Featured
Junior/Teen Artist ~ March 2007
 Desiree'
Apolonio Bassett
Listen to Desiree's Song Clip
~ Power & Force
Bio
Desiree’ Bassett was born on 9/11/92 in New Haven, CT, the daughter
of Daniel and Myrna. Inspired by the voice of Reba McEntire,and encouraged
by her parents, she started singing whole songs at the age of two. By
the age of 3 she had picked up a half size guitar and started to play.
At five, she out grew her mini guitar, and instead, started playing her
dad’s full sized guitar. Inspired and taught by her father who plays
guitar, Desiree’ realized that she had a desire to learn herself.
She began taking lessons, and her skills improved rapidly . At age eight,
she played her first competition at the local fair grounds playing joe
satriani tunes and the star spangled banner and came in second place.
By the time Desiree’ was 2 1/2 years old, her father realized
she needed formal lessons. It was at this time that she started taking
lessons in the University of Connecticut music program. From there, she
began to learn all she could about guitar. She discovered that she could
both tune and play by ear. In addition to study, Desiree’ was listening
to blues and rock music from the 50’s through the 90’s, being
influenced by artists such as Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Rick Emmett, Jimi
Hendrix, Reba McEntire, and The Allman Brothers. She played for her school
and for her family functions until age 12.
The summer of 2005, at the age of 12 was major for Desiree’.
It started with being voted Talent America’s musician of the year
in New York City. Then she was invited to play on the side stage at Ozzfest
in Hartford, CT. It was there that she met Rob Zombie, the Playstation
sponsors, The Haunted, and As I Lay Dying. After these successes, Desiree’
started playing at open mics around Connecticut with some of the local
blues greats and national players, gaining recognition among them. It
was at an open mic in Hartford, CT bassist Doug Wimbish discovered Desiree’.
Doug invited her to play in his annual Wim-Bash taking place the following
night. From there, Desiree’ met and played with some members of
the Allman Brothers Band, Kal David Band, Living Colour, Dickey Betts
Band, Johnny Vibrato, Pete Scheips Band, XY Eli Band, and several others.
She was now playing shows in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and
Vermont.
Desiree’s first recording happened in August 2005 at Pat Keegan
Studios in Wallingford, CT. She cut five tracks where she was featured
on all instruments. This first effort was a great success as she personally
designed the artwork and pressed up and sold several hundred copies of
the CD.
On her thirteenth birthday, Desiree’ played two important gigs in
her young career. The first was an outdoor event at the Meriden motorcycle
club, where she was seen by several hundred people and stole the show
from the headliner. She then played at an outdoor party in her hometown
of Ashford, Ct, where she was the featured artist. Desiree’ played
for some of the best musicians in the area, some of whom offered their
services as band members. This group is made up bassist David Stolz, a
former member of the Dickey Betts band and Rob Godfrey, the drummer of
Sesame Stree band. In November, Desiree’ prepared and presented
herself for a showcase at the Hungry Tiger in Manchester, CT. This was
a great success because she played for a packed house and came out as
a vocalist and band leader. This show also helped her build a local following
and established her as a force to be reckoned with on the music scene.
In December ’05 entered the Olympics of Entertainment in N.Y.C.
where she was selected as one of 16 finalists out of several hundred.
On Dec.18, 05 , her mothers birthday and with a bad cold and also after
tooth extraction, she performed and won the silver medal, placing second;
being beaten out of first by NBC’S star search winner.
The days and weeks ahead proved to be very successful for Desiree’
, as she played gigs in Hartford ct, with Kal David ,Andy Aledort, and
legendary rockers Living Colour before several hundred screaming fans
who couldn’t believe their eyes and ears. After this she was invited
to play at the NAMM show in California, where she wins the attention of
many, a famous musicians and picked up her very first endorsement from
Mr. and Mrs. Peavey.
After returning from the NAMM show, Desiree’ was immediately offered
a production agreement from Nova Sound Studios run by Doug Wimbish and
Andre Betts, one of Madonna’s producers which she accepted. Desiree’
adapted to studio work very well and wrote several of her own songs and
some with Doug, making several trips to New Jersey to record. She has
also formed her own band, a power trio which she leads called ‘’Desiree’
& the Time Machine, which is managed, booked and promoted by her father.
She has played dozens of gigs, corporate events and private parties and
re invested her earnings into a P.A. system, professional stage system,
wireless guitar units, and personal savings. She is very involved in the
business end of things.
Desiree’ has also been picked up as an artist in development
at Longview farms recording studios in N. Brookfield mass. ; a world renown
facility. Recently endorsed by Daisy Rock and Schecter Guitar Research,
She has made television appearances and done several radio interviews
Desiree’ is also a hot topic of discussion on the web, with her
own myspace page she has attracted attention world wide with fans on every
continent and a French fan site. Her videos have been viewed by thousands
on youtube.com and AOL uncut videos and she is mentioned of several web
pages by famous and non famous folks.
Desiree’ also has just returned from the Namm show 2007, where she
performed and made several contacts and is also dubbed the future of rock
n’ roll and a wonderkind of kid before 2000 people at the namm show
power breakfast as her face apperred on huge television screens on either
side of the stage and before a panel of the 7 most influencial women in
the music business today.
Desiree’ is a true artist, who’s musical abilities are
parallel by her technical abilities and video making skills. When she
is not writing songs or rocking out on stage, she is an honor student
in her first year of high school where she also studies guitar four days
a week and does a great job of being a normal teenage girl. Desiree’
loves to play on the farm where she lives in rural New England with her
twin sister, Jessica, who is also her back up singer and her brother Justin.
The music never stops for her, at her own choice, as she teaches guitar
on Sundays to local kids , takes vocal lessons during the week and private
guitar lessons with a former Dickey Betts Band member and plays out live
when ever she can . Desiree’ loves doing what she does; performing
and entertaining and has a very strong desire to share her gift with the
world.
Interview
How old were you when you started writing songs and how many years have
you been writing and performing?
I started playing when I was 9 years old and started performing when
I was 8 years old.
Who were your major influences with your music?
My major influences are my dad, Joe Satriani, Rik Emmett, Jimi Hendrix,
and Dan Toler
How would you describe your music?
I would consider my music as inspiring and energetic
What instruments do you play?
I play the guitar, drums, bass, a little keyboards, and I sing
How many CD projects have you finished and are you working on or have
any future project in the works?
We are currently working on the first CD now
How involved are you with your recording projects?
I am extremely involved, hands on, start to finish, and I want to know
how the songs sound and what is going on.
What special honors or awards have you received over the years in your
music career?
I won 2nd place in a competition at the Brooklyn Fair when I was 8,
got Talent America's best musician award, and won the silver medal on
my mom's b-day in the World Star Grand Prix.
How many performances do you average a month?
In the winter and while I'm in school, I would perform only a few times
a month, but in the summer, sometimes we perform 4-5 times.
What is your favorite venue to perform live and why?
I like to perform in Toad's Place because the room is very big for
performing and set up and Toad's Place does attract a lot of people.
How do you go about booking your shows?
My manager (my dad) books performances for me.
How do you go about publicizing your shows?
I publicize my shows by radio interviews, e-mailing, myspace website,
bulletins, etc.
What music organizations are you affiliated with?
I am affiliated with Little Kids Rock, Peavey, Daisy Rock, Schecter,
Nova Sound System
When you are writing songs how much do you pull from personal experiences?
I pull a pretty descent amount of personal experiences, but sometimes
I write songs that people can relate to.
Do you write songs pulling from headlining news or events that are around
you? If so how easy or hard is it to create songs expressing what you
feel about these topics?
I wrote a few songs about the 9/11 attack. I think it is a little between
easy and difficult to write songs, but a little more on the easy side.
What does it mean to be "Indie" to you?
I think it somewhat means to be independent. I think it means to stand
up on your own and relying only on yourself to do things right and how
you want something done and getting help when really needed.
Do you own your own record label or publishing company or plan to do
that in the future?
I do not currently own my own record label or publishing company, but
I am planning on it.
What advice can you give to someone who is just starting to market themselves
in the Indie music market?
I would give them the advice to be willing to promote yourself.
What are your main goals for 2007 and in your music career as a whole?
I would like to try to get a whole CD together with my band and try
to get as many performances as possible during the entire year.
Is there anyone you would like to thank that has helped you along in
your career or in the music industry as a whole?
I would like to thank my dad, Doug Wimbish, Longview Farm, Dave Stoltz,
Peavey, Daisy Rock, and Schecter Guitars
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