Robert Frith is another example of a singer songwriter in the Lone Star State. He recently won the 2010 TMA Singer/Songwriter Of The Year Award. He took time off from his busy schedule to talk with me. Here is the interview.

 

1.     When did you decide to become a singer/songwriter?

 

 I grew up in Port Arthur, Texas and almost everyone there was either a musician or someone in their family was. I joke that if you were from there and you didn’t play an instrument, they made you move. So, I started playing guitar when I was 8 years old, joined and band @ 15, started playing clubs and I haven’t really stopped. We were writing our own songs back then too; it has always been a part of me.

 

2. Who were your musical idols and how were you able to form your own style using your idols as a source of inspiration?

 

I’ve always had a wide variety of influences; James Taylor, The Beatles, Percy Sledge, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison, Hank Williams, Thin Lizzy, ZZ Top, Ray Charles,Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marvin Gaye . . . . Each one of these amazing people enters into my playing, writing, and performing-they all had/have an enormous amount of soul and depth.

 

 

3. How do you get the ideas for a song, or an album?

 

I’ve been inspired in all sorts of ways, so I really don’t have a set way that I write or look for ideas. They can come at anytime-I just hope I’m around a guitar or pen and paper when they hit. Some of the best or favorite ones I’ve written came to me all at once, words, music, melody.

 

 

4. You are the three times winner of the TMA Singer/Songwriter of the Year Award. What was your feeling when you found out about your nomination and being a recipient of the 2010 TMA Singer/Songwriter Of The Year Award?

 

It is an unbelievable honor to be nominated and recognized like that and I am humbled to be mentioned with such talented people. I’ve always felt a little weird about awards and contests concerning music or songwriting, it’s hard to judge an apple from an orange. I also feel so blessed to write with some amazing writers like Don Rollins, Douglas Greer, M.Jason Greene and David Oltremari.

 

 

5. What was the inspiration behind your latest album «Robert Frith»?

 

I got a call from someone I know in Canada looking for songs for a Steve Miller project. I sent in a bunch of new songs that I had demos of; they loved the songs and called to see if I was interested in recording with them in Idaho. I took a risk and went for a week, recorded everything in 5 days and came back and started working on mixing it. A lot of the songs on this one are about relationships, good and bad. There are love songs like “Just Like That” that describe old school love like the ones between a Grandmother and Grandfather, and others like “Ain’t no Big Thing” talks about the end of one. There is also a theme of working on issues that keep us from moving forward in our lives like “A Better Me” and “Tomorrow”. Then there is the toe tapping/honky tonkish “Miss Saturday Night” and the topical “I Can’t Go To Mexico” which talks about the current violence on and around our border.

 

 

6. What inspired you to record «Boogaloo»?

 

This was my 3rd album and the name came from my nickname for my oldest daughter Hanna. For this one I had a ton of songs I was considering for it, so I decided to record it at my own studio and do a lot of the instrumentation myself. I wanted a raw/demo-like feel to it to preserve the original idea; in fact some of the one take demos are the tracks that made it on the CD.

 

 

7. You were a regional finalist for «Nashville Star». How did it feel to be in Nashville Star?

I was watching the show with my wife when she dared me to audition if they came to Texas. Well, the following year they came to Dallas and I tried out. Out of an estimated 20,000 or more people I made it the last step, top 20 guys. I learned a lot about how TV shows like that work and I enjoyed getting the opportunity.

 

 

8. What is the difference between the Texas Music Scene and Nashville?

 

Well, in a word-everything. The Texas Music scene is more grass roots and has its own sound; Nashville is completely structured and definitely has its own sound too. I think the helping hand/we’re all in this together attitude is more prevalent in Texas; folks are more likely to offer help to each other here. I really like Nashville and I have friends who have been extremely successful there, Michael Martin Murphy said at this year’s TMA’s that Nashville wouldn’t be Nashville without Texas music, and Texas music wouldn’t be the same without Nashville.

 

 

9. Have you done any gigs besides Texas?

 

Yes, I’ve playing in many states over the years as well as in Europe. A few years ago I went there and did a weeklong tour of Holland, Belgium, and Germany-and I am currently receiving airplay in several countries.

 

 

10. What is your advice to those who want to have a career in music?

Be unique. All of us have influences, but you have to find you own voice so to speak. Play at every opportunity you can, this is really the only way to improve as a writer/performer and it will help you find what fits you best

 

Thank you Robert for your time and I would like to wish you the best from Florida.