Edwin Carranza – "Always learning, Always burning!"

Six years ago, a young Edwin Carranza began his journey on the path to low-end nirvana. Today he plays arenas with Mexican Rock legends Mana, tours with Miguel and is the bassist/musical director for Kenny Lattimore. He even started his own music school, Young Musicians Academy. And he is still impossibly young!

Happy to get him in one place long enough for a chat (and a photo shoot!), we recently sat down with Edwin to find out more about his beginnings, inspirations and current happenings.

How long have you been playing?

I’ve been playing bass since I was 16 years old so that would be 6 years now. Prior to that, I played keyboards and it was actually Rickey Minor that told me to play bass. He said that since there can never be too many good bass players out there; I should play bass!

Can you recall one event or moment that made you want to play the bass?

Talking with Abraham Laboriel Sr. Being Christian, and seeing him so humble, and the life he has lived and the amount of records that he’s been on is very inspiring to me. He’s sat down with me a couple times and mentored me, helped me out and just encouraged me. I’ve never felt that comfortable with another musician, so I figured I could learn how to do the same thing!

Another big event for me was attending Grammy Camp. This is a two week program where they bring in a lot of industry people and help us produce music. Rickey was one of the clinicians and he actually sponsored me and paid for me to go to Grammy Camp. So we had a direct connection right away and he has always looked out for me since.

One album you cannot put down at the moment.

I don’t know the albums by name but anything with Richard Bona on it! Because he’s singing, he’s ad-libbing with his music and it has to match his voice in one shape or form and that has been huge for me. And I have to say Ethan (Farmer)’s record! Wine & Strings - that is just the best record in the world right now to me!

Is there room for exploration within the realm of a successful act like Mana?

The guy who hired me, Jose Quintana, produced their early albums. As soon as I went in there, just having his recommendation, they knew I had that freedom because he recommended it. So, it is definitely a unique instance where I can just do whatever I like as long as it fits and doesn’t clash! And it works - they just kept giving me more and more dates!

What are the sonic requirements for this gig?

I’m very particular about my sound. I have the Tone Hammer 500 which I have to use! I’m not really going to hear what the audience hears so I just put my settings where I want it to sound and hopefully that is what everybody else is hearing! Definitely being with Aguilar has helped me develop my sound and being very specific about it.

I also have a music school, Young Musicians Academy (YMA). We average about 100-150 students every ten weeks and one of the biggest things for my bass students is helping them out with their tone because as bass players, you’re just taught to plug in the bass and play! So that is a class – to sit down and figure out what your sound is, what you like and so on.

Click here for more about Edwin