“Nobody Home” is a collaboration that aligns the “BASSGOD” Brady Watt, with the rhythm sections of Rage Against The Machine and Metallica and two legendary musical icons in Brad Wilk & Robert Trujillo. Both Wilk (as the drummer for Rage Against The Machine, Prophets Of Rage, Audioslave & Black Sabbath) and Trujillo (bassist in Metallica) have been at the creative forefront of rock music for decades. Individually, they are held in the highest esteem and considered as trendsetters at their respective instruments of choice. “These guys brought a whole new life out of me” Brady Watt concedes.
On the heels of their recent Versus with Cypress Hill, Brady released the latest episode of his groundbreaking “Bass & Bars” series which featured Onyx and Brady delivering a rousing performance of “Slam.” Bass & Bars was also a major conduit in helping “Nobody Home” come to fruition.
“Brad (Wilk) reached out to me early on when I started the Bass & Bars series. He invited me to jam at his studio in Venice Beach, CA. We did just that and spent the day getting to know each other. Around that time I had this riff that kinda sounded like a machine gun that I wanted to make into a song. I sent it to him to record drums and that became the main part of “Nobody Home” Brady comments. “The track still needed more action, and Brad had been talking to Robert Trujillo, so we gave it a shot and sent to see if he could come up with some ideas. Robert and I spoke frequently, and within a few weeks he had laced up the track with all types of basses.”
The old adage of “life imitates art,’ oddly enough manifests with “Nobody Home,” which Brady reflects upon. “The track was done, but lyrics just came to me in some divine fashion and I laid them down “I been fighting with the devil inside of me, every time I check upstairs there’s Nobody Home.” DJ Premier always says what we write in these songs comes true and shortly afterwards I was diagnosed with Cancer, having to do surgery and months of Chemotherapy. I was a hell of a battle, but I am now done with Chemo as of last week and back to doing what I do best. The fact that these rock Gods love the track is all the validation I ever need.”
The video shoot for “Nobody Home” seemed like a movie within a movie, and it was coincidentally filmed on an old movie ranch in California. “We rented a movie ranch out in the desert of El Mirage, CA. The 66 Mustang I rented broke down in the desert. I figured it was a wrap” Brady laughs. “But Robert and his cousin showed up and within 10-minutes they had it running. Hotwired it on the spot and it started with a screw-driver for the rest of the shoot. The song is so epic, we had to shoot a video.”
We sat down with Watt to discuss what it was like working with Robert and Brad and how this song and video came to fruition.
What was it like working with Brad Wilk and Robert Trujillo for this?
Working with Brad and Robert was a rock ‘n’ roll dream come true. They brought the record to another level and beyond that gave me the confidence to throw down those vocals. If these two legends who backed up some of the best rock voices of all time thought that I was dope, then I couldn’t care what anyone else thinks. In addition to this they were incredibly supportive, solid, and creative throughout the whole process.
How was this song written?
Brad reached out to me early on when I started the Bass & Bars series. He invited me to jam at his studio in Venice Beach, CA. We did just that and spent the day getting to know each other. Around that time I had this riff that kinda sounded like a machine gun, I wanted to make it into a song. I sent it to him to record drums to that became the main part of “Nobody Home.” At that point some more action was needed. Brad had been talking to Robert Trujillo, so we figured to give it a shot and send it to him to come up with ideas for it. Robert and I talked on the phone a lot for a bit there, and within a few weeks he had laced up the track with all types of basses.
When I had the track pretty much together it still needed a melody part, which I came up with on bass. It was actually dope as-is, but these lyrics just came to me in some divine fashion and I laid them down – “I been fighting with the devil inside of me, every time I check upstairs there’s Nobody Home.” Strangely, later that year I was diagnosed with Cancer and I had to do surgery and months of Chemotherapy. Crazy like how DJ Premier always says that what we write in these songs comes true. In this case I wrote it more about the duality of mind, but it manifested in my life in a whole different way. I am now done with Chemo and I’m gettin back to rockin’ the fuck out.
How have you been feeling since completing the chemotherapy?
I’m feelin better than ever, right back at it!
You even got Trujillo to rock one of his classic Tobias basses for this. Was that his choice?
Yes, his choice. He also played Jaco’s “BASS OF DOOM” on the record for the low C notes are that tuned down. Jaco is the best bass player of all time, and that bass was his main one. It is a priceless part of music history that Robert happens to own.
The video is pretty stellar. Tell us about the creation of it.
We rented a movie ranch up in El Mirage, California. The shoot was a movie itself. The ‘66 Mustang I rented broke down during the first few scenes out in the desert. I thought it was a wrap. Right around then Robert and his cousin Teddy pulled up, took a look at the car and I’ll never forget when Robert was like, “Yeah between me and my cousin we’ll have this thing up and running in 10 minutes.” He wasn’t lying, as they hot-wired it on the spot. I started it with a screwdriver for the rest of the shoot and no problemo.
You continually collaborate on tracks with legendary artists. How do you make these amazing experiences happen?
Collaboration is essential to what I do. I persistently reach out to artists and musicians that I want to work with and if it’s meant to be, the link-up happens. It is a constant work in progress.
Can we expect a full album from the singles you’ve been releasing?
Just keep it locked here and you will see! –BM
You can now purchase, add, favorite and stream “Nobody Home” at your preferred DSP: https://ingrv.es/nobody-home-8xo-2
For More Information:
Follow Brady Watt:
https://twitter.com/Nyceonthebass
https://www.instagram.com/bradywattbass/
https://www.facebook.com/bradywattofficial
Follow Brad Wilk:
https://twitter.com/bradwilkdrummer
https://www.instagram.com/bradwilk/
Follow Robert Trujillo:
By: Jon D'Auria