Multicultural poet and musician Robert Kuhn was born in Houston, Texas and moved back in 2010 after bouncing around the world for twelve years. Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua all played home for him as different doors, jobs, occupations and art forms opened and led him on from an Academic All-American Line Backer to a vagabond fisherman farmer writing the critically acclaimed songs he has carried throughout the Americas. Broken hearts, broken backs, failed marriages, violence, riches, drugs, labor, poverty, music, poetry, dirt and salt; so it goes and continues.
Robert currently lives in Galveston, Houston and on the road through the Americas where he is still sharing the unique and philosophical independent folk, blues and multilingual psyche-rock and roll Americana music that he writes and finds. It is honest at the least and esoteric at its best.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Robert about his forthcoming album (Persevere), adapting as a touring musician in a world where there are no tours, and much more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create?
I’m from Houston. I’ve been in Galveston for 10 years now. I lived in central and South American indigenous villages for ten years before that. Our first record was world folk and blues music. Our second fit into the Americana category Our new release, persevere, fits into the psychedelic rock n roll vibe. The next one might be a surf-rock hip hop psych country folk one. I’m a sponge that keeps changing the writing of what I’m around.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I think we’re born into a path like it or not maybe. Our toys were instruments as children. My family liked it and I was rewarded when I wrote songs. I keep going like a dog that is motivated to fetch a ball or a magnet or something…I also go to the water every morning. It’s a hard road but most of the time seems like the only road. “Persevere.” It’s beautiful and fun too.
How is the release of “Persevere” different from previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
”Persevere“ is highly influenced by my friend Rob Bastien, who produced this album. We put together our own studio close to home where we could meet and explore music and recording freely. He works a graveyard shift side job as a prison nurse so we worked in the night when most were asleep. He has music in every cell of his body and we work well together.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
I relied mostly on touring and live shows for years. This quarantine has obviously changed some things. Technology is making it possible to share music with a broad audience, but it takes a lot of time and sitting in front of a computer screen for long periods of time can be nauseating.
What was the last song you listened to?
Rotten Alabama by Ramsey Midwood
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyls. We’re working on raising funds to print some.
How are you handling live shows now that everything is canceled?
Our next show… Safe and Isolated Persevere livestream album launch show from Outer Space on 4.20.2020. We’re traveling differently now. Our last tour in the fall resulted in a tragic car crash in which I was hospitalized in critical condition for two weeks. Punctured Lungs, Broken ribs and clavicles… uninsured $100.000’s in hospital debt…That when I started thinking about different ways to do this. Then this virus hits. We’re Perseverin’ and going to space..
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
Anything else before we sign off?
Stay safe and sign up for the album launch.
