Interview with Chris Rob


Q: Your Official Bootleg is available for some time now. How happy are you with the reactions? And when will you release a regular album?

Chris Rob: The whole point of the Bootleg was just to get out something, anything that highlighted me. I had been working on songs for years, and I got sick of playing them in the car or just for friends. So now that I'm doing interviews about it, I have to say I've gotten more reactions then I expected. I'm still working on the next project, but it's really shaping up now, and will be coming the beginning of next year.

Q: You've been on tour with John Legend, been a music director for Alyson Williams and Melissa Morgan, performed with Prince, Stevie Wonder, Michelle N'degeocello and a lot of other artists. What did you learn from the mentioned artists and how has this work influenced your music?

Chris Rob: I think the biggest thing I learned was to just be me on stage, to not really judge myself, or try to sastify everyone like emerging artists often do, but just to get out on stage and give my all, and to do the same while recording. The greatest music comes when you don't force it, you just allow the listener to respond to it.

Q: When did you realize it's time for you to step into the spotlight and spread the word about Chris Rob the solo artist?

Chris Rob: Right before I moved to NYC, I was working on a project with a group of artists in Chicago as a producer and songwriter. It was one of the first times that I could actually see success, and was moving toward it. The project never dropped, because of a major disagreement that occured. By that time I had contributed my own joints to the album that I wanted the world to hear. That's when I packed up my truck and moved to New York. One of the songs, 'Tell 'Em', is on the Bootleg, and the other one 'Dirty Movie' will be on this next album.

Q: On your bootleg there's also a live performance with Maya Azucena. Please tell me how you've met her and if you plan to record some songs with her.

Chris Rob: Maya came to one of my shows in Harlem, and we hooked up later through a mutual friend. I added some music to her album, and later on I sang back-up with her. I had no idea how impactful she would be in my career. She's one of the illest new artists. That's my girl.

Q: I guess New Day Entertainment is your own company. Please tell me why you've established it and what's the objective? Do you only want to release your own material through New Day or will you also sign other artists?

Chris Rob: The whole purpose of me starting New Day, was to acknowledge a new way of me approaching life and the way events occured in my life. I do want to produce my own artists in the future, but for now, I'm focused on my own projects.

Q: You were born in Chicago and later moved to NYC. Please tell me in which way is the soul music scene in New York different from the one in Chitown and where do you see your place on NY's music scene?

Chris Rob: Chitown's soul scene is more gospel influenced, I think personally. Most of the musician's come straight out of church, so that's the flavor. NYC's a little more grimy, probably a little looser because the musicians come from all over the world.

Q: The bootleg CD has been released two years ago, in 2003. What does the Chris Rob of today sound like and where do you see your progress as musician?

Chris Rob: I've definitely grown as a vocalist, and songwriter and arranger. I incorporate more live instruments on my new album, and I invited other musicians, where as I did the last one by myself. And I'm writing about even more of my own personnal experiences this time. I'm telling the truth on all my joints!

Q: Your cdbaby site tells us that you even gave your bootleg CD to strangers on the New York City streets and subways just to get heard. Giving away one's records for free doesn't happen too often in a time when filesharing and homecopying is blamed for a decline in record sales. What's your opinion about peer2peer, filesharing and copying CDs for friends?

Chris Rob: I mean, with computers nowadays, who isn't compelled to just borrow your friend's CD they just bought and burn it in 5 minutes? I try to support artists as much as I can, and I also believe that the artist's first and foremost intention is to be heard. But if you really want your favorite artist to be around, I suggest you show that to their label by buying a CD. And it's always a cool gift for somebody.

Q: What can we expect from you in the future?

Chris Rob: Hot music.

For more infos visit chrisrobonline.com, cdbaby.com and read my review of The Official Bootleg Of Chris Rob Vol. I.