I am a solo singer/songwriter/producer. I have been writing my own songs since I was 13 years old and I played my first gig, in a local pub, before I was 14.
The first collection of songs I recorded was in 1984 with one of my friends. We had formed a duo called “Strategic Plan” and were influenced by various synth bands. We recorded 8 tracks and thought that we would be famous! Sadly, things didn’t work out the way that we dreamed and over 18 months we went our separate ways. I continued to write and perform my own music but, due to various circumstances, I was unable to do much recording until the late 1990’s when I got hold of an old 4 track Tascam portastudio. With a basic Yamaha keyboard, guitar and my voice, I used the 4-track to record a collection of 13 songs and released an album: “Who’s Laughing Now?” This I sold at gigs and the money I made allowed me to upgrade to a Yamaha 4-track recording unit. Using this Yamaha unit, I then recorded the album “Storyteller” in 2000 again using a Yamaha keyboard, guitars and my vocals. Once again, this CD was sold at gigs that I was playing regularly. The following year, using the same equipment I recorded “Reality Bites”. By this time I was really pushing the limits of what I could do with this basic equipment. At this time, home computers were just beginning to be affordable and I purchased my first PC to use as the basis of a home studio. Sadly, the PC that I was sold, was not really capable of doing what I wanted so, with the help of a friend, I built a PC to do what I wanted and invested in some better equipment.
In 2003 I released the album “Sketches In The Key Of Life”, the first steps on the road to using my own studio setup.
After releasing the Sketches album, a series of EP’s were recorded and sold at gigs and in 2005 the album; “Everyone’s A Critic” was recorded and this was followed 2 years later by “Watcha Got?
Over the next ten years I played the ocassional gig and didn’t write/record very much at all. I continued to improve the hardware in my home studio and invested in better software and when time allowed tried to learn new recording & mixing skills. I created the independent record label “absic.rocks and started to publish my catalogue of work via a distribution service to various online streaming and sales outlets.
In 2017 I wrote and recorded the album Red Thread but struggled with getting it promoted.
In February 2018 I started writing a couple of songs. By this time I had joined Drooble, an online site for musicians and I asked for help as I wanted these songs to have proper musicians rather than just me using synths, guitars and drum programs. The call was quickly answered and the idea of a couple of songs became the album “One in Four”.
Website: https://robtunbridge.rocks/
Bandcamp: https://robtunbridge.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.tunbridge.3
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/absic.rocks/
1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?
Apparently I was able to whistle, before I could talk and my mother has said that I was always singing along to songs on the radio. I think the influences of my childhood made me want to create music. I grew up listening to so much variety of music from classical music (Mozart is still one of my musical heroes) through to rock, country, blues, soul, folk, country, Jazz etc.
I have been most influenced by bands/artists such as Status Quo, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Slade, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Buddy Holly, Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Iron Maiden. It’s probably safe to say that I have had a lot of influences and also that I have drawn ideas from a wide range.
2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?
A funny question this one, as I have often had people try to pigeonhole me and compare to me to popular “famous” artists. In my time I have been compared to: Cat Stevens, Chris De Burgh, Leo Sayer but I think the best one was a reviewer who said: “Rob Tunbridge sounds like a car crash between Status Quo & Erasure, colliding with Slade and Depeche Mode. The result being songs that are driven by rock guitars but tempered by audacious synthpop.”
The best compliment I have had came from one of my sisters when she said: “Rob, I’ve got to say that you have your own sound and you don’t sound like anyone else.”
3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?
I grew up in the late 1960’s early 70’s things were quite hard as my parents would often fight and there was never enough money in the house. That sounds a little trite but despite the hardships there was a lot of love and my siblings and I were always very close. I was given a battered old acoustic guitar when I was 11 years old that my neighbour was going to throw away. It was an awful instrument but, I taught myself how to play it and my sisters, brother and I would sing our favourite songs whilst I would pick and strum away.
I have always suffered with depression, stress and anxiety but, until recently I hid it away and battled through the daily routine and have used this aspect of my personality when writing and recording. I have also suffered from heartbreak and once again, this has given me plenty of subject matter.
I think that the most difficult thing I have had to endure is my own self-doubt.
4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?
I don’t usually prepare to write a song, for me it is a spontaneous thing. I will be playing on the guitar or playing around with one of the synths and I will hear a sound or sequence of chords that leads me down the creative path.
Once I have written the basic idea of a song, I will set up a basic click track in my DAW (Cubase) and then record a guitar track to build everything around. This track will often be re-recorded later and is only there to give me the structure of the song. Once I have this element recorded I will record a rough vocal guide and then, using the guitar and vocals I will develop other sounds, rhythms etc.
That said, on the One in Four album, the recordings for Bass guitar, Drums, Synths and other elements were being recorded in other parts of the world. So I would do my basic guitar vocal mix, send this over to the USA where the drummer would lay down his part it would then be sent on to the bass guitar player and this back and forth process between myself and the musicians that were assisting me was the format for all of the songs on the album.
Once I had all the tracks recorded I did a pre-mix of each of the songs. The files were then sent on to the mixing/mastering engineer in Sweden who then did the final mixing and mastering based around the pre-mix version.
5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or hard work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed? Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?
I feel that the traditional model of the music industry of major labels signing and assisting artists to develop a career has passed. With today’s technology, as you say, there are thousands of talented people writing/recording and getting their work out to the public without the need of record labels to do this for them. That said, I do feel that major record labels will continue. They will sign artists and throw money at them as they create music for the masses.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to be a part of the larger industry. My independence allows me to write and record the songs I write in the style I want to. If I write a reggae based track, followed by a blues song, I have the freedom to do this and I have done so. It is this individuality that I hope will make me stand above other musicians.
6.) Are you able to make a living with your music? If so, how were you able to attain a career doing what you love? If not, what do you do in order to fund your music career? What advice would give to someone who’s interested in pursuing a career in music?
I have gone past the point of worrying about making a living from music. That used to be my ambition but now, for me, the driving force is to get recognition of my songs. If that leads to earning enough money to continue creating, recording and releasing new songs that will be fantastic.
To fund the musical side of my life, I work full-time as a bicycle mechanic. This allows me to meet people and gain new insights into various subjects, that I can then weave into my songs.
The only advice I would offer to anyone that wishes to pursue a career in music is: Follow your heart and do what you believe is right.
7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?
The advent of social media has opened a Pandora’s box for the whole world to market themselves. From a musical side of things this has been like a breath of fresh air for musicians, like myself, that are creating music but that would rarely get their toe in the door with the old music publication, distribution system.
One of the major problems for any artist is getting your work heard. If nobody knows about it then, it will just die a slow and painful death. But, if you are a solo artist, how can you afford the time to be creative, record your music, get out and perform it as well as spend the necessary time to promote on social media? If I had an answer for that one I wouldn’t be talking to you.
8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?
Any one that creates music, does so in the hope of making it big and earning millions. Anyone that says otherwise is probably fooling themselves.
I have absolutely no issue with those artists that choose to make money from their talent and I for one, do not feel that they are selling out at all. In fact, quite the opposite, I think they are very lucky to be in the position to do this.
Everyone has to do what they believe is right for them.
9.) What are the positives and negatives of the music industry? What is it about the music industry that makes some artists push forward? What do you think makes some artists quit?
With music you can express yourself, your opinions, thoughts, ideas, emotions etc., that you cannot always do with words alone. When I write a song, I will often use music to lift what would otherwise be a very dark subject or a melody that acts as a counterpoint to the lyrics.
I have lost count of the number of times that I have said: “I quit”. But, like a bad penny, I keep coming back. Without music my life is incomplete. I have ideas popping into my head and the next thing I know; I have the guitar in my hand and there I am writing new material. There is always the hope that this next song will be the one that gives me the breakthrough into a wider audience. I have a saying that I like to use: “Never give up; Never surrender.” This is how I feel about my music. I really believe in the songs I write and perform, and I know that the majority of those people that have heard them, like them and support what I am doing. That is why I keep going. I enjoy the creative process, performing my work live and the positive feedback I get from doing this.
It is very easy to become despondent, especially when you are being creative but gaining no toe hold or earning money from the thing that you love. I guess a lot of musicians quit because of this struggle and due to life changes, such as getting married, having a family, just trying to earn a living.
10.) With so many people online who are expressing their opinions on any and everything under the sun, how do you know when to take something as constructive criticism or when to see it as trolling?
It is obvious to me, if someone is offering constructive criticism or just being hateful. If someone is telling me that they would improve the work by doing this or that and giving practical solutions to their perceived errors in my work, that is one thing. But those people who say things such as: “I hate it”, “The cat could’ve sung that better” or other comments such as these, then I know that the person is most likely trolling.
11.) Most, if not, all musicians have those who have influenced their work in one way or another, but how important do you think having a mentor is?
I have been influenced by so many artists and different musical genres that it is difficult for me to say that any one artist has inspired me the most. Like a bee, I tend to dip into many flowers to take a sip of the nectar which then guides my inspiration in creating my own work. That is not saying having a mentor is a bad thing, butI feel that you must try to be yourself. Yes, of course we all take ideas that we have heard, but it is our interpretation of those ideas that we hope will make us stand out with our own music and sound.
12.) In your opinion, what do you think the future of the music industry looks like? What trends do you see staying or going? What trends do you see possibly emerging and why?
The music industry is adapting to the internet but, still wants to keep one foot in the past by having control over artists, that they sign and their creative output. This outdated model is being slowly eroded by the independent musicians and creative talents, that now have the ability to produce, distribute and promote their own work without the need of major labels. Streaming services are becoming the norm and we need to consider the whole way that we produce and attempt to sell our wares in the digital market.
13.) Since we’re in a world of instant gratification nowadays, what would you say to the musicians out there who want instant recognition but don’t necessarily want to put in the hard work? How much of an investment is needed in order to truly see some sort of success?
Whilst it is satisfying to get instant recognition, if you haven’t done the groundwork of honing and advancing your musical knowledge and skills, then you are just as likely to fade out even faster. Like all things in life, you must work hard to achieve success and then maintain it.
14.) What advice would you share with other artists who are trying to create something unique?
Go for it. Believe in yourself and your creativity. Just because it is unique doesn’t make it wrong and by creating something new you may hit upon the next big thing in music.
15.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Ah! the million dollar question.
I would love to have my music recognized internationally and be playing large gigs around the world.
In reality I am aiming to to improve the recognition of the work I create, continue writing, recording and performing and also hopefully, find new bands/artists to support and grow my record label by helping them release their own original music.