Interview with Australian Guitar Sensation Joe Robinson

Joe Robinson recorded his first cd “Birdseed” when he was only 14 years old. Growing up in Australia, Joe is self-taught guitar talent that learned from online videos and playing with likes of Tommy Emmanuel and others.

He has won numerous awards and contests such as Australia’s Got Talent and World Championships of Performing Arts. He has accomplished more in such a short span than most can dream of.
He has only recently announced some US tour dates and is planning on releasing a new project in 2011.

He was gracious enough to take time to answer some questions …

1. Did singing come naturally for you or have you worked with a voice coach? Were there weaknesses in your vocals early on that you felt you needed to overcome develop and how did you do it?

Well it definitely was a challenge initially! I mean, I knew in my heart that I couldn’t make an instrumental album again. I just felt like I wasn’t connecting with people in the way I wanted to, so the past year has really been a transitional period for me.

Its funny because sometimes I take my technical abilities as a guitar player for granted, because I developed them over a 10 year period or so, but I literally had to learn how to sing from scratch. LOL and doing that has really brought me back down to earth in a lot of ways. I definitely fell on my face some nights!

I’ve had a couple of lessons, and have been trying to research and learn as much as I can about vocal technique, and

I’m a fairly disciplined person, so it is becoming just a matter of putting in the time and building confidence, etc.

2. How do you approach songwriting? Do you have a logical method to it or is it hard to explain?

Well its always different I guess… Usually it is inspired by a really simple lyrical or musical idea… And then I play with it and try to develop it into something that feels unique to me… Then I just try and strengthen it melodically, harmonically and rhythmically… I come from a background of composing instrumental music, so for me writing in a ‘song based’ format is really different and kind of exciting…

3. I’ve read that you consider Tommy Emmanuel your mentor, what really hooked you about his playing? How do you look back at your experience touring with him at such a young age?

Man, when I saw Tommy for the first time I was about 11 years old… just the sheer energy of his performance was what got me, I think… that man is a complete virtuoso. I was an extremely competitive young kid!!!

Seeing his show just blew my mind and I was so compelled to learn to play like him I set my alarm for 4am each day so I could practice before school. LOL

Having him play on my last record and getting to tour and become friends with him has been incredible. I’m pinching myself.

4. You learned from and played with Tommy Emmanuel, how invaluable was that experience as far as your development as a guitarist? Should every aspiring guitarist seek to play with a more advanced guitarist to improve their playing?

Yeah, I learned so much playing with Tommy. He always gave me great advice, and I guess battling it out on stage with a mofo like him really put things in perspective. He is amazing on so many levels, and pretty much EVERY opportunity I’ve had to play with him has resulted in me having a kind of musical epiphany and sulking back to the woodshed. Haha

I love meeting kids excited about guitar, full of questions and desperate to jam, because that’s how I was a few years ago. And I think that’s how you have to be if you are really going to get somewhere as a guitar player.

You have to have that burning desire… and I think part of that is finding people better than you to jam with and steal ideas from.

5. You’ve recorded two albums, won Australia’s Got Talent, awarded Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World, voted “Best New Talent” in GUITAR PLAYER … I’m blown away. Does it feel surreal to you?, or do you feel like … mission accomplished!

Haha, well It has definitely been an amazing ride! I’m thankful to be still as excited about music as I was 5 years ago. My biggest fear has always been just “burning out.” I really just want to keep improving, developing and building a fan base. I’d love to win a Grammy next… haha

6. From your bio I read that you also learned from videos on YouTube. I’ve found that a lot of beginners start out learning their favorite songs then really don’t develop their own style and just go on to learn more and more of other people songs. How did you go from video lessons to creating and playing your own stuff?

It was kind of a natural progression, really… I was writing my own tunes on the piano even before I started to play the guitar, and to me it always seemed easier and more interesting to just ‘make something up’ than to actually learn someone else’s song… So after learning a bunch of songs from YouTube from guys like Eric Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel and Django Reinhardt, I was itching to create my own songs from these ideas.

7. When you were younger, did you ever have any doubts or times of struggle as to whether you were going to make it work as guitarist? Or did the dreaded thought alone of having to “get a real job” keep you focused?

No, I really never thought about it. I’m lucky in that my parents always encouraged me to just follow my passion, and music DEFINATELY was my passion. I decided to just try and become the best musician I could, and things fell into place from there. I’ve never had a problem focusing on my goals, and everyone around me could see how madly obsessed with guitar playing I was, so it was a given really. I come from a pretty remote area in Australia (my home was about 40 miles from a stoplight), so the employment options out there were fairly limited.

8. Joe, what’s your understanding of music theory? Chords, keys, etc. Is it part of your playing or do you strictly play by ear and what sounds good to you?

Well, when I was about 14, I auditioned for the Sydney Conservatorium of music, and on the admission requirements was a completed 6th grade theory certificate… so I got all the books, studied, got the certificate, and learned ALOT from doing so… but I haven’t read a note since then. lol

I like to think I have a decent theoretic knowledge of jazz rhythm and harmony, although I’d like to learn a lot more about it… but really I just my rely on my performance instincts and my ears. All the theory goes out the window when I play… lol

9.Guitar tabs are hugely popular these days. What are thoughts on them as a learning tool? Do you feel that free tablature websites do a disservice to the artist?

I think it is great! Hell, I did it all the time when I was younger. It is a really fast and easy way to learn songs, and access a huge database of information. I don’t really think its a disservice to the artist… If someone is so compelled with your music that they want to learn it, I’m sure they buy concert tickets and albums. There are a bunch of kids on YouTube playing my songs in countries like Russia, Singapore, Germany… and it just blows my mind to think that they liked my music enough to sit down and learn it.

10. For aspiring guitarists that want to play like Joe Robinson or “like themselves with an influence of Joe Robinson”, what would you advise they need to learn, practice, and do on guitar, and what to avoid/not waste time on?

Haha, well I’d advise learning as many different styles as you can… and then PERFORMING as much as you can. I’m talking at school, at open mics, in a dodgy rock band, on the street, in a Café, or wherever they’ll let you in with your guitar. LOL

I meet people who have spent tens of thousands of dollars on a musical education, and it shocks me they haven’t really gotten out and performed anywhere… To me, that’s what it is all about! It doesn’t have to be a big deal, but in my opinion, playing for someone else really gives you a different perspective on what
you sound like and need to improve. J And have fun!