I’m a musician, teacher, lecturer and writer – both magazine journalism and contributor to a number of blogs about different aspects of the world of music. My main musical outlet has been as a solo bass guitarist for the last 10 years, but involves a lot of collaborating with other artists too, and has resulted in 10 albums being released on my own imaginary record label, Pillow Mountain Records.
I’ve taught bass guitar, composition, improvisation and performance to degree, masters and PhD students, and have lectured in a number of universities in the UK, Europe and US on the changing situation in the world of music, particularly as it relates to musicians avoiding the pitfalls of the old-era record industry machine.
My experiences in using social technologies to tell the stories around music have also led to me consulting with the Central Office Of Information in the UK Government, The British Council, The Business School at Leicester De Montfort University and with the Department of Social Computing at Imperial College, as well as delivering keynote speeches at conferences organised by PRS For Music, The Musicians Union and JAMES: Joint Audio & Media Education Services.
I’m the founder and co-ordinator of The Recycle Collective – a regular improvised music gig, Beyond Bass Camp – a weekend intensive course for bass guitarists, OfficeGigs.co.uk – a project aimed at getting live music into work spaces around the UK and MicroGigs.net – a format for putting on house concerts in a financially sustainable way in smaller houses.
I blog regularly at stevelawson.net where you can also hear what I do, and at solobasssteve.com – a group blog for friends of mine with interesting things to say.