Podcast
Worship Bass Coffee
Hosted by Worship Bass Coffee · EN
Worship, Bass, Coffee is the podcast for worship musicians, bass players, and creatives who serve the Church and love a great cup of coffee.
Hosted by a Nashville-based worship bassist Jay Szalay, this show features real conversations about worship music, bass gear, playing techniques, faith, creativity, and serving in ministry.
Hear from special guests—both well-known and behind-the-scenes—as we talk tone, gear, grooves, and what it means to lead with humility and heart.
Whether you’re on stage every Sunday or just love the worship music world, this podcast is brewed just for you.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Road to Music Director with Nate Sousa
Mar 901:47:52Tap to summarizeIn Episode 18 of Worship, Bass, Coffee, Jay sits down with his friend and fellow musician Nate Sousa (aka “The Sooze”), the Music Director at The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Nate shares his journey from growing up in a musical family to becoming a multi-instrumentalist and seasoned worship music director.The conversation covers Nate’s early years playing drums, teaching himself guitar, and eventually discovering his passion for music directing while in college. He also talks about his time working alongside worship leader Aaron Blanton, the move from California to Tennessee, and how those experiences shaped his approach to worship ministry and music production.Jay and Nate dive into topics like preparing for Sundays, the role of an MD in supporting the worship leader and band, how musicians can serve the song rather than themselves, and the importance of dynamics and listening in a worship setting. They also discuss gear, tone, bass and guitar perspectives in worship music, and Nate’s work with Tone Junkie creating guitar presets.Along the way, the episode includes plenty of funny stories, gear talk, and practical advice for musicians who serve on worship teams—whether they play bass, guitar, or lead bands from the MD chair.It’s a relaxed, insightful conversation between friends about worship, musicianship, and the joy of serving together in church music.So grab your favorite cup of coffee, kick back, and enjoy the conversation.
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It’s the NAMM Gear Show! – with Josh Summers
Feb 2301:40:42Tap to summarizeJosh Summers is back in the Worship Bass Coffee Studio—and this time we’re doing a full NAMM 2026 gear roundup with honest takes, practical worship context, and plenty of laughs. We kick things off with the Walrus Audio Mantle, why the price shocked us at first, and why it makes more sense when you think of it as studio-grade gear you can throw on a pedalboard.From there we get into DI/preamp options like the Fodera x Trickfish preamp, the Laney Digbeth Nathan East preamp (with its clever dual-input switching and IR features), and talk about how some “practice/recording-ready” pieces are blurring the lines between studio and live rigs. We also hit newer releases like the JHS Morning Glory Clean, what it solves for bass players, and why hearing pedals in a mix matters more than solo demos.We wrap with Aguilar’s NAMM releases (including the new octave and compressor updates and the Tone Hammer 2x10 combo design), a look at Tech 21’s Geddy Lee chorus, the new programmable SansAmp Bass Driver, and some honorable mentions like tiny tuners, no-tangle IEM cables, Spector’s new NS-inspired models, and Ibanez’s Mode series. If you love gear, tone, and worship bass practicality—this episode is a blast.
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Behind the Bass: Samuel Rady on Maverick City and More
Feb 901:44:08Tap to summarizeEpisode 16 of Worship Bass Coffee features session and touring bassist Samuel Rady, a longtime “Insta-friend” of Jay’s whose playing you’ve probably heard even if you didn’t realize it. Sam shares his story of getting started on bass, landing early opportunities with Housefires, and how that path led into the rise of Maverick City Music—including what it was really like going from church gigs to arenas and huge stages. They talk about the reality of touring (the good, the hard, and the unexpected), the importance of the people you’re surrounded by, and what it takes to stay grounded as opportunities grow. Of course, they also go deep on the gear: Sam walks through his bass lineup (including a PJ Custom Shop, a ‘92 Thunderbird with Lollar pickups, a G3, a Mustang, a Coronado, and more), his live setup with the Quad Cortex, and his “absolute unit” studio board—plus why the Noble DI is still the one piece he can’t live without. The episode wraps with rapid fire favorites, coffee talk, and practical advice for worship bassists and aspiring touring musicians who want to grow the right way. Grab your favorite cup of coffee and listen.
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A Drummer’s Perspective on Worship with Jeremy Williams
Jan 2601:21:03Tap to summarizeEpisode 15 features the first non-bassist guest of 2026, and one of my best friends — drummer Jeremy Williams from The Bridge Church. In this episode, Jay and Jeremy talk about serving on worship teams from a drummer’s perspective and how real friendships off-stage directly impact chemistry, feel, and tightness on-stage.Jeremy shares his story of growing up in church with a worship-pastor dad, starting drums at a young age, and how those early experiences shaped his heart for worship. He also opens up about his current season of life as a husband and father balancing ministry with a demanding career that requires constant travel, and what intentional preparation looks like when time is limited.The conversation dives into practical worship topics including how drummers prepare without a kit at home, what drummers listen for from bass players, locking in with the kick, serving the song, building dynamics, tone in in-ears, and handling mistakes on Sunday mornings. They also talk about humility, patience, and why relationships within a worship team matter just as much as musical skill.Grab your favorite cup of coffee and listen.
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From Sessions to the Stage: A Conversation with Jacob Lowery
Jan 1201:49:58Tap to summarizeEpisode 14 kicks off 2026 with Nashville session bassist Jacob Lowery, whose résumé spans everyone from Reba McEntire and Michael McDonald to Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and more. Jacob and Jay talk about what a “normal” week in the studio really looks like, how inspiration (and learning songs) often beats practicing scales, and how relationships + being a great hang can open doors just as much as playing the right notes. Along the way, Jacob shares early influences from church and radio (a true Louisiana gumbo of styles), surreal career moments on massive stages, and the discipline of serving the song—knowing when to add a little “spice” and when to stay out of the way. They also dive into gear: Bluesman basses, strings, and Jacob’s signal chain (including his always-on approach to tasteful drive), plus his upcoming Bass Summit where he mentors players on sessions, charts, tone, and real-world etiquette (sometimes with a Bluesman bass giveaway!). Jay closes the episode with an invite to join the Worship Bass Coffee Bible reading plan, a Psalm reading and encouragement for anyone feeling under attack, and a reminder that this community is better together—so grab your favorite cup of coffee and listen in.
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From Leading Out Front to Serving from the Low End with Phil Lawson
Dec 2901:41:32Tap to summarizeIn Episode 13 of Worship, Bass, Coffee, Jay sits down with bassist, worship leader, real-estate pro, and longtime supporter of the show Phil Lawson. Phil was one of the very first people to reach out when the podcast launched, and this conversation feels like the full-circle moment it was always meant to be. Jay and Phil talk through what everyday life looks like when you’re juggling family, full-time work, serving at church, and still trying to stay musically sharp. Phil shares how his journey—from music education, to leading worship, to building a career in real estate—shaped the way he approaches Sundays, preparation, and ministry today.They dig into his musical roots, the bass that shaped him, how he balances calling and schedule, and the practical rhythms that help him serve well without burning out. And of course, they spend time on gear, tones, strings, and the stories behind the instruments that carry his sound. Settle in with your favorite brew and join us for this reflective close-to-the-year end episode.
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Bryce Vaughn and the Heart Behind the Tone
Dec 1501:18:56Tap to summarizeIn this Christmas-season episode of Worship, Bass, Coffee, Jay sits down with fellow Texan and tone architect Bryce Vaughn for a conversation that’s equal parts gear talk, real-life honesty, and worship-community heart.They dig into what life actually looks like when your weeks are stacked with Sunday sets, midweek services, artist dates, studio sessions, and the constant tension of staying creative without burning yourself out. Bryce shares how growing up as a pastor’s kid in an all-Black gospel church shaped his feel, his pocket, and his instinctive approach to worship bass—and how that background still influences the way he plays today.From the “why” behind his pedalboard to the story of how he started building presets and eventually launched Backline Resources, Bryce talks openly about tone, inspiration, and what it means to carry your own musical DNA rather than copying someone else’s settings. He also offers grounded, heartfelt advice for new worship bassists—whether they’re teenagers stepping onto a stage for the first time or adults discovering the instrument later in life.So brew your favorite cup, settle in, and enjoy this Christmas-season conversation.
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