Interview with Curly Hendo: The talented bassist redefining women’s impact in music

Emma Henderson, known to fans as Curly Hendo, has been on a musical path since the age of eight. It is a pleasure to talk with this young woman about her passion for dance, dedication to her work as a bassist, and the vibrant career she’s carved in the music industry. We talk about her influences, challenges, and advice for women musicians in this interview. Please join us!

Disclosure: This sponsored interview features the inspiring story of Curly Hendo, a talented international session bassist with achievements around the globe.

Interview with Curly Hendo

Music has always been a part of Curly Hendo’s life. I begin the interview by asking her about the role of music early on in her life, before talking more about her amazing career today. She is originally from Sydney, Australia.

Can you share a bit about your childhood and how music helped shape it?

I started playing bass guitar when I was eight years old at school. We were asked to select an instrument and I wanted to play a contemporary string instrument, and chose the electric bass. At the time, I was the only girl in that year that played bass. l found through bass a passion for live music performance and became a regular in school music ensembles, concert bands, jazz bands and rock bands.

I learnt the skills of not only how to play my instrument, but how to play in a band setting which expanded my appreciation of creating music and of being part of a team. With encouragement from my music teachers and my parents, I found these formative years’ experiences such a blessing. I took every opportunity I could to perform when I was younger and now look back and am really thankful for that.

Similarly with my love of music, I was heavily involved in dance from the age of 3 to 16 years being trained in numerous styles including tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet in which I competed at a state level. It was obvious to those close to me that music, whether expressed through playing my bass or in various styles of dance, was a core part of who I am.

Learning to manage my extracurricular activities between music, dance and school taught me time management from a young age. I now reflect that the development of those skills provided a solid foundation from which my music career flourished into running an entertainment business, whilst working internationally in different countries and time zones.

How has your early training in dance helped you in your music career?

Being trained in dance from a young age taught me how to move, express, and interpret various genres of music. I found it provided an immersive experience that allowed a strong connection with rhythm, beat, fashion, and expression. Importantly it taught me that whether being part of a dance group or as a soloist, how to perform and engage audiences.

I found these learnings were a natural complement to my technical mastery of playing bass and encouraged me to embrace movement and performance as part of my bass playing style. I believe this symmetry creates stronger connection with audiences, as they can see and feel your expression through your movement of the music you are playing. I believe the skills and experiences I had in dance provided a high awareness of how to ensure myself, bands I play with or those I manage, deliver memorable performances.

Where might we have seen you on TV?

I have performed numerous times on various shows on the BBC which are shown globally, in Japan in commercials, and also on Australian television. Most recently I was on BBC Michael McIntyre’s Big Show performing with Zara Larsson for the release of her new song You Love Who You Love.

I also performed on BBC’s Late Night with Jools Holland with Jessie Ware, which was a lot of fun! Last year I appeared on ITV and Capital Radio in the UK performing with RAYE at the Capital Summerland Ball at Wembley in front of 90,000 people.

In Australia I performed on television from a young age with being in the rebooted Young Talent Time at 12 years old and until recently last year performing with the semi-finalists on The Voice Australia.

You have amazing stage presence! Any tips for other performers on how to improve that?

I love performing on stage! I believe if you display your passion authentically providing positive vibes, your stage presence connects naturally with the audience who are there to have a great time and be entertained. My stage presence is also reflective of my embrace of the expressive art within both dance and playing live music.

I found this combination of expressive art evolved my appreciation for professional technical skills, dress style, and natural disposition in performing in front of live audiences. I believe it is important as a musician to work hard on your technical mastery of both your instrument and the material you are performing so with that locked into your muscle memory, you have space to use your adrenaline to perform.

If you are fully prepared with the music, you can expand your performance being your style, your movement, your interaction with other musicians and with the crowd. Entertainment is about how the audience feels and the connective energy you mutually create and share.

Whilst regular live music performance is obviously the best forum to develop your performance style, I would also encourage learning how to move and practicing at home in front of a mirror or video camera as the most practical way to practice effective movement and expressions that synergise with your playing.

In addition to live performances, you also do ambassador work. Can you please tell us more about that?

I am currently an ambassador for RSL Awards (Rockschool) which is a leading international Awarding Organization, creating qualifications in Music, Performing Arts and Creative Industries subjects. Operating in over 50 countries around the world, RSL organizes, assesses and certifies over 100,000 candidates annually.

I grew up learning the Rockschool Syllabus, so through my Ambassadorship role I really enjoy meeting and encouraging young or new musicians in their journeys with music. Through sharing some of my personal experiences and insights, I also highlight the importance of learning through study and collaborations so as to elevate your ability and the range of opportunities you can explore.

I have spoken at numerous schools’ assemblies and events and in 2019 I was interviewed at BBC Introducing where I shared my experiences, and encouraged others to have the confidence to explore their love of music and performance.

Who inspires you musically as a bassist?

I grew up listening to iconic bass players including Marcus Miller, James Jamerson and Victor Wooten. They all are incredible legendary bass players who have inspired me through their individual artistic innovation and mastery of the bass.

They are also very generous with sharing insights to their talent and their own personal navigation of the music industry. I was lucky enough to get to do master classes with Victor Wooten at Berklee College of Music in 2018 and also a couple of years later meeting Marcus Miller at a Music Industry event.

Can you please share a challenge you’ve had as an independent artist and how you coped?

I found one initial key challenge is that in order to thrive as a professional musician you need to master the reality that you are running your own business. This involves you dedicating a lot of time to activities which are not directly involved with playing or performing music.

Marketing, networking, developing new skills, styling, media, managing travel, and identifying and securing opportunities are just some of the activities that you must continuously undertake so as to do what you love. In this regard, I believe it’s important to have a positive business mindset to all of these activities, which ultimately supports your passion for music by enabling achievement of your goals.

What advice would you give to another woman looking to succeed as a musician?

I believe to succeed in music as a career it is important to be clear on setting your goals and then strategically defining the key actions that will deliver them. The foundation will have a passion to continuously develop your musical talent centered around your playing and performance skills. 

I also have found collaborating with other musicians and mentors very beneficial in accelerating learning about the music industry and refining my understanding of how to reach goals. Mentors who have navigated the highs and lows and have ultimately been successful are not only inspirational, but provide rich insights into how to effectively focus your efforts in areas that are rewarding for your career.

With music, as you are your business, a core strength will be having a comfortable understanding of your artist personae, the person you are when you are performing whether it be at a stadium, on TV, or in a studio.

It is important to embrace, evolve, and market not only your musical talent but also your own style, your image, your skill, and your ability to connect with audiences and other musicians. 

This requires a mix of emotional awareness and perceptiveness of how you are perceived as an entertainer. Music, like any art, is a dynamic and emotional relationship with audiences and others in the industry.

Your work spans several genres, with so many collaborations! What inspires you to keep exploring new sounds?

New challenges, new growth opportunities, listening to how other musicians I look up to approach they’re instrument. Seeing a lot of live music can be inspiring, witnessing the creation of music.

A love of music and how it sounds and its sensory impact on ourselves and others. The innovation and exploration by icons in the industry continues to inspire me.

You also book artists’ shows through your entertainment business, which is awesome. What motivated you to start this venture?

Seeing other musicians around me grow, achieve goals they wanted to achieve, making a living from doing something they love. I always like to pass on anything I learn in my career to others, everyone is in their own lane so if I can help others I always will.

Connect with Curly Hendo on socials and watch her perform

Stay up to date on Curly’s performances, watch videos of her on stage, and find out about her other projects and what’s coming up by finding her on social media. She’s got a big presence on on Instagram at @curlyhendo.

You can also watch her perform on YouTube and find out more about her career by Liking Curly Hendo’s Facebook page.

Thank you for being here, Curly/Emma! Your bass guitar skills are undeniable, and I look forward to watching you perform at stages around the world. Your versatile talent wows, as does your work as an entrepreneur and ambassador.

How has music played a role in shaping your life or career? How has Curly Hendo’s story inspired you to think differently about balancing multiple creative goals?