Heada: March 9th is quickly approaching where you’ll be part of the Taylor Mitsopulos Klein Oballa Showcase. How are you prepping this year?
Robyn: I just put a band together and they’re the kind of players that I’ve always wanted. I’m really excited about that. We’ve got rehearsals scheduled and it’s kind of weird for me playing with a band because I’m just one person but for occasions like Canadian Music Week you need to present the best was possible. That’s the only thing I’m a bit nervous about.
Heada: Ah, there’s nothing to be worried about! You’ve been on tour for a while now! Can you tell me a bit more about that?
Robyn: It’s great! I’ve been playing as much as I can, doing a lot of gigs with Craig Cardiff whose been mentoring me for the past couple months. I open his sets for him and sing some backup for him. It’s always a crowd of really nice people and it’s been great to sell the record to those folks and getting feedback.
Heada: I heard that you’re filming a new music video for your song, Astronaut!
Robyn: Yeah! I’m going down to L.A to film with my friend Warren who’s a brilliant director. He just offered to do it. It’s one of those things that you think would never happen. I booked my flight right away. Its kind of last minute but I’m getting ready. It shoots in a couple weeks time.
Heada: You came up for the concept of your music video Just a Bird. Did you have any creative influences on this one?
Robyn: Normally I’m a control freak but for Astronaut I was just happy Warren was offering his time. As long as I get to ride on an elephant for at least a part of it then I’ll be satisfied.
Heada: An elephant?! I thought the song was about space?
Robyn: Oh yeah, it’s being filmed in space and it’s gonna be pretty awesome. *laughs *
Heada: Space elephants…fair enough! So what really got you into music in the first place?
Robyn: I remember just singing a lot at home and just writing songs when I was alone. I think it was mostly when I started hearing female singers/songwriters or even the likes of Shania Twain or even Gloria Estefan. My Dad would play Jann Arden. I only had heard of bands when I was really little, so to see women doing it was like the most brave thing ever. I thought it was really cool and I just wanted to be like them.
Heada: Right on! If there was anyone you could collaborate with in the future, whom would it be with and why?
Robyn: There are so many local artists I’m totally in love with – like I love working with Craig Cardiff. I love Pat Robitaille, and Donovan Woods is one of my favorite singers/ songwriters. Those are my main ones that I love to do some stuff with. I also love Joel Plaskett. The Good Lovelies sang on my record – I love them. It would be cool to do stuff with any of them!
Heada: Music is your life, eh? Where would you be if you weren’t working in the music industry?
Robyn: I did a psychology undergrad and I have been working in that field since graduating a couple of years ago. So if I wanted to pursue it I probably would have written a thesis and gone to grad school – but I wasn’t having it. All my lecture notes had lyrics on them. I was a pretty bad student, but I dunno, I like working with kids and social work, so probably something like that!
