We sit down with bassist and musical director Eric Fortaleza to talk about his journey from picking up the bass at 16 to building a career as a professional musician in Nashville.

Eric takes us through the players and experiences that shaped his approach to the instrument, including the influence of Flea and Pino Palladino, his early years of formal training, and the vintage P Basses and Jazz Basses that have become part of his collection. He also shares how he first discovered the Leo Quan Badass bridge, his approach to pick and fingerstyle playing, and the gear.

The conversation also dives into Eric's role in the Moga Family Band, the band's approach to pushing the boundaries of blues, and Pitch Meeting, the Nashville initiative he founded to create opportunities for emerging singer-songwriters. Taking the conversation on the road as Eric heads to a festival gig with the Moga Family Band, giving us a glimpse into the life of a working musician.