From the Hartford Courant
I Am...A Rocker
"I Am ...," appearing every other Monday, explores the life experiences of teenagers and young adults in their own words.
By SHANA SURECK, The Hartford Courant
March 10, 2008
Desiree Bassett, 15, lives in Ashford and is a sophomore at E.O. Smith High School. Her father (and manager), Dan Bassett, calls her "the real deal, the real modern-day Hannah Montana, who goes to school by day, practices and plays clubs and festivals at night." She has performed locally and around the country. For coming performances and more information, visit her website at www.desireebassett.com.
I'm in love with music. I play music in my dreams.
Some people know me as a shy girl, but on stage I'm a completely different kind of person doing what I love to do, rocking out.
Some people call me the reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix. They're like, wow, Jimi Hendrix died, but he reincarnated as a girl.
I started playing guitar at 3 years old [after] I saw my dad playing and got inspired. He taught me chords. My whole family plays music. We're really close. I try to help everyone the best I can because family is really important to me. My mom works at the elementary school as a custodian, and my dad stays home and takes care of us.
Every day I have to go to school and do my homework and all that. Then I practice at least two hours a day, sometimes up to eight hours straight if I really get into it. It's hard to fit it all in with band rehearsals and lessons, but I manage to do it and pass my classes, usually with A's and B's. I want to show men that women can play guitar just as well as men can and also that there are younger players who can play just as good as long as they put the effort into it. I want to be the next generation of rock 'n' roll.
I want to take my music and make them hits. I don't want to be on top. I want to be over the top.
Copyright © 2008, The Hartford Courant
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