The Bass Player’s Superpower: Yolanda Charles on Feel, Leadership & Career Longevity

Make The Music The Thing: Steve Lawson on Art, Audience & Authenticity

Steve Lawson: Building a Music Career Without Chasing Fame What if the goal wasn't more followers, more views, or a bigger platform? What if the real goal was building meaningful music, genuine community, and a sustainable creative life? In this episode of Now That's Bass, Pete Roythorne sits down with bassist, educator, writer, technologist and PhD holder Steve Lawson for one of the most thought-provoking conversations on the channel so far. Chapters for easy listening! 00:16 Introduction 02:48 How did you come to playing the bass? 09:11 What was the turning point for you in your bass career? 16:10 What was the catalyst for your evolution into solo bass? 25:31 How did you start to embrace technology to develop your career? 50:02 Is it easy today to push the boundaries of bass? 01:03:36 Why we need to more than chase clicks and algorithms 01:11:56 What's you advice for bass players coming into the industry today? 01:28:33 What bass line should everyone go away and listen to? 01:34:18 How did your PHD influence your attitude to music? Steve shares the lessons he's learned from four decades of bass playing, pioneering solo bass performance, embracing technology before most musicians had even heard of it, and building a career entirely on his own terms. The conversation explores everything from creativity and community to social media, attention spans, music education and what it really means to build a life in music in 2026. Whether you're a bass player, musician, creator or simply interested in how artists navigate the modern world, this episode is packed with insight. In this episode: * Steve's journey from beginner bassist to solo artist * How a broken arm changed his approach to music * Why John Peel was one of his biggest influences * Playing bass in duos and expanding the role of the instrument * The origins of Steve's solo bass career * Lessons learned from Michael Manring, Victor Wooten and Tony Levin * Building an audience before social media existed * How Steve used forums, blogs and online communities to create a sustainable career * Why Bandcamp became the foundation of his business model * The difference between community and audience * The dangers of chasing algorithms and viral success * Why social media rewards performance rather than artistry * Practical career advice for aspiring bass players * Trust, professionalism and reputation in the music industry * The relationship between creativity, audience and meaning * How Steve's PhD changed the way he thinks about music Key Takeaway "Make the music the thing." A powerful conversation about building a career around purpose, community and creativity rather than chasing validation.   #SteveLawson #BassGuitar #BassPlayer #NowThatsBass #MusicCareer #Bandcamp #SoloBass #BassLessons #MusicianLife #IndependentMusician #BassCommunity #BassEducation #VictorWooten #MichaelManring #TonyLevin

Network Like a Demon: Mike Brooks on Bass, Survival & Staying Hireable

Bass player, journalist, reviewer, YouTuber and working musician Mike Brooks joins Now That’s Bass for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to survive as a professional bass player over three decades in the music industry. From discovering bass through Duran Duran and landing his first professional gigs in the ‘90s, to building a long-term career through covers bands, networking, journalism and YouTube, Mike shares the realities most musicians never hear about. This episode dives deep into how the music industry has changed, why communication matters more than chops, the collapse of traditional gig circuits, and the mindset required to build a sustainable life in music in 2026. No fantasy. No gear flexing. Just the reality of the job. In this episode: * How Duran Duran inspired Mike to pick up bass * Turning professional in 1995 * The truth about surviving on covers gigs * How one dep gig changed his entire career * The collapse of traditional live circuits * Why networking matters more than ever * Lessons from Bass Guitar Magazine and The Basist * Why communication gets musicians fired * The importance of versatility and backing vocals * Bernard Edwards and the genius of Good Times Follow Mike Brooks / Brooksy’s Bass Corner * YouTube: Brooksy’s Bass Corner [https://www.youtube.com/@BrooksysBassCorner] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brooksysbasscorner/] #bassplayer #bassguitar #brooksysbasscorner #musicindustry #sessionmusician #basscareer #bernardedwards #chic #basspodcast #nowthatsbass

Right Thing, Right Time: Andrew McKinney on Pulp, JTQ & the Art of Being Hireable

In this episode of Now That’s Bass, Pete talks to Andrew McKinney, current bassist with Pulp and The James Taylor Quartet, course leader for performance at BIMM London, and a player whose career has taken him through TV, theatre, funk, soul, session work, education and major international stages. Quick Links to Chapters 00:31 Introduction 04:15 How did your bass journey start? From Cello to BassTech 07:17 How did your first bits of session work come in? 14:03 How did your first break come about? 15:58 At what point did you think I can make this work? 17:18 How have you managed to sustain your career? 20:23 How do you stand out as a bass player? 23:19 Who's the most important person in a band to connect with? 25:46 How is it playing in bands as diverse as Pulp and JTQ 27:43 Imposter syndrome and the route into Pulp 36:14 Three things people should focus on to get more gigs 42:45 What advice would you give your younger self? 44:28 The bass line everyone should know and why? Andrew talks honestly about how a cello-playing school kid became a professional bass player, why depping has been central to his career, what it really takes to be a “safe pair of hands”, and how he dealt with stepping into very different musical worlds — from the groove-heavy James Taylor Quartet to the textural, creative demands of working with Jarvis Cocker and Pulp. This is a conversation about preparation, taste, confidence, imposter syndrome, musical relationships, and why being hireable is about far more than chops. In this episode: * Andrew’s early journey from cello to bass Studying at BassTech and choosing music over science * How early gigs turned into long-term career opportunities * The importance of depping and supporting other bass players * Why preparation and attitude matter as much as ability * Getting the call for The Richard Blackwood Show * Playing with James Taylor Quartet * Working creatively with Jarvis Cocker * Joining Pulp and touring Australia and New Zealand Imposter syndrome and learning to adapt * What makes a bass player hireable * Why “the right thing at the right time” matters * The bass album Andrew thinks every player should study Subscribe for more honest conversations with working bass players about building a real career in music. #BassPlayer #AndrewMcKinney #Pulp #JamesTaylorQuartet #BassGuitar #NowThatsBass #SessionMusician #BassCareer #JarvisCocker #Bassist

Gearing Up: Jonny Dibble on P Basses, Pedals & Becoming a Bass Content Creator

Jonny Dibble has built a loyal following in the bass world by doing something surprisingly rare: making bass gear feel honest, relatable and genuinely useful. In this episode of Now That’s Bass, Pete sits down with the bassist, YouTuber and co-host of the In The Pocket podcast to talk about affordable basses, social media, gear obsession, bass culture and what it really takes to build an audience online as a musician. Jonny shares how a Harley Benton review during lockdown accidentally launched his content career, why he believes flashy playing can actually make gear demos less useful, and why most bass players misunderstand what social media is actually good for. There’s also plenty of bass nerdery along the way — including P Basses, StingRays, SansAmps, preamp pedals, tribute bands, favourite bass lines, and why The Lion King contains one of the most underrated bass performances around. Whether you’re trying to grow a music channel, build a bass career, improve your tone, or just love talking gear, this is a refreshingly honest conversation about modern bass playing and online music culture. In this episode: * How Jonny Dibble got started on bass * Why affordable bass gear matters * Building a bass YouTube channel during lockdown * The truth about Instagram for musicians * Why relatable playing matters in gear demos * P Bass vs StingRay philosophy * The importance of musical and gear reference points * Why every bassist should consider a preamp pedal * Bass gear as creative inspiration * Jamiroquai, Disney bass lines and underrated musical influences If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate and share Now That’s Bass wherever you listen to podcasts.

Why Feel Beats Flash: Matt Round on Getting Gigs... AND Keeping Them!

In this episode of Now That’s Bass, Pete talks to professional bassist Matt Round, known for his long-running work with James Morrison, as well as playing with Archive, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, and currently holding down bass duties on the spectacular ABBA Voyage show. Matt brings a refreshingly honest, funny and grounded perspective on what it really takes to build a long-term career as a working bass player. From the pressure of auditions and the realities of rejection, to why “always be good” matters on every gig, this is a conversation packed with practical advice for bassists who want to work, improve and stay employable. There’s also plenty for bass nerds: ABBA bass lines, Carol Kaye, The Chain, the beauty of whole notes, and why playing less can often make you more valuable. In this episode * Playing bass on ABBA Voyage * Why ABBA bass parts are “bonkers and brilliant” * How Matt landed the ABBA gig * Why auditions are such a strange way to choose musicians * Handling rejection without bitterness * Why every young musician needs thick skin * Finding your lane as a player * Building a career by saying yes early on * The importance of networks and real relationships * Why social media is now a musician’s calling card * Matt’s long relationship with Ashdown * Why being reliable matters as much as playing ability * The two biggest rules for getting more gigs * What bass players should learn from good drummers * Why bass is a supportive instrument * The art of playing for the song * Why whole notes can be harder than flashy runs * Bass lines everyone should study, from Carol Kaye to Fleetwood Mac YouTube hashtags #NowThatsBass #MattRound #BassPlayer #BassGuitar #ABBA Voyage #JamesMorrison #BassPodcast #WorkingMusician #SessionMusician #BassLessons #BassCareer #MusicCareer #BassGuitarist #BassPlayersOfYouTube #CarolKaye #TheChain #AshdownEngineering