How do you build a thriving music career when you make ‘wonky electronica’ on a six-string bass and refuse to stream on Spotify? British solo-bass pioneer Steve Lawson has spent two decades answering that question – and his solution turns the usual music-business logic on its head.

This week he explains why smaller can be smarter, how a Bandcamp subscription funds his art, and what the rest of us can learn about making creativity sustainable for the long haul.

‘My priority is twenty years of meaningful creative practice – everything else serves that.’ – listen in to discover Steve’s contrarian blueprint.

Steve Lawson is hailed by Bass Guitar magazine as ‘Britain’s most innovative bassist’. Eschewing bands, he layers melodic, ambient textures live with loop pedals and a MIDI controller, creating expansive soundscapes from a single instrument. Beyond the stage he is equally radical: shunning mainstream streaming services, he releases several albums a year through ‘Steve’s Ever-Expanding Digital Box-Set’ on Bandcamp, where a modest annual fee gives fans his entire back-catalogue plus every new release.

The result is a tight-knit community whose support pays his rent and frees him to make music – and teach – entirely on his own terms. In this conversation Steve unpacks the thinking behind the model and offers a refreshing alternative to the ‘million streams or bust’ narrative.

Immerse yourself in Steve’s music – and explore the subscription – at music.stevelawson.net. His main site stevelawson.net hosts essays on creativity, tech and the changing music economy.

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

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