Picking Robin Auld’s musical brain
When you’ve released over 20 albums, a novel, collections of poetry amongst other things, you begin to see the world with a special lens. This is what we learnt from veteran singer-songwriter Robin Auld, who has been providing music for South Africans for over two decades.
We caught up with Auld in the wake of the release of his latest album Back of the Line. Here’s what he had to say:
You’ve released 20 albums and had hits on radio and toured the world, what would you say has been your biggest achievement?
Getting braces on my kid’s teeth while learning how to make records with no money.
Haha, and I’m sure they’ve been life lessons learned as well, what has been the biggest lesson for you being in the industry for so long?
Don’t let the same dog bite you twice…and don’t let people down.
What is it about music that has kept you going and what’s your secret for longevity in the industry?
Whatever’s happening in your life, no bad how things are, the music will save you. I love getting in front of people and playing music. I see a room that’s wanting it, all I want to do is get up there and give it to them. It’s a language with no borders and enables you to connect with people who don’t speak the same language as you. Learning how not to be dependent on the business side of things has been the key to longevity for me.
Out of all the bands and artists you’ve toured with, who would you love to tour with again?
Tribe after Tribe…we had such fun touring with them in the 80’s.
What has inspired Back of the line?
A near miss with a shark out at Muizenberg.
How do you stay inspired and keep everything fresh and interesting for yourselves?
Going to see other artists always gives you food for thought and listening to artists my children are listening to, as well as stayed tuned to artists I’ve been listening to my whole life who are still enthused and doing it.
What have you done differently on this specific record?
Because I recorded it in Cape Town I had the time to attend to harmony and counterpoint..my last two were pretty much bosh them down in a few days, which is cool especially if you’re working with great musicians which I was, but I enjoyed being able to get all the stuff in my head onto the songs.
Who are some of the artists who you’ve collaborated with on this album and how did those collaborations come about?
Tom Fox of Usual and Bright Blue fame plays on a couple of tracks…he was out from New Zealand for a reunion concert in Joburg and we nabbed him for a session. Roger Bashew and Paul Tizzard, the engine room of the album, had been "let go" by another artist for being too old. This was a lucky break for me because, as I told them, no-one ever gets fired from my band for being too old. Ronan Skillen I’ve met in Kalk Bay over the years, had no idea what to expect but he brought a whole bunch of interesting percussion elements to the album.
What Can South Africans expect from your live performance of the album?
Live we tend to strip the songs down to a three piece arrangement…more rocky I guess, we stretch things out a bit and jam the songs out more.
How do you choose songs to perform live when you have such a huge repetoire?
I rarely write out set lists…the room tends to help me decide and I just call ’em. I try get a mix of the old, the ancient and the new in there. I know people want to hear the 8o’s hits so we’ll put them in the set, but we’ll pull out oddities and the odd Frank Zappa or Hendrix cover as well.
How has your sound evolved to embrace the digital world?
My sound has evolved more as a result of me learning to produce my own records, which digital was very instrumental in purely because it’s affordable. I am also able to get feedback for more ambient or leftfield recordings that we wouldn’t play live.
What is your favourite song in ‘Back of the line?
Changes as I get tired of one…but at the moment it’s Bones never lie because it’s unlike anything else people expect of me.
Why did you call the album Back of the line?
Snappy and short, and works on a variety of levels.
Any exciting plans for 2015?
Apart from going over to the UK and states later this year, I’m keen to play some other areas of Southern Africa….Zambia, Mozambique….and a return to Namibia which I love going to.
For more info on Robin Auld and to listen to his music, check out his website here.
