EP review: ROBBIE RANSOM – Rocks In My Pocket
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On Sunday 4 September, at 21:00 Robbie Ransom is featured in the “In Session” series, exclusively for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio
Rubber Meets The Road Records [Release date 29.07.16] www.robbieransom.xyz
Debut EP release from a highly talented singer/songwriter Robbie Ransom. The EP is produced by Dan Swift (Snow Patrol/Art Brut) and the four songs on here are released ahead of his debut album due this autumn.
The title track and single deals with Robbie’s battle with substance abuse, which although a personal and honest lyric, is wrapped in a gloriously catchy melody. The one thing Robbie Ransom does well is craft memorable melodies as ‘Man Alone’ is an uptempo pop rock tune and perfect for daytime radio.
‘Symbol Of The Night’ deals with the tale of a fox and the highlight on the EP for me is ‘I Am Thunder’. Again taking a personal part of his life, this time his relationship with his father, the pop beat and female backing vocals drive the song along nicely. One of the best songs you will hear this year.
One of the best and most consistent EP’s I have heard in many a year. Robbie Ransom looks set for a successful musical career based on these four songs and can’t wait to hear a full album from him. ****1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
1. Could you take us through the songs on your excellent debut EP ‘Rocks In My Pocket’? E.g. stories behind the songs, recording process etc.
Rocks in my pocket is a song about addiction and the effects it had on my first serious relationship. I wrote most of it back in 2009.
I Am Thunder was written in 2014 for my father. I actually wrote the song in my head on a journey back from the west country. I’d received a letter from him a few weeks earlier and I converted it into song!
Man Alone was written in 2014 and is about a homeless man who lives in the cemetery by my house. It’s about how detatched from society this man is, yet is not so dissimilar to me. It’s a song about life and death and is a celebration of the former.
Symbol Of The Night is a song I wrote about a beautiful fox who lived outside my room at Nottingham University. Written way back in 2007, the song explores the day to day struggle of fox in his fight for survival and freedom. Something we can all relate to.
All songs were produced by Dan Swift at Brighton Electric Studios with my band.
2. As a songwriter, how does it feel expressing very personal parts of your life in songs, like for example your relationship with your father?
I think most artists find it easier expressing themselves through their art. Expressing personal issues can be an awkward business…just write a song about it instead!!
3. Who are your musical heroes and why?
Paul Simon, Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. In my opinion these were true artists. Not just wonderful performers but genuine poets who all had things to say. Burning issues and desires that needed expressing. From this passion, real art is born!!
4. Three albums you would recommend to people to listen to and why?
Harvest - Neil Young - An all time classic
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel. One of the greatest works of art of all time. A masterpiece
The Doors - The Doors. For me the greatest debut album with some of the greatest rock songs ever
5. Is streaming good for new artists like yourself to get your music known or is it a case of too much music chasing a finite audience?
I think streaming is fantastic and thanks to these modern websites, one can access any song in the world just with a click. Pretty amazing!
6. What have been the live highlights to date? If you could your with any other bands/artists who would they be and why?
This summer I was privileged enough to support Jake Morely in a tour of France.
Playing on a roof top in Paris on the night of “La Festival de la Musique” was pretty special!
If I could play with any other band it would have been The Band back in the late 60′s early 70′s. Those guys could really play. A seriously cool band!
7. Where would you like to be musically in five years’ time…
I hope to be signed by then and well into albums 3,4,5 etc…
I hope to have written a whole repertoire of new songs by then.
I will keep playing, keep singing, and keep writhing for as long as I can!
8. Anything else to add and a message for your fans…
Watch this space! The EP is out and the album is just being finished. I’m very excited about it and dead keen on getting it out there!
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