I think I may have been tracked down by the biggest Leonard Cohen fan blogger as a result of my last e.p. referencing the great man – ‘I Love Leonard Cohen’.
His feature is a too long to post in full here, so I will leave you to have a look on his site if you fancy a glimpse inside the mind of someone who may even love Leonard Cohen more than me!
http://1heckofaguy.com/2008/12/04/i-love-leonard-cohen-robin-grey-aint-bad-either/
The lovely Sally from the Londonist did a little feature and interview with me which made the front page on 3rd December – causing me to break the record for the most number of people visiting my site in a week. Happy days.
Have a read below and check out www.londonist.com.
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Singer song-writers: a rare breed, and when they’re good, a real treasure. Well, we’ve found a new one for you.
Robin Grey has a lovely fresh approach to the folk genre (although he does seem to wear sandals). He cites Cohen and Dylan as influences, but we can hear a definite echo of the late great Harry Chapin, a growling of Tom Waits and a sweet sprinkle of Don Mclean in the mix. He has a honeyed yet clear voice and his lyrics are arresting. Piano and guitar are joined by unexpected riffs on the banjo, ukulele, and assorted percussive things – although his tunes are pleasingly strum-ti-tum, he keeps us guessing as to where he’s going with it. We like. A lot.
He works cheerily out of a blue-doored studio in Hackney and has just brought out his first album, Only the Missile. We caught up with him to get the lowdown:
When did the music start?
My Grandma will quite happily vouch for my enthusiastic nursery school rendition of ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’ though I must confess the memory is a little more hazy for me. I guess music has been with me since way back when.
I only began performing my songs with any degree of gumption in the last year or two after spending a healthy amount of time at the back of the stage wielding a double bass with various bands and singer songwriters.
Do the words come first or the music?
Both, sometimes an old poem fits nicely over a riff and other times a new chord progression inspires a mood and words follow. Likewise some songs write themselves in ten minutes whilst some take a year or more to solidify.
What are you up to right now?
I have just finished recording an e.p. with the wonderful Madelaine Hart, to be released on my creative commons label ‘modifythevan’ next month and am about to start demoing tracks for my next album which will hopefully be recorded in a farm house in Tuscany over Easter and released soon after.
Where do you live in London and why?
I live in a lovely part of Hackney called Shacklewell, sandwiched between Stoke Newington and Dalston. I moved east from Kilburn as the rent was cheap and it was nowhere near a smelly tube line. I don’t think I would want to live anywhere else in London after living here for three years, the food, the people and the amount of green space all around make me very happy.
Is London a good place to be for folk musicians?
I think it is a great place for anyone creative – there is so much to be inspired by round every corner.
Working out how to pay the rent without using up all the energy I need for my music was hard at first but now that puzzle is solved I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Have you ever busked in London?
I used to busk my classical guitar exam pieces in the tunnel between Kings Cross Thameslink and the tube line when I was in sixth form – once I was over my nerves of busking playing in front of the examiners was far less of a problem.
What’s the best London venue for a folksy gig?
I love any venue where I can perform unamplified and that has cake. My favourite place by far is Iktoms at The Liberties Bar in Camden: I have played there twelve times in the last two years. They have lego to play with, penny sweets, colouring in pens and pencils and I am always blown away by at least one of the acts whenever I am there.
The Magpies Nest in Islington also put on amazing shows and the Betsey Trotwood is always a good place to be serenaded too.
Can you think of an unusual venue that should open itself up for gigs?
I would love do a show on the top of a double decker bus driving around central London, perhaps Londonist can help me make this happen!?!
I often play uke whilst on the 243 and have even managed to lead a sing-a-long or two on occasion.
Who else should we be listening to and why?
Ruth Theodore is an amazing talent who taught me a great deal, her album ‘Wormfood’ should be heard by everyone with ears.
I shared a stage with ‘This Is The Kit’ recently, who regularly come over from Paris, and I have nearly worn through the grooves of their brilliant album. I also love Fiona Bevan’s work and my good friend Hugh Coltman has just released his debut album which is ace.
Where can we see you playing next and when?
I am currently hibernating until spring – I have quite a few shows lined up for February and March, details of which are on my website.
What’s your London secret?
The carrot cake at Pogo Café in Hackney rocks my world.
Londonist is going to have strong words with Father Christmas: Robin Grey’s album better be in our stocking or else the mince pies are off.
A lady who goes by the name of ‘Tart’ has written a nice review of my e.p. on the blog:
I Correct Myself, I Mean All The Time
“Well, my weekend was brightened by an email from a wonderful musician who tracked me down from a comment over on Matthew’s ‘Song By Toad’ blog. Robin inquired as to my whereabouts to send a cd and being as I am already swooning over his chocolatey smooth voice and gorgeous folksy tunes, I guess I’ll begrudgingly share him with you.
His cover of Kirsty MacColl’s ‘There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis’ is wonderful. When I first heard Kirsty’s song, sung by her, I wasn’t a great fan of it. The twangy, country style threw me and I didn’t listen for the words and catch the meaning. The title just seemed funny and as a new listener to her work, I thought, “oh those silly Brits!”. Of course when you listen to the words you realize it’s a sad, might-I-lose-love? song. And it sometimes takes a good cover to get you to really hear a song, ya know? Now I hear our lovely Kirsty sing it and I get it. So thanks Robin, and I adore your version too.”
Matthew, aka Mr Song By Toad, has written some lovely things about my recent e.p. on his blog. I know some of you already read it but if you haven’t yet, have a look, it’s a gem.
“Robin is, I suspect, not the only one (who loves Leonard Cohen – ed).
I really liked his recent album Only the Missile and this appears to a rather lovely little inbetweeny EP. There’s a gorgeous atmosphere to Robin’s stuff that I can’t quite put my finger on. He has a deep, reassuring voice and a calming, unhurried delivery which seems to bring a familiar ease to his sound.
Add a splash of female backing vocals and what was simply really nice becomes bloody gorgeous. The title track is a lovely reminiscence on the transience of music taste, and the pleasant self-indulgence of nostalgia. The cover of the superb Kirsty MacColl song There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis is as good as the original, in an odd way. And then there’s Shakes & Shudders. Christ this is lovely. If I’ve heard a more intimate, weary song in ages I couldn’t name it: just fucking gorgeous.”
I have my last show of the year this thursday at Iktoms in Camden – my twelfth performance in two years for the brilliant Kevin Molloy. There will be music, lego, banjo, sweets, violin and colouring pens and pencils as well as a secret guest whose name cannot be advertised due to another high profile show… what what.
Thursday, November 20 from 8:30pm
The Liberties Bar, 100 Camden High Street, Camden, London, NW1 0LU
http://www.myspace.com/iktoms
After this show I am going into a cave to plot my next album which currently looks like it might be recorded in a farm house in Tuscany next easter if I am a good boy.
Kevin put together compilation cd of iktoms artists recently which featured ‘The Finchley Waltz’ – I am not sure how you can get hold of one but I am sure if you poke him on thursday he will have some on him – it is a great listen, featuring loads of my favourite artists.
