Welcome to Martin Motnik's
World of Low Frequencies


… and thank you for visiting! On this site I would like to introduce myself and my work, talk about bass playing, the different projects I'm involved in, and some other aspects of my life in general.

BREAKING NEWS: NEW ALBUM – "DREAM CHASER"



The most recent exciting news first: I decided to use the time during the pandemic productively and have recorded a new solo album. Following the tradition of "Bass Invader" I played everything on bass guitars, on top of world-class drum tracks. I was fortunate to win Gregg Bissonette to play again, alongside of Christopher Williams, Joe Babiak, and Walfredo Reyes Jr. Each song was also supposed to have a guest musician, like I had Mattias IA Eklundh on two songs. This time I went all in and got an amazing guest musician on every song. The result is an amazing collaboration of musical superstars on 10 bass-heavy songs.

  

With the help of some amazing friends I was able to secure funding for CDs and vinyl records. The digital album was released on my birthday November 10th, 2021 and is available on all major streaming services. The biggest ones can be reached through this link on Hearnow. Thank you all for your support!

I'll also be offering some "problems solvers" which are solutions for little obstacles I've discovered over the years. For isntance, sometime I'd like to switch to a pick (plectrum), especially when I play with only one guitar player and I'd liek to play chords to thicken things up during the guitar solo. I've developed my own solution with picks that are attached on a strip of Velcro tape inside the inner side of the upper horn.


You can now order "Martin Motnik's Kwik Picks" on the Shop page.

I would also like to express how proud and happy I am for being able to support myself and my family with the thing I like doing the most: producing low frequencies! Over the years I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing musicians (some of them you will know), whether it was live on stage, in the studio, or during clinics and workshops.

So Thank You to everyone who enables me to keep having this profession! To give you a little taste of my work, here are some demo videos of what I've done in the past:


  

For more videos click here to get to my YouTube channel. Also, please keep in touch via my social network channels and follow me for live dates and up-to-date information:

Martin's Facebook page Martin's Twitter page Martin's Instagram page Martin's YouTube page Martin's LinkedIn page

 

About


Martin Motnik is a German-born studio and session bass guitarist, known for being a versatile electric, acoustic, and upright bass player, a pioneer in online music recording, and for touring and performing with Uli Jon Roth (The Scorpions) and German Sony-artist Eisbrecher.

He gained notoriety as a solo performer with his CD “Bass Invader” featuring Gregg Bissonette, and his works as a freelance bass player and studio musician through his website www.studiobassist.com. Since 2019 Martin is also a full-time member of German Heavy Metal Pioneers ACCEPT.

Born and raised in Germany, Martin picked up his first acoustic guitar by the age of 8, but discovered and fell in love with the bass guitar by age 13. After performing locally with his first original bands, Martin's international debut was as bassist and background singer of the band "The Winners", who topped the charts with the song "Go for Gold", the tile song for the German Olympic Team at the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul.

Being active in numerous local bands, Martin then enjoyed nationwide success with his original band What4 when Germany's biggest private TV station ProSieben picked up one of Martin's original compositions, "All Behind", for one of their trailers. The band subsequently shared the stage with national acts such as No Angels and DJ Ötzi at festivals in front of approx. 30,000 people. Around that time Martin started receiving phone calls from other bands and artists, asking him to play bass on their recordings or be a live session player.

In 2005 Martin released a CD together with internationally acclaimed session drummer Gregg Bissonette. The CD "Bass Invader" received praising reviews from magazines in different parts of the world. Martin also toured Europe extensively with the bands Darkseed, Eisbrecher, and The Roxx, supporting singer Graham Bonnet.

In 2008 Martin relocated from Munich, Germany to Los Angeles, CA. Living between the United States and Germany, and with over 5,000 live performances, TV shows and videos to his name, Martin has toured, performed or recorded with the likes of Uli Jon Roth, Chris Slade, Gregg Bissonette, Chad Wackerman, Marco Minnemann, Doug Bossi, and Ray Parker Jr.

2010 brought Martin to Las Vegas, NV, where he regularly played in casino hotels along the Strip and on stages on Fremont Street in Downtown, opening or closing the night for bands like Night Ranger, Warrant, Skid Row Brett Michaels, Survivor, and Dee Snider, and also performed in corporate events as the band leader of his own jazz trio. He also worked as a studio and session bassist, performed with Dale Bozzio's Missing Persons, recorded with Hal Blaine and Don Randi of the Wrecking Crew, and was a member of the solo band of London's frontman Nadir D'Priest.

In 2014 Carnival Cruise Line offered Martin the opportunity to perform on one of their ships out of Australia, and the six-month contract enabled him to improve his sight-reading skills and musical versatility. Several contracts followed, ending up in the promotion to Music Director/Music Manager, which made him responsible for choosing the material, organizing the rehearsals, leading the band, and on-board to supervise all musical acts on the ship, perform performance evaluations, and be the link between musicians and management.

In 2018 Martin chose Nashville as his new homebase for his musical endeavors. As fate wanted it, at the same time legendary bass player Peter Baltes announced his departure from the German pioneers of heavy metal, ACCEPT. Martin applied for an audition, and after an extensive screening process got the job as their new permanent bass player and band member. He immediately went on the road on the band's "Symphonic Terror Tour" which was already booked featuring a full symphonic orchestra, and which ended up being a huge success, with excited audiences in Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Norway. The band is now in the process of writing and recording a new album, due to be released later this year.

Martin is available for studio recordings through www.studiobassist.com. To hire Martin for clinics, workshops or live gigs please use the information on the contact page.

"I am looking forward to playing for you."

- Martin Motnik

Birthday: November 10

Citizenship: Germany & USA

Main instruments: Electric and acoustic bass guitar (fretted & fretless), upright bass, electric and acoustic guitar, background vocals

Additional instruments: Lead vocals, keyboards, drums, harmonica, percussion

Musical genres: Rock ‘n Roll, Jazz, Musical Theater, Pop, Top 40, Fusion, Funk, Motown, Classical, RnB, Blues, Musical



Experience

• 20 years of professional experience with around 5000 live gigs, tours, TV performances, video clips

• Band leader of jazz trio for Disney Cruise Line, Music director and showband musician for Carnival Cruise Lines

• Bass player for German metal band ACCEPT

• Freelance bass player around Nashville, TN • Independent teacher for beginner and advanced bassists and guitarists, in individual lessons and group/band workshops

• Author of bass playing workshops and review articles for several music magazines

• Clinician at Musikmesse Frankfurt, NAMM Show Anaheim, European Bass Day, Guitar Center, UNLV, regional music tradeshows

• Owner and operator of recording website www.studiobassist.com, recording credits on 60+ albums

• Retail sales experience for basses and guitars, pro audio and recording

• Endorser of Ritter Instruments, Gallien-Krueger, Line 6, Elixir strings, Gator cases, Gorilla Ears, InTune Guitar Picks, Klotz cables


Live Credits (excerpt)

• ACCEPT

• Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions)

• Missing Persons

• Chris Slade (AC/DC, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Tom Jones, Asia)

• Mugs Cain (Michael Bolton, Sammy Hagar, Eric Martin)

• Ray Parker Jr. (“Ghostbusters”)

• Marco Minnemann (Paul Gilbert)

• Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Chicago, Santana, Christina Aguilera Band)

• Don Dokken (Dokken)

• Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake)

• Doug Bossi (David Coverdale, Jennifer Paige, Don Henley etc.)

• Paul Shortino (Quiet Riot)

• Jimmy Crespo (Aerosmith, Rod Stewart)

• Phil Campbell (Motorhead

) • Akira Jimbo (Casiopea)

• Eisbrecher

• Darkseed



Recording Credits (excerpt)

• Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr, Carlos Santana et al.)

• Hal Blaine (Nancy Sinatra, Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys et al.)

• Don Randi (Linda Ronstadt, Quincy Jones, Cannonball Adderley, Herb Alpert, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Zappa et al.)

• Matt Bissonette (Don Henley, Joe Satriani et al.)

• Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa et al.)

• Michael Landau (Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, B.B. King, Ray Charles et al.)

• Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Elton John, Meat Loaf et al.)

• Chris Slade (AC/DC, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Asia et al.)

• Atma Anur (Jason Becker, Richie Kotzen, Tony MacAlpine et al.)

• Mattias "IA" Eklundh (on Steve Vai's label Favored Nations)

• Harold Faltermeyer (Composer “Top Gun”, “Beverly Hills Cop” etc.; producer Billy Idol, Jennifer Rush et al.)

• World's Apart (European platinum awarded band)

• Darkseed

• The Roxx

• Martha Wash feat. RuPaul


• Worlds Apart – Everlasting love (Single) - ©1996 Arista/BMG, BMG Eurodisc Ltd. (Germany)

• The Body & Soul Allstars – Best things in life are free (Single) - ©1996 Sony Music (Germany)

• The Winners - Island of Sun (Single) – ©1996 Weltbild Verlag GmbH (Germany)

• The Winners - Got A Feeling (Single) – ©1996 Weltbild Verlag GmbH (Germany)

• Dan Lucas – News (12 song CD) - ©1996 Arcade Music Company GmbH - CD 8800576 (Germany)

• The Winners - Blue Night (Single) – ©1996 Weltbild Verlag GmbH (Germany)

• The Winners – Island of sun (10 song CD) - ©1996 Weltbild Verlag GmbH - CD 703447 (Germany)

• O2 – Oxygene (Single) - ©1996 ZYX Music GmbH - CD 8536-8 (Germany)

• Martha Wash feat RuPaul – It's raining men ... The Sequel (Single) - ©1997 BMG/Logic Records (Germany)

• Clueless – Don't speak (Single) - ©1998 ZYX Music GmbH & Co. KG - CD 2145-8 (Germany)

• What4 – What4 (7 song EP) - ©1999 Kintom Music KM-199001-2 (Germany)

• What4 – All behind (Single) - ©2003 Kintom Music KM-103001-1 (Germany)

• Graham Bonney – Der letzte Rock'n'roll (Single) - ©2003 Emi Electrola GmbH (Germany)

• What4 Fourward (LP) – ©2004 Kintom Music - KM-104001-2 (Germany)

• Darkseed – Ultimate Darkness (LP) - ©2005 Massacre Records GmbH - MAS CD 0454 (Germany)

• Martin Motnik with Gregg Bissonette – Bass Invader (LP) feat. Mattias IA Eklundh - ©2005 Kintom Music – 023144 (Germany)

• Atargatis – Wasteland (LP) ©2006 Massacre Records GmbH – MAS CD 0492 (Germany)

• “Gitarre & Bass” workshop playbacks (German guitar player magazine) ©2006 Musik Media Verlag (Germany)

• “Sticks” workshop playbacks (German guitar player magazine) ©2006 Musik Media Verlag (Germany)

• Harold Faltermeyer feat. Ambermoon – "Two Worlds" Computer game soundtrack - ©2007 Topware (Germany)

• The Roxx – Unleash your demon (LP) - ©2007 Rockville Music (Germany)

• Roland Priester – Engel (Single) – ©2007 (Germany)

• Q-Ten-Peck – Prestige (LP) - ©2008 (Germany)

• Die Zeitmaschine – Film music, German TV documentary about watchmaker Helmut Sinn ©2008 frame-spotting mediaport (Germany)

• Beyond the void – Gloom is a trip for two (10 song CD) - ©2008 (Germany)

• The Roxx – The Roxx Unleash The Demon (DVD) - ©2008 Rockville Music (Germany)

• Q-Ten-Peck – The Boys Of Summer (Single) - ©2008 (Germany)

• Jason Sadites – Weve (4 songs) ©2008 (Canada), feat. Chad Wackerman, Tony Levin, Kenny Aronoff, Gregg Bissonette

• Ralf Jung – Art of Pop (11 songs CD) - ©2010 (Germany), feat. Gregg Bissonette

• Ecotonic - When Sparks Fly (10 song CD) - ©2010 (USA), feat. Chris Slade (AC/DC)

• Mansour - Live in Concert (CD & DVD) - ©2010 (USA/Iran)

• Various Artists - Guitar Addiction - A Tribute To Modern Guitar (Song) - ©2011 (France), song "Frankly Speaking" feat. Christophe Godin, Cyril Achard, Mattias Eklundh, Joop Wolters, and Atma Anur

• All The Wise – SOYO (Single) – ©2011 (Australia)

• Spiraless - Spiraless (3 song EP) – ©2011 (France)

• Marcus Boeltz and the Transatlantic Funk Unit - Departure (4 songs) - ©2011 (Germany), feat. Michael Landau

• All The Wise – Dishonesty (Single) – ©2011 (Australia)

• Lassi Lehikoinen – Inner Fire (Single) – ©2012 (Finland)

• Jason Sadites - Broken (3 songs) - ©2012 (Canada), feat. Tony Levin, Marco Minnemann, Bryan Beller, Alex Machacek and Kenny Aronoff

• All The Wise – Abused (Single) – ©2012 (Australia)

• Velvet Steel - Thunderous Rain (CD) - ©2013 (Germany)

• All the Wise - All the Wise (10 song CD) - ©2013 (Australia)

• Bella Vista - Stark (Song) - ©2013 (Germany)

• Mark Clear - Gave You My Heart (Single) - ©2013 (USA)

• Marty and the Bad Punch - Moon Over Baskerville (11 song CD) - ©2013 (Germany)

• Jay Taylor – USA (3 song EP) – ©2014 (Australia)

• David Peebles – Kyoto (Single) – ©2014 (Australia)

• All The Wise – Blunt (Single) ©2014 (Australia)

• Black Eyed Tease – Bailamos/Freestyle/Mary Jane Shoes (Playback tracks) ©2014 (USA)

• Gordon Arnold – Dry Your Eyes (Single) – ©2014 (Canada)

• All The Wise – Over (Single) ©2014 (Australia)

• Gordon Arnold – Sugar Downtown (Single) – ©2014 (Canada)

• Beatrice – That's Alright Mama (Single) – ©2014 (USA)

• All The Wise – Denial – (Single) – ©2014 (Australia)

• Born 2 Rule - World at War (11 song CD) - ©2014 (Germany)

• Madmouse – Never In My Life (Single) – ©2014 (USA)

• All The Wise – Challenged – (Single) – ©2014 (Australia)

• Gordon Arnold – E Rank (Single) – ©2014 (Canada)

• Jeremy Moore – Wasting Time (Single) – ©2014 (USA)

• Beatrice – I Believe In The Cross (Single) – ©2014 (USA)

• Gordon Arnold – Peace Sugar Blood (7 song EP) – ©2014 (Canada)

• Jeff Sontag – Jeff Sontag (14 song CD) – ©2014 (USA)

• Jeremy Moore – Inundation (Single) – ©2014 (USA)

• All The Wise – I Don't Need It – (Single) ©2014 (Australia)

• Rob the Voice - Blues in the Night (10 song CD) - ©2014 (Germany)

• Jeremy Moore – Bumbler (Single) – ©2014 (USA)

• DJ Tony Vegas - Waiting For You (Single) – ©2014 (Australia)

• Ando Minoru – Genjitsu (3 song EP) – 2014 (Japan)

• All The Wise – Toxic (Single) – ©2014 (Australia)

• Hal Blaine – Flat Broke And Lonesome (Single) – ©2014 (USA), feat. Don Randi

• Jeremy Moore – Broken Down Roads (Single) – ©2014 (USA)

• Omar Bowing – Warrior (Single) – ©2016 (Mexico)

• All The Wise – Dragon – (Single) – ©2015 (Australia)

• Tomas Marks – Funky (Single) – ©2015 (Germany)

• Jason Sadites - Fuzzy Math (Song) - ©2015 (Canada), feat. Marco Minnemann

• Jyrki Jokinen – Flow Of Life (Single) – ©2015 (Finland)

• All The Wise – Shame – (Single) ©2015 (Australia)

• Omar Bowing – Creature (Single) – ©2016 (Mexico)

• Jason Sadites - THe Learning Curve (Song) - ©2015 (Canada), feat. Marco Minnemann

• Stanley Rose – Planet X (Single) – ©2016 (USA)

• Björn Amadeus – Ich glaube es gibt mehr (10 song CD) – ©2016 (Germany)

• Madmouse – Ooey Gooey (Single) – ©2016 (USA)

• Omar Bowing – Amen (Single) – ©2016 (Mexico)

• Nicky V – Runaway Detroit (Single) – ©2016 (USA)

• Stanley Rose – Madness (Single) – ©2016 (USA)

• Philipp Kanjo - Junge Herzen (Single) – ©2016 (Germany)

• Markus Rummel – Fliegen (Single) – ©2017 (Germany)

• Walter Müller – Bows and Arrows (Single) – ©2017 (Germany)

• Omar Bowing – Sonus Republic (Single) – ©2017 (Mexico)

• Chantal Hartmann - 365 Days Of The Year (11 song CD) - ©2017 (Germany)

• Tim Lucas – Born In Canada (7 song CD) – ©2017 (Canada)

• Markus Rummel – Hirngespenst (Single) – ©2017 (Germany)

• Omar Bowing – Women (Single) – ©2017 (Mexico)

• Crave and Wonder – Tales From The Porch – ©2019 (USA)

• Marty and the Bad Punch – Walk A Straight Line – ©2020 (Germany)


• Bass player for ACCEPT, Symphonic Terror tour Europe and Asia 2019, festivals and feature shows Europe and South America 2019

• Music director and showband musician on Carnival Sensation: Miami, Nassau, Grand Cayman, Mexico, Jamaica April - October 2017 & March - October 2018

• Showband musician on Carnival Inspiration: Long Beach, Catalina, Ensenada Jul. - Sep. 2016

• Showband musician on Carnival Ecstasy: Miami, Charleston, Nassau, Freeport, Cozumel, Key West, December 2015 - May 2016

• Showband musician on Carnival Magic: Galveston, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize, Montego Bay, September - November 2015

• Showband musician on Carnival Legend: Sydney, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, Alaska December 2014 - May 2015

• Uli Jon Roth: U.S. tour 2012, U.S. west coast tour 2009, North America Tour 2008

• Band leader jazz trio on Disney Dream: Port Canaveral, Nassau, Castaway Cay May 2011 - July 2011

• "The Roxx": European tour 2008 (support for Graham Bonnet)

• "Eisbrecher": Germany tour 2007, European tour 2006

• “Darkseed”: European tour 2003

• “The Winners”: Video clip shooting in the Philippines, TV appearances in several European TV shows (nation-wide broadcasting) 1996/97

• Approx. 5000 live gigs, TV appearances, performances with different acts




 

Music

This is a selection of songs I played on in the studio, mostly through my website www.studiobassist.com. The titles are from a variety of styles and musical genres, so if you are looking for a particular style I've added a description to each song.

The playlist starts with a sampler of all songs from my solo CD "Bass Invader", my solo CD I've recorded with prolific studio drummer Gregg Bissonette. Most of the songs are bass & drums only, but two songs feature Swedish guitar wizard Mattias IA Eklundh. Check out the sampler on the right, or choose your preferred online service below.

Below you will find links to yous usual streaming services. But if you want to support me directly and cut out the middle man, you can order directly from me. I'm happy to sign physical CD with a greeting of your choice, or you can download DRM-free mp3s with the high-resolution artwork. Thanks for your support! Click here to get to my shop

 

CONTACT


For studio recordings, gig inquiries, lessons & workshops, or comments regarding this website send me a message to contact@martinmotnik.com. I will respond as fast as time allows. Also, check out my website www.StudioBassist.com to hire me for world-class bass tracks for your music!

 

Endorsements


Here are some companies that have been very supportive over the course of my career, which I am very grateful for.

Ritter Instruments Logo
Gallien-Krueger Logo
Elixir Strings Logo
Gator Cases Logo
Klotz Cables Logo
InTune Guitar Picks Logo