Now That’s Bass – Details, episodes & analysis

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Now That’s Bass

Pete Roythorne

Music

Frequency: 1 episode/8d. Total Eps: 26

Now That’s Bass is a podcast about the real world of professional bass playing.

Hosted by bassist Pete Roythorne, the show features frank conversations with working bass players — touring musicians, session players, educators and gospel players — about what it actually takes to sustain a career in music.

No fantasy. No gear flexing. Just the reality of the job.

The podcast is also part of a personal mission.

Just before Christmas Pete was made redundant. Approaching his 60th birthday, he decided it was time to stop talking about doing something serious with his bass playing and actually do it.

So he’s getting back out into the bass world.

Each episode features honest conversations with bass players who’ve built real careers — touring internationally, working in sessions, teaching thousands of students, and sustaining a life in music for decades.

Along the way Pete asks the questions many musicians want answered:
What does it actually take to make a living playing bass?
How do you build a reputation?
And how do you stay in the game long term?

If you’re serious about bass — not just the instrument but the long game of being a musician — this podcast is for you.

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Data updated on 15/09/2026

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“Playing Music Shouldn’t Feel Like Work” | Nathan Mays on Music, Burnout & Finding a Better Way

Friday, September 11, 2026 • Duration 52:16

What happens when the career you spent years building starts taking away the thing you loved about music in the first place?

Nathan Mays has been playing bass for more than 23 years, working across country, variety bands, musical theatre and more experimental music while also studying music composition to Master's level.

But after years of gigging, Nathan found himself becoming increasingly disillusioned with the professional music scene. Music was becoming a job — and, in his words, "playing music shouldn't feel like work."

So he stepped back.

Today, Nathan's focus is increasingly on music education, where his experiences as a player, composer and teacher have come together in his own approach to learning bass: Feel, Form and Function.

In this episode of Now That's Bass, we talk about:

• Why Nathan stepped away from the professional music grind
• The darker side of the music world that musicians don't always talk about
• What real gigs teach you that music school can't
• Why chops don't matter if you can't actually do the job
• The problem with collecting information instead of actually learning
• Why so many bass players practise without a target
• Whether "feel" can really be taught
• Why pocket changes depending on the music you're playing
• Nathan's Feel, Form and Function approach to bass
• Why recording yourself could transform your practice
• The problem with cookie-cutter music education
• Why young musicians need to learn to take criticism
• And why Nathan thinks every bass player should learn "Chameleon"

It's a conversation about bass, but also about something bigger: what happens when your definition of being a successful musician changes.

If you enjoy honest conversations about the realities of building a life around the bass — not just gear and chops — subscribe to Now That's Bass for more interviews with working bass players, educators and musicians.

#NowThatsBass #NathanMays #BassGuitar #BassPlayer #BassLessons #BassEducation #MusicEducation #BassPractice #WorkingMusician #BassPlayers

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“They Made Me an Offer I Couldn’t Refuse” | Morgan Nicholls on Muse, Gorillaz & 30 Years of Saying Yes

Episode 25

Friday, August 28, 2026 • Duration 49:21

Morgan Nicholls has built the kind of music career that's almost impossible to plan.

From starting out with Senseless Things to playing with The Streets, Gorillaz and ultimately spending 15 years onstage with Muse, Morgan's story is one of versatility, relationships, being in the right place at the right time — and being ready when the phone rings.

In this episode of Now That's Bass, Morgan talks about being "relegated" from guitar to bass, learning his craft through relentless gigging, discovering the bi-amped bass sound that changed his playing, and the phone call that gave him just days to learn a Muse set after Chris Wolstenholme broke his wrist.

We also get into his first terrifying Muse show, how a temporary bass dep turned into 15 years with the band, the chaos of early gigs with The Streets, performing with Gorillaz, and why getting on with people may be one of the most important skills a professional musician can have.

Morgan also shares what he wishes he'd learned when he was younger, the bass lines that influenced him, the instrument he'll never sell — and somehow we end up with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elton John and a packet of Old El Paso tacos.

A brilliant conversation about longevity, adaptability and building a life in music without ever really having a master plan.

In this episode:

Being "relegated" from guitar to bass
150 gigs a year with Senseless Things
Why Live at Leeds changed Morgan's approach to bass
Finding his bi-amped bass sound
The unexpected call from Muse
Learning Chris Wolstenholme's bass parts in days
What went wrong during Morgan's first Muse show
How a temporary dep became 15 years with Muse
Playing with Gorillaz and The Streets
Why personality matters on tour
The importance of treating the crew as part of the band
What Morgan wishes he'd learned when he was younger
Glastonbury, Arnold Schwarzenegger and tacos at Elton John's house

“Bass and Drums Aren’t Two Instruments… They’re One” | Smiley Barnard | The Rhythm Section

Episode 24

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 • Duration 56:01

The Rhythm Section: Smiley Barnard

What do bass players look like from the other side of the drum kit?

Welcome to The Rhythm Section, an occasional Now That’s Bass series where I turn the tables and talk to drummers about the bass players they’ve worked with, what makes a great rhythm section — and what bass players can do to make drummers love playing with them.

And there aren't many better people to start with than Steve “Smiley” Barnard.

Smiley's career has seen him play with Robbie Williams, Joe Strummer, The Alarm, The Boomtown Rats, From The Jam, Archive and The Stranglers — putting him alongside an extraordinary list of bass players including Jean-Jacques Burnel, Bruce Foxton, Pete Briquette, Derek Forbes, Jonathan Noyce, Tony Visconti, Yolanda Charles, Dale Davis, Lee Pomeroy, Matt Round and many more.

We talk about what separates the truly great bass players, why Smiley believes you can tell whether a bassist can play within the first five bars, and why feel, space and personality matter far more than showing everyone how clever you are.

Smiley also explains why playing with a Chaka Khan bassist taught him to stop playing drum fills, why Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr may be the ultimate rhythm section, why Adam Clayton deserves far more respect — and why the bass player is the “pivotal glue” that completes a track.

Plus: J.J. Burnel, Bruce Foxton, James Jamerson, Sting, Mani, Tina Weymouth, Joe Strummer, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, U2, The Beatles and the perils of musicians who simply won't stop playing between songs.

This is The Rhythm Section — bass players, seen from the drummer's seat.

#NowThatsBass #TheRhythmSection #BassPlayer #BassGuitar #Drummer #RhythmSection #BassPlayers #Drummers #Musicians #PaulMcCartney #RingoStarr #AdamClayton #TheStranglers #JoeStrummer #TheAlarm #robbiewilliams

“You Can’t Just Be a Bass Player” | Marcel Pusey on Building a Life in Music

Episode 23

Saturday, August 15, 2026 • Duration 38:56

Bass player, composer, producer, educator and music entrepreneur Marcel Pusey has built the kind of career that rarely gets talked about enough.

Rather than relying on one gig, one band or one big break, Marcel has spent decades creating a sustainable life around music — performing with Bassistry, composing for television and media, developing music education programmes, working in music technology and taking his work around the world.

In this episode of Now That’s Bass, Marcel talks about starting out playing rock and learning largely by ear, blagging his way through reading gigs, discovering jazz and fusion, and finding his place in London's music scene.

But the bigger story is how he learned to make music pay without giving up the music he actually wanted to make.

We talk about why jam nights were crucial to building his network, why musicians need to understand the business side of their careers, the importance of creating multiple income streams — and what happened when Marcel said yes to opportunities he wasn't entirely sure he was ready for.

There’s also a gloriously painful story involving an orchestra, a piece in 7/8 and the moment his sight-reading bluff was very publicly called.

In this episode:

Why learning music by ear remains such an important skill
What old-school learning gave musicians that YouTube sometimes doesn't
How jam nights helped Marcel build his career
Why networking works best when it doesn't feel like networking
Creating multiple income streams as a working musician
Why your band doesn't necessarily have to make money to be valuable
The business skills musicians often overlook
Saying yes before you're completely ready
Dealing with imposter syndrome
Why getting something wrong can still move your career forward
Marcel's advice to young musicians: go for the goal, but stay flexible

If you're trying to build a sustainable career around playing music rather than simply waiting for the perfect gig to arrive, there's a lot in this conversation.

“Nobody Cares About Your Degree” | Philip Mann on What Actually Gets Bass Players Hired

Episode 22

Monday, August 10, 2026 • Duration 01:11:32

What actually gets a bass player hired — qualifications, chops, contacts, versatility… or something else entirely?

Philip Mann has spent nearly 30 years building a career across performance, education and publishing. He studied with Jeff Berlin, has worked with artists including Van Morrison, Leo Sayer and Billy Bragg, performed in West End shows, written extensively for the bass press and developed his own With Bass In Mind educational platform.

But in this conversation, Philip is refreshingly candid about what he believes actually matters if you want to make a living from music.

We talk about why collecting qualifications doesn't automatically make you employable, how studying with Jeff Berlin completely changed Philip's approach to the instrument, and why bass players can spend 90% of their practice time working on the 10% they'll rarely use professionally.

Philip also explains why getting older doesn't necessarily mean fewer opportunities — but it may mean understanding where you now fit in the industry — and why a sustainable music career increasingly means developing multiple income streams.

We get into the reality of competition for professional gigs, networking without manipulation, using social media strategically, the importance of investing in the right skills, and why relationships matter more than many musicians realise.

And to finish, Philip makes the case for one of Britain's most underrated bass players: Queen's John Deacon — and explains why every bassist should take a closer look at "Killer Queen."

In this episode:

• Why Philip originally picked up the bass out of "100% jealousy"
• Studying with Jeff Berlin and why it transformed his career
• Why qualifications alone won't get you hired
• Practising the 90% you're actually going to use
• Why professional bass playing is about serving the song
• Building relationships and putting yourself in the right rooms
• Getting older — and finding the gigs that fit you now • Why musicians need a portfolio career • Is there really less work, or simply more competition? • Using social media to show people what you can do • The career decisions Philip would change if he were 20 again • Why maintaining relationships matters • John Deacon, "Killer Queen" and playing the right notes at the right time

The Bass Found Me | Dan Hawkins on Building a Life in Music, Teaching & Never Stopping Learning

Episode 21

Monday, August 3, 2026 • Duration 01:03:23

What does a sustainable career as a professional bassist really look like?

In this episode of Now That's Bass, Pete sits down with bassist, educator and online creator Dan Hawkins to explore the journey from an 11-year-old schoolboy discovering the bass to performing in the West End, touring with major artists and teaching thousands of bass players around the world.

Dan shares how incredible teachers shaped his playing, why reading music opened doors throughout his career, and how adapting to technology helped him build a successful online business without ever losing his love of performing.

They also dive into practice, motivation, overcoming plateaus, balancing family life with music and why the best bass players never stop learning.

Whether you're an aspiring professional, a weekend player or somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with practical advice and honest insight.

In this episode:

How one music teacher completely changed Dan's life
Getting Grade 8 bass in just two years
Learning from West End session musicians
Why reading music still matters
Following a professional bassist for work experience
Building a career through teaching, sessions and live work
Playing Les Mis, Martha Reeves and Katie Melua
Creating a successful online bass business
Why deliberate practice beats endless noodling
The biggest mistakes bass players make when learning
Life after moving from London to Singapore
The importance of adapting your career over time

If you enjoy these conversations with professional bass players, please Like, Subscribe and share the episode. It really helps the channel grow.

#bass #bassplayer #bassguitar #musician #musiccareer #basslesson #basspractice #musiceducation #danhawkins #nowthatsbass

The Secret Isn't Talent, It's Consistency | Jimmy Sims on building a lasting bass career

Episode 20

Monday, July 27, 2026 • Duration 01:08:21

Everyone talks about getting "the big break."

Jimmy Sims doesn't believe it exists.

Having toured and recorded with artists including George Ezra, Brian Ferry, Amy Macdonald, Mika and Dido, Jimmy has built one of the UK's most respected freelance bass careers—not through luck alone, but through years of quietly building relationships, saying yes to opportunities and constantly improving his craft.

In this episode Jimmy shares what touring is really like, why community matters more than networking, how the legendary Bass Centre helped launch his career, and why being a professional musician is often about handling the uncomfortable moments rather than the glamorous ones.

If you're trying to build a sustainable career as a bass player—or as any musician—this conversation is packed with practical wisdom.

In this episode we discuss:

Building a career without a single "big break"
How the Bass Centre became Jimmy's music college
Touring with Mika, Brian Ferry and Amy Macdonald
Why community beats networking
The realities of life on tour
Mental health and looking after yourself on the road
Why versatility creates opportunities
How to become the musician people recommend
Learning theory without losing your creativity
Why every rejection is simply another brick in the wall

🎸 Subscribe for weekly conversations with the world's best bass players.

#NowThatsBass #BassGuitar #BassPlayer #MusicianLife #SessionMusician #TouringMusician #MusicCareer #BassCommunity #JimmySims #GeorgeEzra #BrianFerry #AmyMacdonald #Mika #Dido

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Nobody Owes You a Gig | Chris Horrocks on Building a Modern Bass Career

Episode 19

Monday, July 20, 2026 • Duration 01:13:48

What does it actually mean to be a professional bass player in 2026?

Chris Horrocks (That Guy On Bass) joins Pete to talk honestly about building a sustainable music career that combines session work, weddings, content creation, YouTube and podcasting.

From getting made redundant and deciding to go all-in on music, to balancing gigs with running a successful business, Chris shares a refreshingly realistic look at life as a modern working bassist.

Along the way they discuss networking, soft skills, learning songs without charts, social media, tone chasing, content creation and why simply being someone people enjoy working with is often more valuable than being the flashiest player in the room.

Whether you're an aspiring session musician, weekend gigger or full-time pro, this episode is packed with practical advice that every bassist can use.

In this episode:

Chris's journey from guitarist to professional bassist
Why redundancy became the best thing that ever happened
The realities of today's wedding and function scene
Why soft skills matter more than technical ability
Building multiple income streams as a musician
Content creation vs live performance
Learning songs without charts
Why audiences don't care about perfect note-for-note covers
Tone chasing—and why Chris is trying to stop
Advice for younger musicians
The one song every bassist should learn

If you enjoy these conversations, don't forget to Like, Subscribe and Share.

#bass #bassplayer #bassguitar #sessionmusician #thatguyonbass #inthepocketpodcast #musician #musiccareer #basspodcast #nowthatsbass

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From Postman to Paul Weller | Andy Lewis on saying yes to everything

Episode 18

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 • Duration 57:17

Most musicians spend years trying to plan the perfect career.

Andy Lewis did something different.

From discovering bass through Mod music, soul and funk... to becoming Paul Weller's bassist almost by accident... to building a hugely varied career as a producer, DJ and songwriter, Andy's story is a masterclass in following opportunities rather than chasing status.

In this episode of Now That's Bass, Andy talks about learning by ear, why groove matters more than technique, the emotional side of music, life inside Paul Weller's band, and why saying "yes" has opened more doors than any long-term career plan ever could.

This is a fascinating conversation about musicianship, creativity and building a life in music that lasts.

In this episode we discuss:

How Andy first discovered bass guitar
Why listening is more important than reading TAB
Learning music by ear
The relationship between bass and drums
How DJing shaped his understanding of groove
The unexpected journey into Paul Weller's band
Life touring at the highest level
Producing records after Weller
Why emotion always beats technical perfection
Advice for young bass players
The importance of staying curious
The bass players everyone should study

If you enjoy conversations about bass, musicianship and building a career in music, don't forget to Like, Subscribe and Share.

#BassGuitar #BassPlayer #PaulWeller #AndyLewis #NowThatsBass #MusicPodcast #BassPlayers #Groove #MusicCareer #Producer #SoulMusic #FunkMusic #Mod #NorthernSoul

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How Bass Players ACTUALLY Build Careers in 2026 | Jenn McCarron (Savage Fridays)

Episode 17

Friday, June 26, 2026 • Duration 57:01

In this episode of Now That's Bass, Pete Roythorne sits down with bassist, producer, creator and Savage Fridays founder Jenn McCarron to explore what it really means to build a music career in 2026.

After years touring with bands, Jenn stepped into the corporate world before making the bold decision to return to music full-time. Today she's built one of the fastest-growing bass channels on YouTube while producing music, creating content and proving that modern musicians don't have to wait for opportunities—they can create them.

This isn't just a conversation about bass playing. It's about creativity, resilience, entrepreneurship and finding your own voice in an industry that's changing faster than ever.

Whether you're an aspiring professional bassist, a content creator, or simply trying to build a career doing what you love, Jenn shares honest advice, practical lessons and plenty of inspiration from her own journey.

In this episode we discuss:

Jenn's unconventional journey into bass guitar
Why she left touring for corporate life—and why she came back
Building a career through YouTube and the creator economy
Why consistency beats perfection
The importance of finding your own musical voice
Touring versus creating content
Learning from criticism instead of fearing it
Why community matters more than follower counts
Balancing creativity with earning a living
Multiple income streams for today's musicians
Why every musician should stop waiting for opportunities and start creating them

If you're serious about building a career in music, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

👍 If you enjoy the conversation, please like the video, subscribe to the channel and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.

About Jenn McCarron

Jenn McCarron is a bassist, producer, songwriter and content creator best known for her growing Savage Fridays YouTube channel, where she shares bass demos, music production insights, gear reviews and honest conversations about life as a modern musician.

Now That’s Bass – Details, episodes & analysis

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