Hi my name is Rob, I’m a multi-instrumentalist and session musician. My songs and arrangements are often compared to Stevie Wonder or Todd Rundrigen and my voice to that of Jeff Buckley or Jake Shears.
From my perspective I’m a crazy person who cannot hold down a proper job because I have music going through my head all day long. Piano runs, guitar riffs, basslines, drum patterns… vocal lines & harmonies… It never stops – really never!
Aged 20 when most artists are ready to conquer the world, my voice was weak, unreliable and painful. It didn’t sound too hot either…
I remember back then listening to some of my idols – the aformentioned Jeff Buckley and Stevie Wonder in particular and thinking ‘how the heck can *he* do that when I simply can’t?!’. I set myself to work…
It took me a decade (yes you did read that right, I said 10 years) of determined health geekery and musical practise to properly change my voice and get good at the instruments I wanted to play to finish my first album.
Titled ‘Respect’ it explored the meaning of that word in relation to opinions, other people, yourself, animals, lovers and more.
But with this victory came failure. The album and my live shows did not achieve the success I needed to carry on with the same work rate. Essentially I was a busted flush.
If I wanted to continue moving forward with my playing, both my ways of bringing in money and my creative process needed to take less time and energy. I set to work again…
Another decade later here I am with a new solo live set, a new single and new album on the way. I’m enjoying teaching voice, especially in relation to playing other instruments while singing. And I’m grateful to be able to balance that with live performance.
I’ve left a lot of my troubles behind me for sure – I can sing with a voice I wouldn’t swap for anything for hours a day without fatigue. The accompaniment I can give myself on both piano and guitar allows me to do a pumping solo set.
That said my next goal is to find the drummer and double bassist who could collaborate on a proper jazz record…
Coming home is a lifelong journey.