Interview with Yatim Halimi - Bassist Extraordinaire

Here's an interview that I conducted with Yatim Halimi, a Singaporean musician currently residing in Swansea, Wales. This interview was conducted backstage at the Music Hall in Barcelona before Yatim's concert with the Steve Rothery Band in November, 2014. Yatim was active in the Singapore music scene in the 1980's and 90's and played in top Singapore bands like Energy, Streetsmart and Lovehunters. He is currently playing with Steve Rothery (Marillion guitarist) in the Steve Rothery Band and Panic Room. (Interview by Reynold Pereira)

1. How and when did you start playing music?
I started at a very young age of 6 years old. My grandfather had a family band playing traditional keronchong music and would go out every weekend to play at weddings and functions and I would come along as my mom was the main singer in the band and my dad was the flutist. I would be given a maracas or a bongo to play along with the music. 

When I was in primary school, I joined the school brass band and learnt to play the clarinet and saxophone but deep down inside me I always wanted to be a drummer so whenever there was an opportunity during breaks at the rehearsals I would jump on the drum kit and start playing it, even at home I would do air drumming while listening to whatever music my parents were listening to at that time. All my uncles’ were full time musicians when I was growing up so I was always surrounded by music.

Yatim (extreme right) with Streetsmart in 1985

2. Why did you decide to pick up the bass guitar?
It was purely by accident. I was playing drums for a dance band when I was 17 years old and we had an offer for a 6 month contract to play at a ‘sailor’ bar along Keppel Road and I was so excited about the prospect of playing drums full time and getting paid before I started my national service. 

Two weeks before the contract started, the bass player had to pull out for personal reasons. So, we had a band meeting and we were desperate to honour the contract and couldn’t find a bass player so the singer suggested that he will play the drums and sing and that I would have to learn to play the bass and sing as well. 

I had never played a bass guitar all my life but because I wanted to do this so badly, I was willing to do anything just to be part of the band  

We borrowed a bass guitar and the guitarist showed me how to tune the bass and that was it. So what I did for the next 14 days was to listen and memorise the notes being played on the songs, find the notes on the bass and remember it as I didn’t know the notes on the bass, just the positions of which frets I should be playing. 

It was only when I was doing my national service that I started to understand what the bass was all about and where the notes were on the fretboard.

Yatim (left) with Lovehunters in 1995

3. Was there someone who inspired you to play music?
My parents and my uncles. My uncles travelled  to Europe and Asia playing music in the 70’s. I always wanted to travel around the world and this was the best way to do it, getting paid to see the world.

4. Can you remember the first concert that you did?
Yes, it was with StreetSmart at the Padang in 1986. I think it was a National Day Concert?

5. What made you decide to go into music full-time?
Because I love playing and performing and the opportunity to see the world through music is just a blessing.

Yatim (top right) with the founding members of Energy in 1990

6. Can you tell us about the bands you played with?
In Singapore 1986 – 1996
•    StreetSmart with Babes Conde as my mentor
•    Tokyo Square – short stint
•    Energy (original bass player) with Douglas O
•    Lovehunters with Ramli Sarip   
   
In the UK 1997 – Present
•    Worst Case Scenario
•    Buttonsville
•    Panic Room
•    Steve Rothery Band       

7. Why did you decide to leave Singapore?
I wanted to do more in music. I got a bit tired of playing the same music/covers in the last ten years of my career in Singapore and my wife and I also decided that we wanted our children to be brought up in the UK so in Jan 1997 we left Singapore and have no regrets ever since.

8. Did you continue playing music when you moved to the UK?
Yes, I did. When I first got here 1997 I wanted to base myself in London as there would be a lot of session work for me but my wife didn’t like being in London so we came back to Swansea where my wife is originally from. I started working at a music shop in Swansea called Picton Music. One day I was playing the basses in the shop and got noticed by a Moroccan artiste, Hassan Erraji who was looking for a bass player for his tour and the rest is history.

 Yatim (extreme right) with Panic Room in 2014

9. Was it difficult playing music there?
I have been very lucky since I have been in the UK. Once I had established myself as a bass player, I got lots of enquiries about my availability. Sometimes I have to turn them down due to commitments with other bands. 


10. How different is it playing music in the UK as compared to playing music in Singapore?
Most cover bands here in the UK plays only on 3 to 4 times a week and playing at different venues every time. Most venues don’t provide PA or musical equipment so all bands need to have their own equipment and PA system and will have to set it up themselves whereas in Singapore I think musicians are spoilt as all they need to do is to bring their guitars/ drumsticks and just play. I have learnt a lot about the logistics, setting up, communications and everything that is required to make a successful show.

11. How does it feel like playing with a well renowned musician like Steve Rothery?
I feel humbled, honoured and proud. I remember when Misplaced Childhood (Marillion) was released in 1985, I had Kayleigh playing on my Sony walkman over and over, and I always had this dream of playing with Marillion and 29 years later, here I am, working with Steve Rothery; the man himself!

 Yatim (right) with Marillion guitarist, Steve Rothery during a Steve Rothery Band concert in 2014

12. For the benefit of bass lovers here, what gear do you currently use?
Currently I am using a Trace Elliot Rig – SMX250 amphead + 2x10+ 1x15 and a TC Electronic Rig – RH750.BH250 ampheads +2xRS210 for my amplification. It is a necessity for me having 2 rigs, For example, from September to November, I will be spending a lot of time in Europe with both Panic Room and the Steve Rothery Band.

While I will be in Holland, France and Belgium with Panic Room during the last week of September this year, I will be using my Trace Elliot rig and the TC Electronic rig. It will be loaded onto the Steve Rothery Band tour bus and shipped to Sweden ready for me to use in October.

I do also use a microamp BH250 when I do gigs requiring travelling by plane as it is compact and I can just carry it with me on the plane.

Steve Rothery Band concert in Bulgaria in 2014

As for pedals – I use various pedals and pedal boards depending on the gig. For example, I have got a different pedal board setup for Panic Room and the Steve Rothery Band. The following are the pedals that I use.

•    TC Electronic
•    Analogman Chorus
•    EWS pedals
•    Xotic pedals
•    Origin Effects Cali76 compressor
•    BBE Sonic MAximiser
•    Drawmer Compressor
•    Tri-logic preamp
•    Zoom pedals
•    Gigrig Quartermaster 8
•    Gigrig Loopy 2
•    Gigrig Generator

13. What are the things that you miss about Singapore?
My parents, family and friends

 Yatim during a recording session in 2014

14. Would you consider returning to Singapore?
No, I don’t think so. My family is here now. My children are happy here in the UK and they can decide if they want to live in Singapore when they are older. As for me I will go back to Singapore for visits but Swansea is my home now.

Posing with Yatim (right) and Steve Rothery (centre) before their concert in Barcelona in November, 2014