Here at Female First, we couldn't pass up on the opportunity to re-interview one of our favourite rising stars, Robbie Boyd.
With his new single 'Less Than Friends' out now and a brand new album coming at the end of May, he's plugging away once more and certainly isn't disappointing fans.
Charming and talented, Robbie caught up with us to discuss his new material, where he's going to go from here and much more.
How does it feel to be releasing your debut album 'So Called Man' this month?
Incredible. It's a very proud moment. I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to pursue something that I love doing as my ‘so-called job’! It's been about four years in the making, and I’ve put everything in to it, so I'm really looking forward to getting it out there and seeing what people think.
What can you tell us about the creative process behind this record?
Lyrically, there are themes of love, loss, hope, and strength. I generally like to put my own real life experiences into the words of my songs. With this record, stories either presented themselves to me complete, or the ideas were born collaboratively with some of the people I had the pleasure of working with. I would then show the songs to the band, who would take them to a whole new amazing place with the arrangements. In the early days it’s a constantly evolving thing, fine-tuning the songs at gigs as well as working with our brilliant producers Joe Lonsdale and Tristan Ivemy. Once they were exactly where we wanted them, we went into the studio to lay the tracks down.
What sound should fans expect?
It’s an upbeat, feel-good and positive record, with a couple of more down-tempo tracks to balance it out. I think it’s a great mix between rich Summer sounds and wistful folky reveries. Even with the sad songs, somehow we always manage to make them sound hopeful!
Why did you choose to release 'Less Than Friends' as a single?
It hits you right from the opening bars. I think it embodies a lot of what my album is about - hope, reflection, and a bit of fun. It came from a very honest place of experiencing the torments of unrequited love, which is something I think a lot of people can relate to.
How was the experience of recording the music video for this single?
I adore making music videos, again it’s working collaboratively, but this time putting pictures to my stories, and working in another medium. I always get as involved as possible in the production and ideas. For this particular video, ‘Less Than Friends’, we had a great time making it. The director brought a fantastic concept to me, and I knew we had to do it. The days were long but incredibly rewarding. It was brilliant to see all the ideas coming to life, and to have as much fun as we did at the same time.
Where did you find influence from for this collection of tracks?
From so many things; Nature, birth, enduring friendships, past loves - fleeting and long-lasting; from the crazy commotion and rapid changes going on in our world; from the forces of fate and the choices we make; from the desire to follow our own truth, increased awareness and acceptance of who we are.
What can fans look forward to from any upcoming live shows you'll be playing?
We always put our all into the live performances. We definitely feed off the audience’s energy and that’s what music is all about, those connections. We like to have fun when we’re on stage together, and because we know each other so well, and how we each play, we have a strong connection that I think comes across strongly. It’s incredible when I look out and people are singing along to my lyrics, it’s a feeling I’ll never tire of. I’m always changing the set lists, and we also like to keep a few surprises up our sleeves, to make each gig unique. Our next London show is on Wednesday 28th May at The Garage, and our next Northern gig is on Wednesday 4th June at Gulliver’s in Manchester.
How do you feel you've developed as an artist since releasing your four EPs?
I’m still on a journey even now, and undoubtedly will be forever. I’ve learned a lot about writing, especially from going to Nashville, which was very enlightening. I’ve grown in confidence in terms of gigging, and I’m sure busking has a large part to play in that. As I grow, so do my lyrics and sound. I think you always need to be evolving and learning.
What do you hope to get out of the next 12 months?
I’d love as many people to hear my album as possible, and then start thinking about the next one! That means touring the world far and wide to promote the album, playing lots of big festivals, collaborating with more amazing people and just seeing where the wind takes me.
Are there any other projects in the pipeline you can share some details about?
Recently I have been writing with and for other artists, and that is something I really love doing, and would adore to explore further.
Robbie Boyd's new album 'So Called Man' is released May 26 through Tawny Owl Records.