Steve Mackey- Bassist (Luke Combs, Dolly Parton, The Wallflowers)
04/10/23 • 43 min
Today’s guest is Steve Mackey! Steve has been holding down the low end as a mainstay session player for over two decades. He comfortably floats between genres having supported artists like Luke Combs, Indie Aria, Lucinda Williams, The Wallflowers, Delbert McClinton, and Dolly Parton. Mackey is an ACM Bass Player of the year nominee, and has been featured in the house bands for Bonnaroo Super Jam, CMA Fest, and The NSAI Songwriter hall of fame.
Steve is the bass playing version of a champion race horse. He discovered his passion, put blinders on and played one note in front of the other through an amazing journey to the metaphorical finish line of success in the recording industry.
In this episode we unpack the twists and turns of navigating the roller coaster ride of a music career. Mackey breaks down his creative mindset when approaching a session and dives deep into developing the skill sets that can keep a musicians name at the top of a producers call list. He believes being a great session player means having the instincts to get the job done, while bringing something fresh to the table, and I can say he absolutely nailed that in our conversation as well. Without further ramblings, lets get to the show!
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Today’s guest is Steve Mackey! Steve has been holding down the low end as a mainstay session player for over two decades. He comfortably floats between genres having supported artists like Luke Combs, Indie Aria, Lucinda Williams, The Wallflowers, Delbert McClinton, and Dolly Parton. Mackey is an ACM Bass Player of the year nominee, and has been featured in the house bands for Bonnaroo Super Jam, CMA Fest, and The NSAI Songwriter hall of fame.
Steve is the bass playing version of a champion race horse. He discovered his passion, put blinders on and played one note in front of the other through an amazing journey to the metaphorical finish line of success in the recording industry.
In this episode we unpack the twists and turns of navigating the roller coaster ride of a music career. Mackey breaks down his creative mindset when approaching a session and dives deep into developing the skill sets that can keep a musicians name at the top of a producers call list. He believes being a great session player means having the instincts to get the job done, while bringing something fresh to the table, and I can say he absolutely nailed that in our conversation as well. Without further ramblings, lets get to the show!
Join The Band for FREE at studiomusicianacademy.com
For access to exclusive masterclass sessions
Instagram
Youtube
Previous Episode
Adam Shoenfeld- Guitarist (Big & Rich, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw)
Today's guest is Adam Shoenfeld! Adam’s double decade, career journey has had stops in every landmark of the industry. As a first call session guitar player, touring sideman, hit songwriter, and producer, Adam has been tapped by artists like Big & Rich, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Jimmie Allen, and countless others.
Adam is a 7 time ACM guitar player of the year nominee. His playing can be heard on over 45 #1 songs, and he has co-written songs for Jason Aldean, Big & Rich, and Faith Hill. If all that hasn’t kept him busy enough, Adam has kept his creative exploration fresh with his bands Digital Brains and SunKat, as well as his most recent solo record entitled All The Birds Sing.
Adam made the pilgrimage from New Jersey to Nashville after graduating high school, and landed a gig at the legendary Woodland Studios. It was here that he honed the nuanced craft of making records by utilizing the studio after hours, and was eventually brought on as a house musician for demo sessions. As the story often goes, one gig led to another and eventually, Adam was on the top of the list for session and tours at the highest level.
Someone once said, “Nashville is full of good musicians, but there’s always room for one more great one.” Adam’s story is a testament to the opportunities that await those who put in the work and stay the course. We are honored to have the opportunity to explore Adam’s incredible career and share the lessons he’s learned along the way. Here we go!
Join The Band for FREE at studiomusicianacademy.com
For access to exclusive masterclass sessions
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Next Episode
Eli Beaird- Bassist (Willie Nelson, James Bay, Shawn Mendez)
Today's guest is Eli Beaird!
Eli is a first call session bass player and runs Beaird Music Group, one of Nashville’s most in demand demo studios. Eli is an ACM Bass Player of the Year Nominee and his bass laying can be heard on records for artists ranging from Shania Twain and Willie Nelson to James Bay and Shawn Mendez.
Eli’s perspective as a bass player, band leader and studio owner offers an amazing insight into the various pathways musicians can take towards the coveted chair of their instrument. In this episode we explore Eli’s career path, creative process, the value of pre-production, the band leaders role on sessions, and so much more! Here we go!
Join The Band for FREE at studiomusicianacademy.com
For access to exclusive masterclass sessions
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Youtube
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