Show Notes
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
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