“The stage is my temple and should be treated with respect”: Mohini Dey on performing with Willow, touring with Greg Howe, and her global impact

Mohini Dey, the renowned bass guitarist from Mumbai, India, has made her mark in the global music scene with her ability to blend the rich traditions of Indian music with the vibrant dynamics of Western genres, particularly jazz fusion. At only 27 years old and with a professional career spanning nearly two decades, Mohini currently serves as the bassist for Willow Smith, having collaborated and performed with artists such as Steve Vai, Jordan Rudess, Simon Phillips, Ranjit Barot, AR Rahman, and Greg Howe.

In this exclusive interview with Bass Empire, Mohini discusses the evolution of her musical style, her approach to collaborations, and her strategies for maintaining performance excellence across varied settings.

“Growing up, bassists like Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, and Mark King were unknown to the average music student.”

“I am from India, a country very rooted in ideology and beliefs,” Mohini explains. “I would say that my main identity in music has been twofold: conforming to Indian culture and rebelling against it. I love Hindustani and Carnatic music. I have learned a lot from masters of both of these disciplines, and they have inspired me to go to the lengths that I have attempted to reach. I also love Indian fashion styles, food culture, family values, and more. My love for India is eternal. However, there are some things that India is only now embracing. Growing up, bassists like Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, and Mark King were unknown to the average music student. I have always appreciated the sound of these and many more amazing fusion jazz bass players who redefined the role of the bass in the band. India also is catching up to the West in terms of casual/stage attire for women, as well as how women are supposed to act/behave in society. I have always been a bold personality and wanted to be treated equally to men. So, yeah, I would say both who I am as a person and as a bassist is the midpoint of conforming to and rebelling against Indian culture.”

Dey’s initial foray into collaborations began with Indian composer and drummer Ranjit Barot on the project Badaboom, which she cites as a pivotal experience. “Being challenged by maestros like Ranjit Barot taught me early on that I needed to be confident and self-assured. I needed to know exactly where the time is so that the drummer or whomever else can take creative liberties around my solid time. I needed to craft a sound that emerged from the musical texture that was clear and didn’t get lost in the midst of other musical elements.”

“I trusted my ear to guide me with what my sound should be.”

Mohini Dey discussed her transformative experience working with drummer Gergo Borlai on the video Day by Dey, a project that marked her first major success on social media, influencing her digital strategy to this day. “This collaboration was extremely intimidating at first because of the tempo, but also because Gergo is a madman behind the drums. This was my first big social media success which led to my strategies that I implement with social media even today. Those initial recordings taught me a lot about how I should sound, and I made decisions for myself that no one else agreed with, but I trusted my ear to guide me with what my sound should be. That is part of the reason my sound is easily distinguishable from others.”

Through her interactions with other musicians, Mohini has not only honed her skills but also formed meaningful relationships that have enriched her both personally and professionally. “My later collaborations have been important to me musically but certainly more in a personal respect. I love the relationships that I have with my seniors in the music industry like Steve Vai, Jordan Rudess, Simon Phillips, Ranjit Barot, AR Rahman, and many more. They have shared a lot of wisdom with me that translates into the way I play bass.”

Mohini Dey recently graced the intimate stage of NPR’s Tiny Desk alongside Willow. The setting, known for its close-quartered and personal ambiance, provided both challenges and opportunities that Dey navigated with her usual expertise. Reflecting on the preparation for the concert, Mohini highlights the professionalism of the entire team involved: “Everyone from Willow, her team, and the band members themselves are absolute pros at what they do. We had adequate rehearsal time, a clear idea of what we wanted to accomplish, and great leadership from Willow herself. I would say that this team runs efficiently and I am happy to have been a part of it.”

“I believe in live energies and crafting special moments for the audiences that they won’t be able to witness ever again.”

One of the more unique aspects of the Tiny Desk concert was the freedom Mohini had to express herself through improvisation. She appreciated this rare opportunity, stating, “I was happy that I was allowed to be myself through improvisation. This is extremely rare in an age when most artists want their band to conform exactly to what was played on the record. I believe in live energies and crafting special moments for the audiences that they won’t be able to witness ever again.”

“The stage is my temple and should be treated with respect.”

Having recently performed on The Tonight Show with Willow, Mohini discussed how she adapts her performance style for different audiences and venues. “I treat every show the same. Whether I am playing for my husband at home, Jimmy Fallon, or in front of an audience of 80,000 people, I maintain that every show is important. The stage is my temple and should be treated with respect.” Her commitment to consistency and reverence for each performance space is evident, regardless of the setting or audience size.

Looking ahead to her tour with the celebrated guitarist Greg Howe, Mohini shared her enthusiasm and the musical dynamics fans can anticipate. “Wow! Yeah, I still can’t believe it. I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of amazing guitarists like Mike Stern, Guthrie Govan, Steve Vai, Bumblefoot, and more, but playing live with Greg Howe was something I never would have dreamt of. I had a CD of Greg’s album ‘Extraction.’ My CD player literally broke while replaying that record. That’s how much I listened to it. What should fans expect? Straight fire. We are going to go for it every night. The energy is going to be pushing musically for our entire set.”

“[The Mayones Commodus Classic] is like a Swiss army knife and is great for almost every gig.”.

When asked about how she selects her equipment for tours, Mohini discusses her main gear setup for live performances. “I almost always have my main red/purple Mayones Commodus Classic 5 string with Aguilar Super singles pickups and an Aguilar OBP3 preamp. It is like a Swiss army knife and is great for almost every gig,” she explains.

Further detailing her gear choices, Mohini adds, “Beyond that, I bring my second bass for specific applications. Do I need a fretless? I bring a fretless. Am I playing a tapping song or something that requires chords? I bring a 6 string. I like gear that helps me achieve a good tone without getting a boxy sound. Having MarkBass amps as a part of my rig really helps with that. I can spend 10 seconds and get my sound. On other amps, I can never find my sound. I also need a variety of pedals that help me achieve tones that are required for various pieces of music. If I’m playing a Drum and Bass song, I can’t do without my Boss OC2, Future Impact, or Source audio C4 synth. If I’m playing a rock concert where distortion is needed, I absolutely need my Alpha Omega pedal by Darkglass.”

“I like being able to call my family in India after late-night shows because they are just waking up.”

Mohini Dey described her approach to maintaining her performance level and managing her mental and physical health while on tour. “I like being able to call my family in India after late-night shows because they are just waking up. In the daytime, I have my friends and husband that I can rely on who live in the US. So I have a support system 24/7. That helps a lot with my mental health.” Mohini also spoke about the drive that fuels her continuously: “I have a lot of drive and goals in my life that keep me motivated. I like making songs, keeping my followers in the loop, and helping my clients with their music.”

Discussing the impact of her music across different cultures, Mohini observed that her global audience has been receptive to her work. “People seem to respond well to what I am doing online and in person when I travel elsewhere, but I think that any impact I have will be easier to detect later on in my life.”

To learn more about Mohini Dey and her upcoming tour dates, visit her website.