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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/now-that-s-bass-7778716/right-thing-right-time-andrew-mckinney-on-pulp-jtq-the-art-of-being-hireable
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/now-that-s-bass-7778716/right-thing-right-time-andrew-mckinney-on-pulp-jtq-the-art-of-being-hireable.md
Podcast: [Now That’s Bass](https://stenobird.com/podcast/now-that-s-bass-7778716)
Published: 2026-05-16T14:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://peteb.podbean.com/e/right-thing-right-time-andrew-mckinney-on-pulp-jtq-the-art-of-being-hireable/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/aghps4nnry3kr7jg/Audio-only-amck.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/now-that-s-bass-7778716/episodes/right-thing-right-time-andrew-mckinney-on-pulp-jtq-the-art-of-being-hireable
Duration seconds: 2752

## Resource

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 BassTech07:17 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 JTQ27:43 Imposter syndrome and the route into Pulp 36:14 Three things people should focus on to get more gigs42:45 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…

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