Why you can't be a solo artist (and should stop trying)

There is a spirit of competition in the music industry, the idea that the music we create is somehow supposed to be a weapon to beat other musicians with. On television, on radio, on sales, on labels; musicians are encouraged to beat each other instead of meet each other.

But the truth is no artist is an island. In pursuit of our work we have to remember all the promoters, collaboraters, managers, events co-ordinators, partners, family members and fellow writers; who facilitated, supported and inspired every move we tried to make "on our own".  

Collaboration has lead to some of the greatest moves of my life. I collaborated with Greg Lonsdale and Jack Curtis as the first ever signing to Outlawlabel, with Nina Smith on the launch my first EP, with Natalie Duncan on her homecoming Nottingham showcase and before all of them the incredible Christella Litras; an encounter which influenced and shaped every move that came after it.

My lastest collaboration has been with the magical, and humble, Alex 'Motormouf' Young. After a chance reunion on Alexanderplass in Berlin (Germany!)  this summer I asked Alex if he would give me a lesson on the loop pedal.

We met up (at Nina Smith's yard) and he gave me a free crash course and sent me on my way. I went on to loop away at home for six weeks, counting down to my first ever show with the loop pedal which was being hosted by (you guessed it) Motormouf. 

The day before the show I was terrified yet Alex's encouragement lead me to take a massive leap of faith and perform a short set at his Loopers 2 event last week which (despite a few glitches...!) was great and the audience, incredible. That leap, that performance, changed me. Encouraged me. 

At a time when musicians are being turned into lone wolves its nice to see the Nottingham music scene still knows how to run as a pack. 

It's that very sentiment and attitude that makes the Hockley Hustle festival possible; artists united in the spirit of music for a charitable cause and I couldn't think of a more oppertune place to debut some of my new, loop inclusive, tracks! 

Today, at 9.30pm on the Left Lion Broadway stage I'm taking the leap once more... 

You coming to collaborate?

Rob x

I'm also performing an acoustic set at Bodega at 3pm! Come see...!

Why it's GOOD to be a SELL OUT in the music industry

 "...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved" - Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species (1859)

Apple Music launched last week, confirming what most musicians have known for a while. The music industry is no longer really about record sales.

The digital audio marketplace has been paired with, what is essentially, Spotify on uppers to help reshape the wilted, jilted and stilted recorded music marketplace. Music has grown beyond the solid gift-wrappable product that it was to become a digital imaginarium which can be access all areas for anyone with an iPhone/Spotify shaped library card.

And its the best news we could have hoped for!

At one time all you really needed was a good album. (You didn't even have to be singing on it!) Just take a nice photo, interview well, lip-sync for SMTV and have bags, and bags of street credibility. Or blonde hair dye. 

If you could get some sexy people to be the face of a strong musical product; you had a goldmine on your hands. Sell records. Charting guaranteed a BIG payout. Touring was always needed and almost always happened AFTER the album dropped.

At a time when recorded music makes SO much less than it ever has being able to put an album together is not all there is to it.

Now its about selling out. 

If you can sell out a venue, you're a gold mine. Increasingly greater numbers of artists, signed and unsigned, are touring their material, gigging and building their fanbases without having ever set foot in a studio. More and more execs flock to artists who can fill a string of pubs, halls, arenas; who may never have recorded before because the LIVE performance stock is UP!

And is it really a surprise? Standing in the front row, back row, on the wings, in the rafters; with the boom of the amps and the buzz of the live moment will always, in my opinion, be irreplaceable. It's priceless, and those performers, DJ's and songwriters that can bring us all together are the ones that have a fighting chance. Their life is no longer just in your hands, but in the stands.

Darwin nailed it;

This is an evolution of species. 

Rob x

I'm performing in NOTTINGHAM again 25th July! Come and check it! 

THIS FRIDAY: Songwriters UNITE!

I love seeing a live band and big setups but sometimes you can't beat a show with just a songwriter, their instrument and their voice. This Friday I get to do just that with some of the BEST songwriters around for a one off evening of intimate acoustic music! 

Seven Arts in Chapel Allerton have always supported new music and has become known as one of the best places outside of London to experience intimate performances of all genres of music. SevenArts, in association with MEWL Leeds, are hosting their first ever Summer Songwriting Showcase, highlighting some of the best rising singer/songwriters from Yorkshire and beyond THIS FRIDAY 3RD JULY!

I am SO EXCITED to be perfoming and also hosting this event and will be introducing fellow performers Giles Winterton, Christella Litras, Tila & Tavelah Robinson, Marion Zubrzycki and Natalie Duncan when they take the stage to deliver their own sets! Every act has a killer set of vocals and a real passion for lyrics. There will be some collaborations and some debuts of brand new music so it is DEFINATELY worth coming to check it!

Click here to find out more about each act and/or buy discount advance tickets  

This is NOT to be missed! 

Rob x

THANK YOU BRISTOL!

Bristol's SW7's festival was a wicked stop on the Summer Dates tour! Considering it was the first year of the festival, Bristol showed just how well it can kickstart a party! - Thanks everyone who checked it out on Periscope too!

This show was so much fun and it was great to meet all of you! (and have a cheeky dance to Youth Club after the set ;) Thank you everybody for bringing such a good vibe, for singing with me and for grabbing my EP! (If I sold out before you could get one - click here)

Fingers crossed we'll get to meet up again next year! XD

Big love Bristol! 

Rob x

I'm in LEEDS next! Grab advance tickets HERE to come and see the show!