New Single On The Way Before Debut Extended Play: Interview With Robby Monroe
The singer, who’s about to release his fourth single, will drop his debut extended play in September.
Monroe, a musician whose strength is his songwriting, says he’s an ‘unboxable artist’. Honest music is the best music, he says. Making music that reflects the artist as a whole, he says, ‘is the goal to creating timeless records’.
It’s important for him, as a musician, he says to know the message and story behind the music he makes, otherwise that’ll be tantamount to making ‘mindless music’, a thing Robby is against.
‘Knowing what the story and message of the song will be. I never want to make music that means nothing or just mindless.’
L. SOJINI: Can you tell us about yourself? Where you’re from and what kind of musician you are.
ROBBY MONROE: Vocalist and lyricist Robby Monroe is a genre-bending artist. Monroe's music holds nothing back. Lyrically expressive and educational. Vocally experimental and expansive. Sonically un-chained to a specific set standard. Monroe is an unboxable artist. lyricist Robby Monroe is a genre-bending artist
L. SOJINI: How did you get into music?
ROBBY MONROE: I first started writing poetry and short stories. One day I was freestyle-singing to a random song and started remixing the lyrics.
That led me into writing remix songs that were like musical short stories that just got more and more personal. Eventually, I started writing whole remix projects and then leaning into original music which has me here today.
L. SOJINI: What do you think makes good music?
ROBBY MONROE: Honest music is the best music. I value songwriters over anything and making music that reflects you as a whole is the goal to creating timeless records.
L. SOJINI: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a musician?
ROBBY MONROE: My strength as a musician is my pen. I was a writer first so even in music it’s all about the lyrics, story and message of a song.
Sadly, that focus is why my weakness would be playing instruments.
I have always had a liking for guitars and have dabbled in piano. I have no mastering in any instrument but I do wish… at least one instrument I would be fluent in. I believe it is never too late so being a guitar player could be… in the near future.
L. SOJINI: What are you currently working on?
ROBBY MONROE: I am always working on future music but right now, I am very focused on pushing my first ever EP out.
I had a promo single drop in February this year and now I am gearing up for my fourth single ‘Bestie’ dropping a month before the first ever EP.
The EP is called Being Robby and it will be a two-part project coming this September.
L. SOJINI: How do you approach music? As in, what’s your philosophy when it comes to making music?
ROBBY MONROE: Knowing what the story and message of the song will be. I never want to make music that means nothing or just mindless. Even if it comes off that way, everything I write and create either has a connection to me or a story from me.
L. SOJINI: What are you most proud of to have achieved as a musician?
ROBBY MONROE: Crafting, learning, and always improving my vocals. I am a self-taught singer and am so proud when a trained singer or music teachers would complement me on my vocal ability.
Anyone can learn anything but I do believe I have raw, natural talent and through these years I have taken my voice from sing-along to the counter-tenor I am today.
When I finally cracked how to really tap into my whistle register; it was the best day of my musical life. I truly believed then I could do anything with my vocals and career as long as I put my mind to it.
L. SOJINI: How do you promote your music?
ROBBY MONROE: Mainly word of mouth and social media. I have been working with social media promoters and trying to hop on TikTok trends to get songs more notice.
I do believe being an independent artist, pushing music on social media is the best fun and free way for artist to promote their music.
I do think working with promotion teams is good as well. If the goal is to be signed or major in an independent space, then creating or working with a team needs to happen in the beginning of your music career so your use to it and learn from it now.
L. SOJINI: Favorite musician? Why?
ROBBY MONROE: I have what I call a ‘musical table’. I like all genres so artist from everywhere can have me giving you a list to last two pages. But these four artists I put at the top embody everything I strive to be as an artist myself. In no particular order: Usher, Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Prince.
Usher for his dancing and showmanship in music videos and on stage. The way he experiments with different dance styles, music genres and vocal techniques.
Beyonce for her stamina, effortless captive vocal ability and grace. Being such a powerhouse on stage while balancing it out as a relatable human being in interviews to make the world fall in love with her.
Mariah Carey clearly for the impeccable vocal ability but even more for the sharpest pen in the entire music industry. Her lyricism can rival the best rappers out there. Not to mention being a trailblazer with breaking records, number ones and dominating a whole holiday, and that not even being a big plotted plan for her. Just all happening by her being herself.
And finally, Prince, with his electric groovy melodies, ability to play so many instruments, creating movies and music groups that give off influence even today. To be a man that can go toe-to-toe with Michael Jackson but it still be all love because they knew what music means, is and can do for the world.
These are not just singer or songwriters but true artists. They all dance, sing, write, rap, experiment with style and have been boundless on a genre scale. These artists are the foundation of all I am striving to be.
L. SOJINI: What’s your advice or message to fellow musicians?
ROBBY MONROE: Don’t do music for money, fame or as a joke. Music is an art that should be respected and treated with care. Everyone has that one song that stopped them in their tracks, let them feel like they were a warrior, felt like they would survive a heartbreak or was their theme song for life.
Music become parts of people’s whole identity and attach itself to memories they will always have due to the music. The importance of a song, singer, or just lyrics alone can shape a listeners’ whole outlook on life.
If you want to do this and I mean truly become a musician, then do it for the right reason. Stick it out in the tough times because even with nothing, music is still a vital part of your functioning.
Do it because it is and was always the first choice. And be you when you’re doing it. Following trends could work for a while but trends fade. Real artists never die.
L. SOJINI: Can you recommend one musician you’ve worked with that The Musician can interview next? You can share their Twitter handle.
ROBBY MONROE: Yes, one of my favorite independent artist that goes by Jayseph has new music out now. His twitter handle is https://twitter.com/JaysephA.
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