POP ART

DURING THE PAST two decades, Tim Stewart has established himself as the first-call guitarist for pop music’s biggest stars. Even a cursory glance at the 44-year-old Los Angeles-based ax man’s credits is nothing short of staggering: He’s toured and/or recorded with artists such as Rhianna, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Adam Lambert — and that’s just for starters.

So what is it about Stewart — or more specifically, what is it about his guitar playing — that places him in such high demand? By his own admission, he’s not much of a showboater. Given his druthers, he’s content to lay back and play deep, in-the-pocket grooves — although when called on to bust out a solo, he’ll uncork a metallic-tinged doozy. “It’s a funny thing, because nobody’s ever come out and told me, ‘Hey, I like you because you do this,’” he says. “I think people hire me because I’m versatile. I can play rock, funk, R&B and pop. No matter the style of the song, I really get into the rhythm. To me, that’s what makes music tick. Sticking with that pocket is harder than it sounds, but once you get it, it becomes part of your mindset.”

For the past few years, Stewart has been a key fixture in Lady Gaga’s band. He recalls the experience of playing with