Describe your sound. Who are your major influences?
My sound- it’s certainly diverse. There are elements of jazz, rock, jam-band, singer/songwriter all mixed in. I like to make sure each song I write has a different musical feel. It evokes a different emotion or takes you to a different place.
I grew up with heavy metal like Metallica and Guns N Roses and then started getting into Bob Marley and Eric Clapton. I was always a huge Dave Matthews fan in high school and in college I loved The Roots and The Wu-Tang Clan. As soon as I started getting into music more, I started listening to singer/songwriters a lot more. Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison.
The list goes on and on :).
When did you form your band?
I’ve been playing with the same players for almost two years! Brian McRae on drums, Bijoux Barbosa on bass and Eric Moon on keys.
What inspired you to make music together?
Well, we all love to play! The three players I use actually play weekly together in a band called gogolab. It’s a mash up of free improvisation set to a film score. So much fun to hear! I think we have a lot of fun playing as a lot of the music I write lends itself to improvisation. It’s a great fit for all those players. Every time we play it’s completely different.
How can TUSK readers learn more about you and hear your music?
www.robdrabkin.com
What are two lines of your all time favorite lyrics - any song, any artist?
“And the moon rose over an open field” - Paul Simon from America. I have no idea why. At least that’s what jumps to mind today. The meaning in these lyrics isn’t much, it’s such a simple description, but just the way he sings it knocks me over every time! :).
