Ida Nielsen: The Princess of Funk
Oct 7, 2022
4 min read
Updated: Aug 10
An interview by Martina Knecht on music, Prince, and the power of funk.
»Working very closely with Prince for almost six years taught me an incredible amount about every aspect of being a musician.«
“A badass, badass chick.” — Prince
When Prince gave Ida Nielsen that unforgettable description, he captured more than her talent as a bassist: he recognized her attitude, energy, and fearless musical spirit. Discovered by the Minneapolis icon in 2010, Nielsen became a core member of The New Power Generation and later joined the rock trio 3rdEyeGirl, sharing the stage with Prince until his untimely passing in 2016.
After those transformative years, Nielsen returned her focus to her own artistic journey. With her band The Funkbots, the Danish bassist, composer, and vocalist brings a powerful blend of jazz, old-school funk, hip-hop, and soul to stages across Europe, Asia, Australia, Brazil, and the United States. At the heart of it all is her lifelong love for funk—a musical force that continues to inspire and drive her performances around the world.
On July 2, 2022, Ida Nielsen & The Funkbots performed at the JazzAscona festival in a highly anticipated concert. In this conversation, Nielsen reflects on her extraordinary career, her creative evolution, and the lasting artistic legacy of Prince.
When Prince signed you, you were already building your artistic path with the Funkbots and a couple of solo albums. Then your trajectory changed. How did that come about?
The short version is this: in 2010, I received a call from his manager saying that Prince had seen my MySpace page and would like to jam with me. So I went to Minneapolis for a session, and after we had played for about 20 minutes, he invited me to join his band, The New Power Generation, on tour. That was the beginning of the adventure. [smiles]
What was it like to work with him?
It was a dream come true for me. He had always been a huge influence on me, even before I met him. Working so closely with him for almost six years taught me an incredible amount about every aspect of being a musician.
He truly was a genius, and he challenged us to think carefully about every decision we made—both musically and practically. I feel incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to observe his creative process from the front row, so to speak. I learned so much about playing, arranging, and producing, and I continue to draw from that wealth of knowledge in my own musical journey—both in the studio and, especially, in my live performances.
Moments from the JazzAscona performance. From the top: Mika Vandborg (guitar and backing vocals), Kuku Agami (rap and spoken word), and Patrick Dorcean (drums and electronics).
»I am truly grateful that there are people out there who want to hear bass-driven funk music!«
Ida, this summer you are touring Brazil and Europe with the Funkbots. Is it daunting to take a whole band on the road?
No, it’s a fantastic feeling! Even though the conditions and stages are obviously not on the same level as when I was with Prince, it is incredibly rewarding to make a living from creating and performing my own music. I am truly grateful that this is possible—and that there are people out there who want to hear bass-driven funk music!
You created your own signature bass with German manufacturer Sandberg Guitars. How did this collaboration come about, and what sets your signature bass apart?
I have known Holger, the founder of Sandberg Guitars, for many years. In 2009, one year before I joined Prince, he gave me a bass as a kind gesture, and I immediately fell in love with it. So when the opportunity came to create a signature model, it felt very natural to do it with him. Of course, there are many excellent bass builders out there, but I have always loved Sandberg basses.
My signature bass features two pickups: one at the front, which delivers the old-school funk sound I love—like Larry Graham’s tone, for example—and another that creates a sound more reminiscent of Jaco Pastorius. They are two very different sounds, and I love them both. Combining them offers a wide range of tonal possibilities, from classic funk tones to a more modern, smooth sound.
The bass itself is black and gold, and I think it looks really beautiful. [smiles]
Your fifth album, 02022020, was released in 2020, the year the pandemic began. What were your feelings at the time?
Well, actually, it was released on February 2nd, before the pandemic had really reached us in Denmark. So, at the time of the release, I wasn’t aware of what was about to happen.
The Covid restrictions that followed affected the entire arts and culture sector. How did the two years of the pandemic change your artistic process?
It changed several things. It made me truly appreciate performing live again, but it also taught me the importance of cherishing the present moment and the good things in life, such as nature and family. It gave me a sense of comfort in not constantly worrying about deadlines and external pressures.
During that time, I also started a couple of new musical projects in which I mainly play keyboards and work with programming. I recorded a lot of music at home, and the style is quite different from my usual “funk stuff.”
What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in the music industry?
Follow your dreams wholeheartedly. If you are willing to pursue your goals with dedication, passion, and hard work, I believe opportunities will come your way.
Martina Knecht
Text © Martina Knecht
All photos of this article are by Gioele Pozzi, © 2022 JazzAscona.
Martina Knecht's interview with Ida Nielsen was published on July 2 2022 in the Ticino press.
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