Alana Rocklin

Not too many eight-year old girls get an electric bass for their birthday, but that is exactly how electric and upright bassist Alana Rocklin started playing. “My Dad got all the kids instruments for their birthday one year. Since he wouldn’t let me play the drums, I got a bass and the rest is history!” Growing up in Los Angeles, Alana began taking electric bass lessons at her local music store, learning how to read music and play songs off the radio. She fell in love with playing electric bass immediately and it quickly became Alana’s passion until she discovered the upright bass. At the age of 10, Alana moved to Nashville, TN and began playing upright bass in the middle school orchestra, Throughout high school Alana continued to pursue her musical interests playing in the youth orchestra and studying privately, but also playing in various rock and pop bands, learning every Led Zeppelin song she could. In 1993, Alana moved to Ann Arbor, MI to study with world-renowned bassist Stuart Sankey at The University of Michigan. “U of M was an amazing and humbling experience where I learned about the discipline that it takes to pursue music as a career, but what I really discovered at school was jazz.” After hearing Art Blakey for the first time, Alana decided to pursue a B.F.A. in Jazz Studies, and was fortunate to study with Blakey and Coltrane bassist Reggie Workman for a semester. Alana would continue her private studies with Detroit native Rodney Whitaker, bassist for Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, and Kenny Garrett. Whitaker became a mentor to Alana and one of her biggest influences, studying with him for three years. While at Michigan, Alana was fortunate gain playing experience with her jazz trio Another Bag, and her own art rock group Maschina.Since moving back to Nashville in late 2001, Alana has established herself as one of the hardest grooving bass players in Music City playing everything from jazz and funk to rock, country, and bluegrass. She keeps a busy touring schedule as a member of folk legend Nanci Griffith’s band The Blue Moon Orchrestra, and also tours regularly with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin. Alana is also a regular on the session scene in Nashville working with producers Michael Omartian, Denny Jiosa, and Chis Walters to name a few. In addition to all the artists she plays for, Alana also leads her own group sub-ID with producer Brad Bowden. Since forming in 2005, sub-ID has quickly become a favorite amongst underground electronic/new music fans and musicians. Their remix of “Better Day” was the first single on STS9’s critically acclaimed remix record “Artifact: Perspectives”, appearing alongside artists such as Bill Laswell, Ming & FS, Richard Devine and Slicker just to name a few. It was their remix that attracted STS9’s 1320 Records and led to sub-ID being the first artists to sign with the bands label. Since signing with 1320, sub-ID joined STS9 on their fall 2006 national tour playing to thousands across the country. The tour included 22 cities in all the major markets and venues throughout the Midwest, East Coast, and South, including a sold out crowd at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In addition, sub-ID has shared bills with Jurassic 5, Prefuse 73, Tortoise, Digable Planets, RJD2, Richard Devine, Telefon Tel Aviv, Edit and more. sub-ID's sound design and production skills can be found in music software, commercials, albums and original commissioned works globally. The group recently concluded a smash-hit 2007 fall tour sharing dates with the Pnuma Trio and STS9. This included sold out dates throughout this beautiful country in the midwest, south, and east coast. 2008 will see a slew of original, productions, remixes, collaborations, ep-s, videos, and conceptual products!!!Recent artists Alana has played/recorded with include: Suzy Bogguss, Nanci Griffith, Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones), STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9), Count Bass D, Steve Smith (Vital Information), Greg Osby (Jack DeJohnette/Herbie Hancock), Kirk Whalum, Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones), Roy “Futureman” Wooten (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, (Joseph Wooten (Steve Miller Band), Reggie Wooten, Johnny Neel (Allman Brothers), Chester Thompson (Phil Collins/Frank Zappa), Audley Freed (Black Crowes), Rufus Reid, The Nashville Jazz Orchestra, American Big Band, The Establishment Big Band, Beegie Adair, Derico Watson (Victor Wooten Band), Lou Marini, (Blues Brothers/Zappa), Hunter Brown (STS9), Denny Jiosa, Mark Douthit (Larry Carlton), Nemesis, Ian Wallace (King Crimson), Pat Bergeson (Lyle Lovett), 2002 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Bass Clinic w/Oteil Burbridge (Allman Bros.), JACKD, sub-ID, and many many others.