From singing at birth to co-writing on a platinum album: Robbie Fitzsimmons illustrates how to crush it as an independent singer-songwriter
Songwriter Spotlight: Robbie Fitzsimmons
Releasing a song every five weeks in 2024, Robbie Fitzsimmons is keeping himself busy this year with a flurry of exceptional releases and awe-inspiring music videos. Ed had a chat with him to find out everything about his early start in music (from birth), career achievements, approaches to songwriting, and his many creative projects this year.
Can you tell me how the environment that you grew up in influenced you to make music and where that was?
Yeah, um, I grew up in San Jose, California, Silicon Valley. And was, um, always surrounded by a lot of support and enabling from my parents and my grandmother as well. My mom’s brother is a professional musician, and he and I are the only ones in the family who really seem to exhibit this musical gift. So I think they recognized that in me at a very young age. As the story goes, right after I was born, the nurses thought maybe I was moaning out of discomfort. And they were checking my vitals and things, and my grandmother was kind of sitting back. She said, “I think that he’s humming.” And the doctor came in and was like, “Yeah, he’s humming.” So, wow. So, they recognized very early on that music was going to be a part of my life, and I was always supported by them.
So, you were literally singing pretty much as you were born?
Absolutely, yeah. It makes me wonder, like, was I singing in the womb? It seems like it was that natural.
So, your uncle, your mom’s brother, he’s a professional musician as well?
Yes, he’s a drummer.
Is he a session musician or does he play in any bands or anything?
He’s a session musician. He’s toured with, like, Billy Idol back in the day, and he’s on a lot of film soundtracks. He does hand percussion, so there’s probably a few films you’ve heard him drumming on. His name is Greg Ellis.
Growing up, what inspired you to start making music? It does sound like you were a natural from birth from what you just said.
I don’t necessarily remember any catalyst moments. It was always a natural part of my existence. So, I was always singing to myself. I requested a little tape recorder very early on so I could capture ideas as they came to me. And then just lots of influences from grunge music to musicals.
Who were your biggest influences?
First, I would say my “holy Trio”: Radiohead, Björk, and Jeff Buckley. But very influenced by musicals, you know, Andrew Lloyd Webber. ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Rob’, those kinds of shows. Classical music, Vivaldi was a big influence early on. You know, in my more adult life, Ravel and Debussy, those French guys. Lots of influences. I’m an amalgam of many influences that come together.
Your latest single was ‘The Mountain that Turned Upside Down’ right?
Actually, my latest one was a song called ‘So Says the Sound’, and ‘The Mountain That Turned Upside Down’ came out at the beginning of December.
What was the biggest challenge in creating ‘The Mountain that Turned Upside Down’, and how did you deal with that challenge?
One of the biggest challenges was actually the recording of the song. This song ironically became the biggest mountain that we had to climb up and over to finish on this album. We remixed the song six times before we finally landed on the version that we put out. Because what we recorded, a lot of instruments and orchestration, but all of it playing at once was too much. So, we really needed to notch it out and figure out how best to bring it to life in the most accurate, enjoyable way.
Can you talk us through the different stages of the songwriting process for ‘So Says the Sound’?
Another big influence on me in my music is world music, and I spent a bit of time in Ghana in West Africa, studying the drumming and singing there. So, that particular influence, that 6/8 timing, was very much an influence on this song. The lyrics came because I was in a band with my friend Dave, who had an ex-girlfriend. He told me flat out, “You may not pursue this girl.” But when the two of us met, there was just an immediate connection. When they were officially broken up, she and I sort of pursued each other. And he really tried to interfere, saying, “I told you not to pursue this one.” So, my lyrics in the song, the chorus, I say, “I assure you, I’m sane enough to keep her safe from herself. But the fact of the matter is what happens on Saturdays, not up to you, because it isn’t about you.”
What effect does being independent have on other aspects of making music other than songwriting?
One drawback of being independent is the lack of income it’s been providing. It’s taking a lot of effort for me to discover my audience. Record labels have access to music supervisors who can place the music in film and TV, marketing to promote to radio stations, playlists, these kinds of things to get the music out there.
Can you think of a particular tool that is great that you almost can’t live without as an independent artist or even just as an artist in general?
I suppose my instrument, not only my voice but also the piano. Like a chef needs the right knives in the kitchen to cook the best food, my keyboard or piano is where I feel most at home when it comes to expressing my creative ideas. It becomes the foundation for a musical idea.
You’re releasing a song every five weeks at the moment. Do you plan on doing that for the foreseeable future?
Yes, for this first album, my debut album, which is being released. The final release of this 10-song album is on May 24th. I’ve now started talks with my co-producer about our second album.
So, you’ve got a lot coming in the pipeline then in terms of releases?
Absolutely. I’ve got the second album written, I just need to finish producing the rest of the songs. I’m also making a documentary with a filmmaker friend of mine about finding inspiration from a small town in northern Washington State, creating an entire album from that experience.
Well, all the best of luck with that Robbie, and well done for everything you’ve done so far.
Thank you so much!
Great article! Good questions!
Hi James, thanks and we’re glad you enjoyed the article! We’ve just published a review of ‘The Worst is Over’ by Robbie Fitzsimmons if you want to check that out in our Sound Selections 🙂 Also, if you’d like to receive a monthly newsletter with future articles like this, you can subscribe HERE