#mike robins

[umusicians]

UM Interview: Mike Robins

CCMA and JUNO Award-nominated artist Mike Robins is stepping out on his own. Mike Robins exploded on the country music scene in 2013 with his group Autumn Hill, achieving radio success, and being nominated for multiple awards including Canadian Country Music Awards and JUNO Awards. Following the success of Autumn Hill, Mike continued to grow working on a side project, East Adelaide. Last month, Mike released his debut single as a solo artist, called “Lightning Don’t Strike Twice”. His music showcases his soulful smooth vocals, raw emotion, and electrifying guitar work and continues to be deeply rooted in country music’s long tradition of storytelling. 

Amandah Opoku sat down with Mike Robins to talk his new single “Lightning Don’t Strike Twice”, pursuing a solo music career and more!

Amandah Opoku: Mike, thank you for doing this interview today! Before we kick off please tell our readers about yourself and one new artist you've discovered recently. Mike Robins: I am a country singer, songwriter and guitarist. I am starting a solo project now after being in two country bands. I have a french bull dog named Maui and I am a big foodie. Lately I’ve been really loving the new Hardy record. The level of songwriting is absolutely amazing, I’ve really become such a fan.

AO: What inspired you to branch out and release music as a solo artist? MK: It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve always had this vision for a solo project and I have been writing music for it for a long time. It really just feels like the right time. I’m going all in and I could not be more excited about getting this next chapter out there.

AO: If you could use 3 words to describe your music, what words would you choose and why? MK: I guess I would have to say honest, relatable and energetic. I would say honest, because I really love writing songs with a great personal story to them. I think country music has always had this deep tradition of incredible story telling and I really try to do my best to continue that in my music, it’s what I love about country. Relatable, especially with Lightning Don’t Strike Twice.  It’s got a Universal theme to it, telling that special person in your life that they are your “once in a lifetime” someone. Energetic because I really love playing live, I would say it’s my favourite thing to do. I really try to create music that will translate well on stage and make a great rocking show.

AO: As you pursue your career as a solo artist, what goals have you set for yourself? What do you hope to achieve within the next 5 years? MK: I would have to say I hope to be in a position where people have connected to my music and I am back playing on all the incredible festivals I got to play with the bands I have been in. Playing live really is my favourite and it would be a dream to play to large crowds and rock out with them again. There is no better feeling then standing up there and hearing an audience sing your lyrics back to you.

AO: What would you say is the biggest challenge you’ve experienced as you’ve pursued your music career? MK: I would have to say going through a vocal surgery and the recovery process, that was really a strange time.  Having to be silent for quite a while, learning to sing again in a different way was extremely stressful.  You’re not really sure what your voice is going to be like after that experience. I’m so lucky to have had a wonderful doctor and team work with me and I can say honestly I am singing better then ever. 

AO: For anyone thinking of pursuing a career in music either as an artist, songwriter or even behind the scenes, what would your advice be to them? MK: I would say if it really is your passion and it’s something you just have to do, then put your all into it. Be prepared for the “no’s” but always push through. If there is no plan B then you have to make your plan a reality. It’s ok to dream so dream big and just go for it.

AO: You made your solo music debut with “Lightning Don’t Strike Twice” on October 2nd. What was the inspiration behind the song? MK: I was supposed to get married this past summer. With the pandemic happening it really through a wrench into those plans. While we were going through the process of postponing, I wanted to say something to my fiancee to let her know she is my “once in a lifetime”. I’d been writing all this new music and had the EP finished when my producer sent me this song and I just thought it was so perfect, it said everything I wanted to. It’s such a special one for us and I’m so pumped to share it. I know a lot of people are going through things like that now. I think with all the negativity and uncertainty in the world currently, a little bit of positivity is what we all need right now.

AO: Looking at the writing and recording process for “Lightning Don’t Strike Twice”, what was it like? Would you say it greatly differed from the writing and recording process you’d engage in for Autumn Hill and East Adelaide releases? MK: The writing process was very similar for this whole project. It usually started with a lyric idea or hook and then I find a guitar riff that excites me. I think starting with a strong lyric idea is something I try to do in order to tell that story but there really isn’t one way, music can totally come first and inspire the lyrics. Recording was very different this time though. The pandemic changed everything and this was the first time I wasn’t in a room with a band playing. I actually recorded all my parts on this single at home. There is this app that lets you stream in real time with no sound quality loss. So Dave my producer and I were working in two different countries as if we were in the same room. It was really kinda wild, it was the closest thing to normal but I would have to say I still love being in the studio working with people. You just get this inspiring vibe.

AO: “Lightning Don’t Strike Twice” can be described as the perfect wedding song. It really captures a type of love we’ve witnessed in movies and/or television shows. If you had the chance to hear this song in any romance movie, what movie would you choose and why? MK: LOL I love that, thanks. Yea I could see it as a wedding song absolutely. Hmmm this is a tough one, if I could see it in any movie I would have to say either Say Anything, I mean c’mon who doesn’t want John Cusack blasting their song through that boom box outside the girls window. I would of course also have to say The Notebook, such a classic, I think that is the epitome of romantic movies. Can’t you see it? “It wasn’t over, it still isn’t over” cue Lightning Don’t Strike Twice.

AO: Keeping in the theme of the story that “Lightning Don’t Strike Twice” captures, what’s one thing you’ve learned about love? MK: Wow, this is getting deep lol. I would have to say listening, trust, communication and patience are the most important things in a relationship. Also just realizing I’m usually wrong. My fiancée is a teacher so she is probably right…

AO: Following the release of “Lightning Don’t Strike Twice”, what can fans expect from you next? MK: This year is all about getting my new music out there.  I have been writing for a long time and cannot wait to share all of these new songs.  Along with the new music I have also created a ton of new content.  I’d love to get back on stage as soon as possible.  I am so excited about this next chapter.

AO: Mike, thank you for sitting down with me! Before we close this interview is there anything you want to say to your fans and our readers? MK: I want to say how grateful I am that people have made my music apart of their lives.  You guys have really allowed me to turn my dream into reality.   I just want to say thank you to everyone supporting my music, it is truly appreciated and I can’t wait till we are all together again rocking out at a show.  See you guys soon!

Connect with Mike Robins on the following websites: https://twitter.com/mikerobinsmusic https://instagram.com/mikerobinsmusic

[ericbarkman]

Tales of WID 72 #1 Clever Is Alec

     Alec Riker entered the apartment building.  “Hey Clark,” he said to the doorman, who nodded at him.      Alec rode the elevator up to the fifth floor, and went down the hall to room 514.  He searched through his pockets for keys, and unlocked the door before going in, and tossing the keys into the bowl by the door.      He looked at the mess of the apartment, and checked his watch.  “Hmm, only a few hours to clean up.  I better get started.”      He connected his phone to the speakers, and turned on his favorite playlist.  Barbie Girl by Aqua started playing as he got to work.      Mike Robins entered his apartment building.  He barely even noticed the doorman as he went to the elevator and rode it up to his floor.  He went to his apartment, and pulled his keys out of his pocket.  He unlocked and entered his apartment, throwing his keys into the bowl by the door.      The first thing that he noticed was strange, was when the keys landed, and he heard them hit another set of keys already in the bowl.  The next thing was the realization that there was music playing.  The third thing he noticed was that his apartment was spotless, which was strange, as he had not had time to clean up after the party he had thrown the previous night.      The final thing out of place was when he heard the toilet flushing, followed by someone washing their hands.  A man exited the washroom, still drying his hands before tossing the towel over his shoulder.      “Who the hell are you,” Mike demanded.  “What are you doing in my apartment?”      “Come on Mikey, we met at your party last night,” Alec said.  “I thought I’d help with cleanup while you were at work.”      “Were you here overnight?” Mike asked as he took his phone out.  He normally had great service in here, but at the moment his phone had no signal.      “Naw, I made a copy of your key last night,” Alec said as he picked up an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter, and started eating it.      “What?  Why?” Mike tried opening the door behind him, but it was locked again.      “Oh, and I altered your locks,” Alec said.  “I was worried I wouldn’t have time for both that and cleaning up, but with my childhood, I did learn to clean up pretty quickly.”      “What is this?  What the hell do you want?”      “Not much,” Alec said between bites.  “But I know you’ve been building up a collection of files to blackmail your boss.”      “That’s what this is about?  My boss hired you to intimidate me?”      “Oh no, he has no idea what you’re doing yet.  The problem is that someone else a lot more powerful is also going to be implicated and that’s a major no-no.”      “What?  Who?  Huh?”      “Don’t worry about it, just let me know where you’ve hidden them, they clearly aren’t in your apartment or I would have found them while cleaning up.”      “Well, you’re wrong, I’m not planning on blackmailing him.  I’m planning on exposing him, and the files are already with a reporter.”      “Damn, that’s unfortunate,” Alec said.      “I don’t know what to do,” Bethany Alexander said into her phone as she crossed the parking lot.  “As soon as I identified the woman he was with in the picture I called my source, but there was no response.”  Her phone suddenly went quiet.  “Hello?  Hello?”  She looked at her phone, and saw that she had lost the signal.      “Dammit,” Bethany said as she got to her car.  She put her phone in her purse before unlocking her car doors and getting in.  She started it up, and began driving home.      “Just keep driving,” a voice said as she felt a gun pressed to the side of her head.      “Dammit,” Bethany said.  “You’re here for the picture, aren’t you?”      “Clever girl, you catch on a bit quicker than Mike.”      “What did you do to him?”      “Don’t worry, he’s still alive, for now at least.”      “If I give you the picture, will you let us both live?”      “That certainly improves your chances.  Where is it?”      “At my home, I’m going there now.”      “Good stuff, that’s what I like to hear.”      Alec hid his gun under his coat as Bethany parked her car, and they both got out.  She left her purse behind and his insistence, and he followed her into the apartment building, and to the elevator.      “Should I be worried that you’ve let me see your face?” Bethany asked.      “Why?” Alec asked.  “Is it not a nice looking face?  I’ve been told before I look kind of like Neil Patrick Harris.”      “I just mean, doesn’t that indicate you’re planning on killing me?”      “Only if you don’t cooperate,” Alec said.      They got off the elevator, and he followed her to her apartment.  She unlocked the door and they went in.      “So, where are the files?” Alec asked.      “I thought you just needed the one picture?”      “I mean, I have to make sure there’s nothing else in the files that’ll cause a problem.”      Bethany took a picture off the wall, which revealed a safe.  She unlocked it, and took out a manilla folder full of papers, and handed it to Alec.      He started skimming through it, taking out the photo as he passed by it, and checking for anything else that might be relevant.      “Yeah, looks like I just need the one photo,” Alec said as he handed the folder back to her.  “See ya around.”      “I certainly hope not,” Bethany said as Alec left her apartment.      Alec had stopped off at a fast food place on his drive, and was just finishing up a burger and fries when an old friend of his sat down across from him.      “I didn’t know you where in the area, Chuck,” Alec said.      “I’m between missions,” Chuck Johnson said.  “Thought I’d check in on you.  What are you doing in the area?”      “You should try the fries here, they’re delicious.”      Chuck raised an eyebrow.      “Come on, a few fries won’t mess with your perfect physique,” Alec said.      “I checked, and you’re not here on a job.”      “My work is classified, you know,” Alec said.      Chuck raised an eyebrow.      “Right, right,” Alec said as he got up and tossed his food wrapper into the garbage on his way out to his car.      “And what was the thing with the reporter?” Chuck asked as he followed.  “You had already been to her place to drop off your car in the parking lot there.  And there’s no way you wouldn’t have been able to crack that safe.”      “So, this isn’t just a social visit?  You’ve been following me?”      “Like I said, I’m checking in on you.”      Alec took the photo out of his pocket, and showed it to Chuck.  “Remember the thing in Winnipeg two years ago?”      “Yeah, but that organization was dismantled after the Caldore invasion, wasn’t it?”      “It was, but plenty of it’s members managed to keep themselves out of jail.”      “So this is what?  You have a grudge here?”      “Aaron Hammer didn’t deserve to die.  Someone needs to get justice for him.”      “And if your superiors find out about this?” Chuck asked.      “What are they going to do?  Fire one of their best operatives?  I’m too valuable.”      “You keep causing trouble, and eventually they might decide you aren’t.”      As they were talking, a banging sound started coming from the trunk of Alec’s car.  “Oh right, almost forgot,” he said.  He opened the trunk and let out Mike.  “Sorry Mikey, you can go.”      Mike just ran off as fast as he could.      Alec was skimming through the newspaper, while on his flight, until he found the story he was hoping to find.  Bethany had still done her story, and even included the bit about someone trying to intimidate her against running it.  He smiled at that, as it would only lend more credibility to the story.      Janet Davidson was watering the flowers in her windowsill when she heard someone in the kitchen behind her.  Muscle memory kicked in, and she was turned around, with her gun in her hand before she even realized it.  The fridge door was open, and there was a man in a suit looking through it.      “Who are you?” Janet asked.  “What do you want?”      “Just needing a bit of a snack,” Alec said as he took a container of yogurt out, before grabbing a spoon from the drawer behind him.      “Riker?” Janet asked.      “Ah, so you do remember me.”  Alec started eating the yogurt.  “That’s good, that’ll simplify explanations.”      “How did you find me?  And why?”  She still had her gun pointed at him.      He put a picture on the counter, and slid it across to her.  “As soon as I found out about this picture, it was just a matter of getting it, so I could use the background geography to locate you.”      “That’s the how.”      “The why is that I’m not a big fan of being sent to kill innocents.”      “It was a matter of national security.”      “Was it?  Was it really?  If I had followed orders, our entire planet may have been conquered by an alien empire.”      “We couldn’t have known that at the time,” Janet said.  “And our actions did put Curtis Hammer on a path that also helped prevent that same thing.”      “And you think that excuses it?”      “Don’t get all high and mighty with me.  I’ve seen your files, I know exactly what kind of jobs you’ve done, not to mention some of the things you’ve done off the job.  And what is your goal here?  To kill me?  Don’t forget, I’m the one with the gun.”      “If I wanted to kill you, you’d probably be passing out from the poison right about now.”      Janet started feeling her body going slack.  She tried pulling the trigger, but did not have the strength to do so.  The gun slipped from her hand, and fell to the ground right before she did, losing consciousness before she even hit it.

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Autumn Hill Drops Anchor - June 16th

Autumn Hill Drops Anchor – June 16th

If you have been listening to Canadian Country radio over the last say 2 or 3 months then you have defiantly heard the hit single BLAME by the very talented Autumn Hill.    My wife and I actually listened to this album together and we were both in awe of how solid it was from start to finish. (more…)

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