Desiree’ Bassett was born on September 11, 1992 in New Haven, CT, the daughter of Daniel and Myrna. Inspired by the voice of Reba McEntire, and encouraged by her parents, she started singing whole songs at the age of two. By the age of 3 she had picked up a half size guitar and started to play. At five, she out grew her mini guitar, and instead, started playing her dad’s full sized guitar. Inspired and taught by her father who plays guitar, Desiree’ realized that she had a desire to learn herself. She began taking lessons, and her skills improved rapidly . At age eight, she played her first competition at the local fair grounds playing Joe Satriani tunes and the star spangled banner and came in second place.
By the time Desiree’ was 9 years old, her father realized she needed formal lessons. It was at this time that she started taking lessons in the University of Connecticut music program. From there, she began to learn all she could about guitar. She discovered that she could both tune and play by ear. In addition to study, Desiree’ was listening to blues and rock music from the 50’s through the 90’s, being influenced by artists such as Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Rick Emmett, Jimi Hendrix, Reba McEntire, and The Allman Brothers.
The summer of 2005, at the age of 12 was major for Desiree’. It started with being voted Talent America’s Musician of the Year in New York City. She was then invited to play on the side stage at Ozzfest in Hartford, CT. At the Ozzfest performance she met Rob Zombie, the Playstation sponsors, The Haunted, and As I Lay Dying. After these successes, Desiree started playing at open mics around Connecticut with some of the local blues greats and national players, gaining recognition among them. It was at an open mic in Hartford, that Connecticut and world known bassist Doug Wimbish discovered Desiree. Doug invited her to play in his annual Wim-Bash taking place the following night. From there, Desiree met and played with some members of the Allman Brothers Band, Kal David Band, Living Colour, Dickey Betts Band, Johnny Vibrato, Pete Scheips Band, XY Eli Band, and several others. She was now playing shows in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont.
Desiree’s first recording happened in August 2005 at Pat Keegan Studios in Wallingford, CT. She cut five tracks where she was featured on all instruments. This first effort was a great success as she personally designed the artwork and pressed up and sold several hundred copies of the CD.
On her thirteenth birthday, Desiree played two important gigs in her young career. The first was an outdoor event at the Meriden Motorcycle Club, where she was seen by several hundred people and stole the show from the headliner. She then played at an outdoor party in her hometown of Ashford, CT, where she was the featured artist. Desiree played for some of the best musicians in the area, some of whom offered their services as band members. This group is made up bassist David Stoltz, a former member of the Dickey Betts band and Rob Gottfried, who is nationally recognized. In November, Desiree prepared and presented herself for a showcase at the Hungry Tiger in Manchester, CT. This was a great success because she played for a packed house and came out as a vocalist and band leader. This show also helped her build a local following and established her as a force to be reckoned with on the music scene.
In December 2005 she entered the Olympics of Entertainment in N.Y.C. where she was selected as one of 16 finalists out of several hundred. On Dec.18, 05 , her mothers birthday and with a bad cold and also after tooth extraction, she performed and placed second winning the Silver Medal; being beaten out of first by NBC’s Star Search winner.
The days and weeks ahead proved to be very successful for Desiree, She played gigs in Hartford CT, with Kal David, Andy Aledort, and legendary rockers Living Colour before several hundred screaming fans who couldn’t believe their eyes and ears. After this she was invited to play at the music industries annual NAMM show in California, where she wins the attention of many famous musicians and picked up her very first endorsement from Peavey. Getting this endorsement directly from Mr. and Mrs. Peavey.
After returning from the NAMM show, Desiree was immediately offered a production agreement from Nova Sound Studios run by Doug Wimbish and Andre Betts, one of Madonna’s producers which she accepted. Desiree adapted to studio work very well and wrote several of her own songs and some with Doug, making several trips to New Jersey to record. She has also formed her own band, a power trio which she leads called Desiree & The Time Machine, which is managed, booked and promoted by her father. She has played dozens of gigs, corporate events and private parties and re-invested her earnings into a P.A. system, professional stage system, wireless guitar units, and personal savings. She is very involved in the business end of things.
Desiree has also been picked up as an artist in development by Long View Farm Studios recording studios in North Brookfield, Massachusettes, a world renown recording and production facility. Recently endorsed by Daisy Rock and Schecter Guitar Research. She has made television appearances and done several radio interviews. Desiree is also a hot topic of discussion on the web, with her MySpace page, she has attracted attention world wide with fans on every continent and a French fan site. Her videos have been viewed by thousands on YouTube.com and AOL uncut videos. She is mentioned on several web pages by famous and non famous folks.
At the NAMM show 2007, she again performed and made several contacts. Desiree was also dubbed the future of rock n’ roll and a wonder kind of kid before 2000 people. During the NAMM show power breakfast her face appeared on huge television screens on either side of the stage and before a panel of the seven most influencal women in the music business today.
Desiree is a true artist, who’s musical abilities are parallel by her technical abilities and video making skills. When she is not writing songs or rocking out on stage, she is an honor student high school where she does a great job of being a normal teenage girl. Desiree loves to play on the farm where she lives in rural New England with her sister Jessica, who is also her back up singer and her brother Justin.
The music never stops for her. She enjoys teaching guitar on Sundays to local kids, takes vocal lessons during the week, private guitar lessons with a former Dickey Betts Band member and plays out live when ever she can . Desiree loves doing what she does; performing and entertaining. She has a very strong desire to share her gift with the world.
On September 13, 2008 at the Capitol Theater in Willimantic CT, Desiree and The Time Machine released the first CD “Power and Force”. This CD Release Concert was a great success and it happend only two days after her 16th birthday.
Equipment Used
- Marshall Stack, JVM-410 Head, 1960BX 4/12 Bottom
- Vox Amplifiers
- Peavey Amplifier Valve King Combo
- Mackie PA System
- Senheiser and Shure Microphones
- Senheiser Wirless Guitar Unit
- Fender Guitars: Telecaster, 50th anniversary Stratocaster, and Fender Acoustic
- Ibanez Guitars: Roadstar 2 and RG Series
- Schecter Guitars: C1+ and Blue Exotic Star
- Peavey Guitar: Flying V Vortex
- Taylor Guitars: 12 String 6-14 & 6 string 9-14
- Pearl Drums
- Trace Elliot Bass Cabinets
- Status Bass
- Pedals: Boss Effect Pedals; Distortion Pedal, Loop Station, Chromatic Tuner, Delay Pedal, Ibanez Tubescreamer, Dunlop Zak Wylde Wah Wah Pedals, Dunlop Zak Wylde Overdrive Pedal, Dunlop Eddie Van Halen Model Phaser
- Calzone Road Cases
- Acoustics: Taylor, Ovation and Fender.
- Yamaha Keyboards
- Lexicon Effect Processor
- Fostex 8 Track Recorder and Pro Tracks
- D’Addario Strings
"You say you want a revolution.
