your musician card.

  7. So proud of Rob. He’s a killer player and a very good supporter of the music scene.. along with us, his MTD family.

  8. We are very luck to have Robert as our bass player & are proud of all his accomplishments. Keep going Rob!

  9. All I Know Is That Everybody At The House Went Crazy. I’m very proud of everything my brother has accomplished & will accomplish. The Lord Is Good.

  10. Great! Rob is an awesome bass player! Well deserved…..the future holds a lot for you my man!

  11. Congrats Rob! You’re an amazing bassist and this is a very well-deserved spotlight for you. Best wishes for all your future endeavors!

    :: Love & Metal ::
    Lori

  12. Rob got skills, that are applied well in whichever genre he is taking on. His attack on Heavy Metal is something ALOT of Bassists can flourish from. His playing style is that of a pianist, but with his MTD Kingston Basses he opens new chapters with each rhythm, melody and nuance. His subtle & smooth style for the Blues is magical. He adheres his tone well to each song that any of his bands play and the feeling that is transmitted from each note he strikes is quite soothing to the listener. I’m very glad you guys took a eye to Robert, because as his Bio describes, he is truly…a Diamond in the Rough.

    • Wow Ethan Wow.. Amazing homie thanks so much means a lot:) This is to much man wow Thanks again:) Once again you da man E!!

    • I watch the KTF videos and listen in depth to the music. I know talent when I see it, and you ALL have what it takes! Keep at it bro!

    • Awesome! Thanks for watching/listening:) & We’ll most def keep working hard & keep grinding in the KTF camp homie!! Thanks again:)