INTERVIEW: NPG and 3rdEyeGirl’s Ida Nielsen

On a day guaranteed to include the gamut of emotions, Prince fans all over the world will stop to pay tribute to the one and only. When considering crucial musicians contributing to Prince’s legacy, one cannot help but mention NPG and 3rdEyeGirl member Ida Nielsen. As we all know, Prince didn’t just pick anyone to share stages or record music; it required a combo of on-point skill of your instrument(s), adaptability to creative genius change and possession of personal fly style to be down. A formal student at The Royal Danish Academy of Music and an informal student of the funk ultimately led her down the Purple path.

Based in her native Denmark, when I saw on the schedule to appear at 2017’s NAMM Show, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear Ida play her Sandberg signature bass (get more info here) and to connect about a myriad of random things ( i.e. set lists, learning hundreds of songs, impromptu shows, the Purple Army) I’d always wanted to ask. Prepping for the chat and already familiar with her work in 3rdEyeGirl, I also delved into her dope solo discography (available here).

Amid the roaring noise of thousands of instruments being played at the same time and the chaos of a music conference, we miraculously found a quiet spot (perhaps with divine intervention from above). Peep our interview soundclips below and don’t miss her at The Celebration at Paisley Park this weekend or on her European tour!