Bassist Martin Fredriksson may seem like an overnight success to most people. In an extremely short time he has risen from the “new guy in town” to sharing recording credits alongside John Mayer (yes, that same John Mayer) and being enlisted for Steve Vai’s MamaJamathon. Martin is recognized as one of the elite Bassists in LA but it was quite recently that he was living home in Sweden and dreaming of playing with globally acclaimed artist such as the aforementioned. While he seems new to the majority of the public and the music community in the US, he is happy to reveal that his journey has been a lifetime in the making. The only real way to “make it” whether it’s 1970 or 2019 is to play with other artists and prove that you have the goods. Martin’s spent time paying his dues but even these experiences vet that he has always had something special and memorable.
When you think about the home of great musicians, the first city that comes to mind may not be Nyköping in Sweden but nonetheless, this location boasts at least one in Fredriksson. While he refers to his hometown as highly supportive, it was America that would call to him with possibilities. In the short span of one year, Martin went from standing in line in Sweden to obtain an autograph from Stanley Clarke (legendary bassist known for his work with Chick Corea’s Return To Forever, George Duke, etc.) to being singled out by the famed Jazz/Fusion bassist for his exceptional playing during a performance in LA. Soon, Fredriksson found himself recording at United Recording Studios supplying bass (and percussion) for Jhene Aiko’s Trip release. Appearing on the album alongside such notable artists as (multi Grammy winner) John Mayer, Chris Brown, and Big Sean, gave the bassist an obvious boost in visibility among the upper echelon of the US music scene. Emmy-awarded producer/musician/composer Amaire Johnson contacted Martin to contribute to this album which premiered at number five on the Billboard chart.
It’s an equal part of the modern musical experience for a musician like Fredriksson to be in multiple projects as both a sideman and a band member. In The Radiorelics, Martin was a part of one of LA’s most buzzworthy bands. The group’s song “Jack Daniels” was in heavy rotation on more than one-hundred-fifteen radio stations, with eighteen weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 single sales. Part of the distinct sound of The Radiorelics is the melodic bass lines Fredriksson composed. For an outstanding musician such as Martin, part of the allure of The States is exposure. When LA band The Conscious Outlaws performed on the same bill with Mary’s Mischief (an updated iteration of The Radiorelics) the mesmerizing performance and playing of the bassist compelled them to approach him to join their ensemble. Consisting of Nathan Javier (lead guitar, vocals), Matt Doubler (guitar, lead vocals) and Dylan Diaz (Drums), The Conscious Outlaws is currently recording their freshman release. Confidence is so strong concerning the band that Larry King (of CNN fame) have agreed to appear in the band’s music video.
It would seem that success was preordained for Martin. Recording with music industry elites, performing in momentous venues, and radio play in a variety of genres doesn’t come easily. A lifetime of discipline and learning earns you a place at the table if you’re committed but doesn’t guarantee an easy time getting there. Fredriksson communicates, “Even when you have reached a very high professional level and acknowledgement as a musician, you always have to work to keep your position and constantly look for new opportunities. Sometimes you could have an overflowing amount of gigs and sometimes not many gigs at all. I’d say that the unsure future is the worst and scariest part of being a musician. This is the reality for musicians and this is something you have to accept. Until now and in the future I have the opinion that the possibility to do what I like the most is worth the efforts.”