Aram Bedrosian joined host Tom Proctor on ‘Rocket Shop‘, Big Heavy World’s weekly local Vermont music radio hour on 105.9FM The Radiator. Catch up with him at facebook.com/arammusic

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On Wednesday, August 26, Aram Bedrosian sauntered into the studio. Aram came armed for his set with a portable supernova. The Supernova, in fact.

It’s the first thing that caught my eye. As he prepared for his performance, Aram unpacked an exquisite, caramel colored bass made of burled maple which looks akin to something seen in a Tim Burton movie. Made bespoke by Jens Ritter, the arms curl and loop, the frets are gold, and the inlays are set to the golden ratio. If a wizard turned a tree into a bass, this is it.

And no one is better suited to wield it then Aram.

He opened with his song, “Weightless.” A dreamlike, alt-rock song infused with hints of funk. His music rarely creates a straightforward description. Aram blends elements of rock, funk, jazz, and concert arrangements in his instrumentals.

His music forges its own path, exploring the unique realm of instrumental bass. The bass offers unique opportunities, as a skilled player can play the melody, harmony, and percussion parts simultaneously. To no surprise, Aram is a skilled player. His right hand always appears to gallop over the strings while his left dances in chords along the neck.

What’s most impressive about it all—the dancing fingers, the elegant compositions, the avant-garde creativity—is it’s mostly self-taught.

Aram first picked up a guitar when he was thirteen. A friend asked him to join his band, never mind that Aram had no experience. So Aram picked out beat up, junk, right handed (he’s left handed) bass shot through with BBs. He plugged it into an amp he owns to this day, and started playing. He found inspiration in the antics of Flea and Les Claypool, and learned how to avoid becoming the boring bassist who plays with the persona of a teenage wallflower. He learned how to make his instrument expressive and an emotional weapon, as demonstrated on air.

Aram has released two albums, nearly a decade apart. The first came from a promise he made to himself after hurting his hand. He promised he’d finally sit down and compose the album when his hand healed. The album’s objective was to be approachable to someone who didn’t play bass. Because, while most musicians start by making music for themselves, “when it resonates with other people…it’s miraculous.”

Following the warm reception of his first album, Aram recorded an EP of “A Dark Light,” which garnered brief virality on YouTube. This in turn expanded his audience, both in size and international representation. As Aram says, “Instrumental music opens itself up in a way that music in one particular language doesn’t.” As a result his sophomore album reached a massive audience, as well as gained critical acclaim.

A common trend among artists we’ve had on, COVID has altered the release of Aram’s next album. The album will embark into territory explored by most musicians, save Aram. For the first time, he will compose for a full band. While he’s played in bands, and alongside noted artists like Jon Fishman of Phish, he has relatively low experience composing for one. His second song, “Rebirth,” will likely become one of the pieces included on the album.

Aram’s impact has been bigger than his music, and has lasted longer than his YouTube fame, all because of his music collective, The Burlington Music Dojo. A place for musicians to practice, and students to learn, the Dojo has become an important component of Burlington’s musical infrastructure. The Dojo has carried on through COVID with classes going online. They recently received an amazing grant to help young musicians, detailed here.

Aram has been teaching since he stopped touring. His early days of instructing were actually spent at 4 Howard Street in one of our neighboring artist studios. But being crammed into a corner was not ideal, so Aram expanded his operation with the help of some friends. And then, through word of mouth and some notable guest artists, the Dojo steadily grew into what it is today. For Aram, it’s all become “a collage of incredible memories.”

Aram wrapped up the evening with the song, “Almost Home.” Even without lyrics, the song begs contemplation. It’s quiet and requiting, like the when the sun sets on a long journey, and you’re driving over the last ridge and can see your hometown below. A calming, sincere end to an otherwise invigorating, passionate performance.

Text by Luke Vidic.

Top Photo by James Lockridge.

Aram Bedrosian— 26 August 2020 on Rocket Shop Radio Hour