How Dishan Abrahams Landed the Sugababes and Kylie Bass Gigs

not simply a lucky break: it was a career built through preparation, trust and understanding what an artist needs from their bassist. Joining Pete Roythorne on Now That’s Bass, Dishan traces his journey from Sri Lanka and Perth to London, and explains how relationships with musical directors led from Christophe Willem to Kylie Minogue and Westlife. This is a practical look at the work behind the big stages: why following a click can pull you away from the drummer, how to make your sound translate beyond your in-ears, and how solid time, feel and musical judgement earn you freedom on a pop gig. Dishan also explains what he looks for in a dep—and why being a brilliant player cannot make up for being unreliable. We explore the less visible side of a long career, too: losing the hunger for touring, returning to study, and rediscovering music through curiosity rather than obligation. There are stories about an unexpected email from Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, playing with Kylie beside the pyramids, and why even experienced professionals still feel like imposters. For players building a career, the takeaways are concrete: prepare so you can adapt, learn what the song and artist need, protect the trust behind a recommendation, and give people a way to discover what is distinctive about your playing. Follow Now That’s Bass for more honest conversations about making a life in music. If you enjoy the episode, leave a rating or review and share it with another musician. Chapters 00:00 Living the dream—and managing stage nerves04:29 Why bass felt freer than piano lessons07:46 Getting gigs while missing what college could teach11:20 Eight gigs a week: learning on the bandstand13:54 Click or drummer: what should a bassist follow?17:52 Earning creative freedom on a major pop gig22:30 Why moving to London changed the opportunities24:25 Getting the Sugababes gig without being on the list29:14 From Sugababes to Kylie: how trust opens doors32:46 Preparing for rehearsal changes before they happen34:53 Empathy, reliability and becoming a bassist people trust42:13 Losing the hunger—and learning to love music again49:33 Sleep, social media and advice to younger players52:05 Ed O’Brien’s email, Kylie at the pyramids and imposter syndrome56:22 Bernard Edwards: feel, restraint and a lighter touch