April Kae (of IMANIGOLD) is not only an artist but also very active in causes that she’s passionate about. Recently, we got to ask April a few questions, to discuss her musical journey as a bass player as well as her first instrument, favorite album and plans for touring.

(Photo above by Tommy Rizzoli.)

1. Tell us about your current musical projects.

I’m all about community and growing my social media footprint has opened the door to so many new friends. So, right now I’m all about collaborations! Of course, I’ve loved working with Seymour Duncan and others learning and sharing about music gear–that’s a lot of fun and makes my playing more interesting and dynamic. I’m also doing my thing on several collaboration projects with phenomenal musicians; working on a few bass and vocal features with producers and vocalists and the studio, some social media bass cover collabs, and lots of rehearsals for live shows with New York City and Los Angeles based artists. My band IMANIGOLD is in the midst of releasing our EP single by single and recently dropped the second one, called “Continental Drift.”

2. What was your first musical instrument?

Does a rented double bass count? A classical guitar my aunt had when I was a kid? For the first two years I was playing bass in middle school I was on that public school instrument hustle, and then when I was about 14 my wonderful grandmother Joan who is the most supportive person ever bought me a bass guitar, and the rest was history. I was mostly playing it in jazz band, and this is the bass I picked. I’ve still never owned a double bass and I’m seriously considering purchasing one.

3. Tacos or burritos?

Tacos! (And queso!) I’m a Texas girl so I’m basically 30% taco. I grew up on taco trucks and Torcy’s (if you know, you know).

4. What’s your favorite restaurant in your hometown?

I grew up in Austin, Texas and my favorite spot there is the famous breakfast taco spot Juan in a Million. Juan is maybe the nicest man on earth, and the breakfast tacos are incredibly delicious. (I recreate them at my New York apartment with my sister Nikki several times a year.) Now I live in Harlem, and my favorite spot here is tied for a dinner cafe owned by two sisters called The Edge and a French/Senegalize place called Ponty Bistro, may as well also add on Teranga another amazing Senegalize place, and then there is also this Ethiopian place called Abyssinia, and of course there’s Harlem Shake. Okay, I live in Harlem, you can’t make me choose! I guess if I had to pick one it would be The Edge, but they’re all number one.

5. What music advice do you wish you could give yourself at 15?

One of the most challenging and fun things as a musician about going viral is that it pushed my career forward very quickly, opening lots of doors for me and opportunities to play with incredible musicians. So, I’m constantly practicing for the next big project, in addition to my own music and making videos for social media. As much as I wish “self-expression” was always the name of the game, I’m particularly focusing on my technique: playing scales all up and down the neck, keeping tempo, and working on my slap tone. It’s so rewarding because I can see how it improves my playing right away. I love it. I would have told my 15 year old self to make time for exercises and see them as more than “warm ups.” I would point out how scales and repetitive slap exercises make everything more awesome.

April on the cover of a special edition of Guitar Girl Magazine (July 2021).

6. What’s next for you in your musical journey?

I’m really thrilled about collaborations now and I see that process pretty seamlessly transitioning into a solo album. My sister and I are also in the process of writing new songs for IMANIGOLD. I’m in no rush for those projects, however. I just want to make great music with great musicians and I’m doing that now, and I love it.

7. What Seymour Duncan product is your favorite and why?

I really love my Powerstage 200. I like to crank up the mids and treble and bring down the bass to get a really bright tone that pops but sits nicely with most songs. I’ll also run a distortion pedal with it and really bring out the lows. The Powerstage is so light and easy to carry around to rehearsals, sessions, and around my apartment to make content. There is so much versatility and I’m able to get a ton of different sounds without anything sounding unnatural or overdone.

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A post shared by APRIL KAE 🦋 (@aprilkae.nyc)

 

8. Favorite album at the moment?

Lil Nas X – MONTERO is one of the most incredible albums ever. He gives us Kurt Cobain, he gives us indie rock, he gives us pop girlies and trap beats and tear-jerking ballads and Tupac-level rhymes and it’s so heartfelt and a young man’s genuine story. We’re lucky to be alive in the time of this album. It’s a good indication that the world is going in a positive direction.

9. Any plans to tour?

My band IMANIGOLD is stoked to get back to playing shows in New York in 2021 and some festivals throughout the year. But what I’m really excited about is joining other artists to tour on bass. What is making me most happy right now is jamming with other musicians on the bass, live, in the studio, and remotely. I love contributing to others’ visions. The next year or so is a great time for me to do this on a few tours. I’m excited.

10. You’ve been playing music since you were a kid – What are some of the greatest successes you’ve faced on your musical journey? What have been some of your toughest challenges?

I’ll find myself smiling thinking about the brilliant, talented, loving people I have in my life. My biggest success is all of the people who are rooting for me and who give me the chance to support them. It’s been surreal and amazing to have massive musicians and stars shout me out and share my bass playing (humble brag) but I have to be completely honest: it’s the young girls and kids and queers who message me saying I inspired them to live more genuinely that move me.

Being on the cover of Bass Player was incredible. It’s all about how the future of bass is online, and profiles four bassists blazing that path (myself included!)–the editor Joel McIver is such a brilliant storyteller, and the entire four-cover collection is something I am forever proud to be part of.

It’s so affirming to have created a life with my music that allows me time to spend hours and hours playing scales. I’m so proud of this.

April Kae’s cover for Bass Player.

11. You’re crushing it on Tik Tok with your bass covers! What are your thoughts on TikTok’s influence on the music industry?

I am always excited for more ways to connect music with people who love it. And I’m never going to say no to a chance to approach my work with a new set of materials, and TikTok is particularly good for it as it’s constantly updating, and there are tons of features and new friends to be made.

At the same time, it’s been well documented that certain perspectives and people of certain backgrounds are more likely to reach more people on TikTok. As with most technology, the ecosystem reproduces both the good and bad in society. (For the record, I count myself as one of the more fortunate ones on the platform when it comes to who does well, I’m relatively young and look similar to a good number of pop stars and celebs these days.) Sometimes it seems like social media magnifies these things, but perhaps it’s just showing us ourselves. So, there are some extraordinary benefits of TikTok–and we must think about ways to make its benefits accessible. ♚

Don’t forget to follow April on Instagram and TikTok!

For more interviews with April Kae, check out these recent interviews she’s done for Nylon, and Bass Player Magazine.

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