Robbie Miller’s soulful sound first graced the Australian music scene in 2013 where he won Triple J’s Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards for his single Don’t Go Walking Away. Since then, Robbie has released two EP’s and earlier this year he released his anticipated debut album Little Love. The album sees Robbie let go of fear and give himself up in ways he thought were unthinkable. “There were truths I had to confront and lessons that needed to be learnt. I had to own who I was but most importantly own who I wasn’t and truthfully, at times that hurt”. Robbie will be hitting the road this July for his Little Love tour. You can catch him in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
This week we were lucky enough to grab some time with Robbie as he joined us for a Savvy Seven. Over to you Robbie!
What inspired you to pursue music as a career?
Discovering my parent’s records when I was a kid is what inspired me to pursue a music career. I remember the first time I heard Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens, I felt this overwhelming sense of something bigger. It’s really a hard experience to put into words but since then all I’ve wanted to do is be a songwriter and performer.
Besides making music, what have you done to get to where you are?
Besides music, I’ve been working full time for a for-purpose organisation called AIME and I think having a job away from music has offered me a perspective on life and how unimportant music can sometimes be. Also, recently my wife and I had our first child and I think parenthood offers a whole new layer of what actually matters.
How do you approach developing timelines for your career?
For developing timelines I usually like to work backwards from my desired end goal. From there I map out the steps/goals I need to make to reach it. Personally, I think it’s really important to be flexible with your goals, particularly in the climate we currently live in.
What’s your advice on staying professionally active during COVID times?
Keep writing, producing and collaborating (even on zoom).
What is the most significant challenge you have conquered in your career?
The most significant challenge I’ve ever conquered is to just be completely honest in my music. I spent a lot of my early days worrying about what other people might think about me or my music if I wrote openly and honestly. Looking back, it was probably a big mistake and one that was most likely detrimental.
How should people educate themselves on current industry issues?
I’m not sure whether this is the best advice but personally, I like to follow music news publications on social media. I also try to stay connected with other musicians, they are usually a good source of information.
How have you integrated modern technology into your content process?
Modern technology is at the forefront of music and I think I integrate it in a few different ways. I use social media as a source of inspiration by seeing how other artists go about their music making process. It also helps me to stay up-to-date with what is current and to stay connected to my fans. I have used my iPhone numerous times to record little parts for songs and I actually recorded the guitar and vocals for my song Catch Me on my iPhone in the bathroom while my daughter was asleep.