Pantheon - Podcasts for Music Lovers Music Buzzz Ep. 138: Matt Bissonette
Feb 13, 2026
Matt Bissonette, accomplished American bassist and vocalist who has toured with Elton John, David Lee Roth and Ringo Starr. He talks about his jazz roots and family musical upbringing. He explains singing bass solos and his practice methods. He recalls touring contrasts, studio approaches for his Common Road project, arranging strings, and worries about AI’s impact on music.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Singing Solos To Teach The Bass
- Matt Bissonette sang bass solos first then transcribed them to the instrument because he could hear melodies he couldn't initially play.
- He practiced phrase-by-phrase until his hands caught up and admitted it took many attempts to translate vocal ideas to bass.
Writing Songs Pays The Bills
- Matt balances pop songwriting and varied side projects to stay creative and earn a living.
- He emphasizes writing songs as a more reliable income stream than only performing.
Use Simplicity And Bold Bridges
- Do keep arrangements simple when the song calls for it; restraint often serves the song best.
- Try to write memorable bridges because they add surprise and lift to otherwise predictable songs.