AUGUST 1, 2024

Streaming on all platforms.

Track list

  1. Strangers

  2. John Wayne

  3. Outer Space

  4. Anymore

  5. Anything

  6. Starting Over

A note from the singer guy…

3.25.2024, 8:28am

Hey friends,

Over the last 3 years I have been working and re-working, writing and re-writing, trying to find my way back into the deeply personal place of music.

As most of you know, I left full time road life behind almost 10 years ago. Since then I have bounced around working as a therapist, worship leader, waiter, and most recently, as a communications director for an incredible non-profit, African Leadership.

All the while, my relationship with music has being a constant curiosity. Creating and sharing music has been my lifelong passion. I have spent more time dedicated to this craft than anything else in my life! So you can imagine the questions that I have pondered since leaving full time music work. Is music just a hobby now? What’s it for? What am I to do with it? Do I need to write? Does music need to make money? Do I need to try and “become successful”? The list goes on. However, I thought I would share where I have landed…at least for now.

When I left Blackjack Billy in 2015, I started down a whole new path. Ultimately (without all the juicy details), the Lord changed me. I had become an alcoholic and drug addict who was suffering greatly. In June of 2016, about 6 months after leaving the band, I came clean to Emily and told her everything I had been hiding. That’s when the work began.

My recovery journey has been incredible. I have been sober for 8 year (but who’s counting). I went back to school to get a counseling degree and soon began work as a counselor, with the hope of helping others with stories like mine.

After 4 years as a counselor, I began to recognize a stirring in my spirit. As much as I believe in the hard work of therapy, it wasn’t for me. Sitting in a room all day just didn’t line up with the way God has made me. And, I had started writing music again.

It was too long before a position opened up at African Leadership, where my wife is the President. She needed some help with marketing, design, and communication I offered to step in as a consultant in 2023. By 2024 I had worked my way into a full-time job. Again, all the while, I’m writing music.

So, last year, I finally started to make some decisions around what to do with this music I had been writing. I decided to simplify. For many of you, this may sound normal and obvious, but after years in the music industry, nothing is simple. I decided I simply needed to record these songs and put them out. Because I love it. And because I believe it’s good! And because I don’t believe making art and putting in a closet is the best use of art.

Will people listen? Some will. Will a lot of people listen? Probably not. Do I have feelings about this? YES! I can’t help but entertain the idea of selling out the Ryman! That’s what I want. I want to be seen and known and loved and respected for my music. I want you to think I’m amazing. I want to be adored. I loved being a ‘rock star’. It was addicting.

But I have learned from that experience. And now, I am more committed to following Jesus than I am myself. At least, that’s the goal. Ups and downs right?

Maybe the best way to communicate my current relationship with music is hopeful obedience. I am doing what I feel I’m being asked to do. And nothing more. My buddy Josh Reynolds and I are recording songs. Then I’m putting them out. To me, this feels like riding a bike on the interstate. Or throwing a cup of water in the ocean. But the time and energy I feel like I am putting into this music is in line with where my current priorities lay. Maybe this will change and shift. Most things in life do. But until then, this is what I have.

I love this music now more than anything I’ve ever done. It’s a culmination of the last 20 years. and for once, I’m making music I love without any outside interference, or opinions. Just me and Josh at his house having fun.

I hope when you listen you hear the fun. I hope you hear the pain and the hope. I hope you enjoy it (and I hope you share it!). I hope you feel connected in some way… to me, or yourself, or your story, or to God. That’s what it’s for.

Rob