Hear What I Hear is on a mission to find and share some of the best music and artists the world has to offer. And as we begin our quest, our first stop is in the South American country of Brazil, where we find bass guitarist Diego Pynherio. Now you may be wondering how and why Brazil. Well, that story is a treasure hunt within itself. Our resident photographer and contributing editor, Marlos McDuffie, stumbled across Diego while listening to bass covers of some of the gospel songs he often grooves to, stating,“…This cat on bass is an undiscovered gem! Folks really need to HEAR him, and he loves the Lord!” So, after journeying into the world of his YouTube videos, I too was captivated by his sound and decided to reach out to Diego to learn more about the man behind the bass. Check him out!
HWIH: Diego, where are you from originally?
DP: I’m from Rio Claro – a city in São Paulo, Brazil.
HWIH: Tell us about your family. Large or small?
DP: My family is HUGE! There are nearly 40 people, including parents, brother, cousins, uncles, etc.
HWIH: Are there other musicians in your family?
DP: Yes there are others musicians in my family, but not many who do so professionally.
HWIH: Tell us about the sound, the music of Sao Paulo.
DP: In Brazil, the most popular style of music is SERTANEJO (FUNK) or PAGODE. Our Christian music also features a variety of styles that draw from the influences of soul, jazz, pop, rock, etc.
HWIH: How long have you been playing the bass guitar?
DP: I’ve been playing the bass for about 11 years.
HWIH: What draws you to the bass?
DP: I love the bass’ ability to complete a band’s sound. In fact, I feel complete when I play my bass.
HWIH: How did you learn to play?
DP: I taught myself how to play the bass.
HWIH: We admire so many of the legendary bassists that have and continue making their impact on the music world. Who are some of your favorites?
DP: Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius are legends, geniuses that I admire. However, my favorites are Victor and Marcus.
HWIH: How have these artists influenced you? Are there others?
DP: All of these artists have influenced me in some way or another, but I really try to maintain and improve my own musical identity. There are also a few others that influence my sound: Reed Sharay a Christian musician and bassist; Richard Bona, Hadrien Feraud, Abraham Laboriel, Fernando Rosa and Thiago Espirito Santo.
HWIH: Do you play other instruments?
DP: Yes! I play the keyboard, guitar and drums.
HWIH: You mentioned that your wife is huge supporter of your work. Tell us more.
DP: My wife, Leane Pynheiro helps me tremendously. She keeps me lifted in prayer and even helps me with some of my musical productions and sings from time to time.
HWIH: Do you consider playing the bass your ministry?
DP: My music is absolutely my ministry. I believe Jesus gifted me with this talent. Playing my instruments is my way of giving back to Him.
HWIH: Which brand of guitar do you prefer?
DP: I prefer Fenders. From the beginning I gravitated towards them and still play with Fenders to this day.
HWIH: Do you prefer using a 4, 5 or 6 string bass?
DP: Well, for me, this largely depends on the type of composition I’m creating. But I most often find myself playing a 4-string.
HWIH: When we discovered your videos on YouTube, you were covering a Marvin Sapp tune. How did you discover him?
DP: A friend of mine introduced me to Pastor Sapp’s music. And from there, I watched numerous videos and listened to much of his material via the internet. His songs and lyrics inspire me musically and spiritually.
HWIH: Who else do you listen to?
DP: I listen to Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Byron Cage, George Duke, Brian Culbertson, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Priscilla France, Carlos Maciel and many others!
HWIH: If you could pick, tell us who you’d like to play with some day.
DP: It would be a dream come true for me to have the privilege of one day playing with Marvin Sapp, Brian Culbertson, Paul Jackson Jr., Jamal Hartwell, Byron Cage, and/or Chris Coleman!
HWIH: Who are some of the artists you’re currently following?
DP: Lalah Hathaway and Snarky Puppy!
HWIH: Are you currently working on an album?
DP: Yes! I’ve just started working on a project with Kasia Nejman, an artist out of Poland. The album should be ready SOON!
Well, there you have it! This has certainly been a reminder that REAL MUSIC can be found everywhere! Diego has certainly captured our ears and we hope that you’ll keep up with him as he makes his imprint on the world! Here’s a few links to some of his recent postings and be sure follow him on YouTube.
Until Our Next Installment of Musical Globetrottin’…
-TL
1 Comment
Diego Pynheiro,é uma bênção e muito bom no baixo