Intro Robyn Harris, an intersectional-feminist and body positive musician. Her newest single, Sunburn Season, is centered around acknowledging and overcoming insecurities while embracing the love and affection you deserve. Sunburn Season is a sexy, synth heavy summer pop jam, designed to make you dance from start to finish (think the originality of Sylvan Esso meets the pop sensibility of Lizzo).
Robyn Harris was named one of the Top 46 Artists to Watch in 2020 and as an indie tastemaker’s list for Lightning 100, but the local clout didn’t stop her from having her music played around the world.
Learn from Robyn Harris here on how to collaborate globally, maintain authenticity, and ignore (some) advice. Also, keep reading for an exclusive sneak peek about her new collab coming soon!
LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/track/44Iv1SE07ncFpBC5NkYzCY?si=cn6KyImyQYKnzxLrNeD6Qw
Read our Q&A with Robyn below, in full:
Girl Gang Music: How did you get into music? (We love to tell this part of your story, so folks just getting started can know there are so many ways to get into the industry.)
RH: “Since I was a kid I only ever wanted to be a singer or a dolphin trainer, and since I didn’t have the greatest lung capacity I kind of let the dolphin training fall to the side. lol. I was always singing growing up and ended up going to Belmont to study Commercial Voice. There were some key moments at Belmont that really showed me that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. There are a lot of ways to get into the industry and school is not always for everyone, but it did guide me in ways where I felt a little lost. After college I jumped right into going to tons of shows, making new friends and started trying to get into rooms with people I respected. I’ve learned a lot, but I feel like to a degree no one knows what they’re doing, they’re just confidently making it up as they go along. So if you’re out there and feeling behind, just remind yourself that pretty much everyone feels that way. Work hard, be kind to people, surround yourself with good people and invest in them, oh and have fun.“
Girl Gang Music: Can you explain “coming in hot” and how that connects to your message of body positivity and intersectional feminism? Would you be willing to expand on lyrics that convey your activism or directly influence the message of the song?
RH: “Before we even started writing Sunburn Season I realized that I didn’t really have any songs that were even close to the sexy vibes that Sunburn Season has. I came to the conclusion that I didn’t have anything like it because I never felt confident enough to embrace my own sexuality. I’ve not always felt good about my body. I know i’m not alone when I say that I can’t remember a time in my life that hasn’t been plagued with diet culture or body shaming. It’s difficult to combat feelings of inferiority when you’ve been told your whole life that there is no place for you. I’ve spent the better part of my youth dragging my mind from dark places. I don’t always win. But as the years have rolled on I’ve learned to love who I see in the mirror a little more each day. Thankful for the body that has brought me through the most wonderful days of my life and held me together at my worst. I wanted to write a song that would make me feel the way I wanted to, empowering me to embrace that side of myself. Some of my favorite lines are actually in the pre-chorus, “In the smoke, letting go is easy, break it up when I’m slowly freezing”. To me, this means that it is easy to let go of fears and be who you are when no one is watching. The bridge is also a favorite, it repeats “it’s all mine” and to me that was just an empowering moment saying that I deserve all good things.“
LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/track/44Iv1SE07ncFpBC5NkYzCY?si=cn6KyImyQYKnzxLrNeD6Qw
Girl Gang Music: Personally, I loved Sunburn Season. I’m truly obsessed and cannot wait for this private link to be public! On first thought, I loved the beat. Truly, the synth sounds of pop meeting the acoustic strings sound of alternative has been exquisitely mastered. Can you talk more about this process? What inspired this, how did you create the perfect blend, and what is the secret to capturing your authenticity in this project?
RH: “So I actually wrote Sunburn Season last summer when my good bud Alex Tomkins and I got together to write for the first time. I had this hook idea that came to me when I was listening to some tourists chat about how hot it was and it just stuck. We wrote the song in two separate sessions and the first rough demo was only about 01:30 and I seriously spun it so many times(like really…I maybe took the repeat too far haha), I was obsessed and immediately knew it was going to be my next release. As far as the secret to capturing authenticity I would say that I had an incredible group of humans molding this song into what it is now, mainly my executive producer, Weatherman. He really took the vision I had for the song and expanded it in such a great way, taking into account my unique sound and making me feel really comfortable telling my story. Also, Neenah who mixed it all the way from Amsterdam. She took such care in making sure every little detail came out, she did an incredible job and I’m constantly blown away by her talent. I’m learning more and more how important it is to make music with people who you trust and who respect your creative vision and I am really grateful to each and every person who has had their hands on this song (Neenah, Jett Galindo, Weatherman, Alex Tomkins)“
Girl Gang Music (Halla): I definitely hear the connection to Sylvan Esso that you mention on your website, and I would love to hear more about your experience traversing typical genre boundaries between alternative sounds and pop sounds. Have you found it challenging or difficult to be accepted with being diverse in sound? What pros and cons do you face related to your sounds? In what ways have you gained or lost a sense of identity and strength in your music?
RH: “To be honest, it’s something I feel like I’m still navigating. Nashville doesn’t allow a lot of space for genres beyond country and boy-band rock,(definitely generalizing, but that’s how it feels sometimes), but I do feel like there is definitely growth happening and people who are championing that ( I.e. Girl Gang music, No Country For New Nash, Housquake and so on…). Pros and cons? Well, it does leave space for me to spread my strange little alt pop wings, but it sometimes makes it hard to know where I fit musically. But either way, I think it’s really important to not shape your sound to what is easy and acceptable, you have to focus on making something that is true and authentic to you. In my first record (which I still love) I do feel like I was folding from the pressure to make music similar to what my peers were making at the time, I think it just happens when you’re still finding yourself. But I am grateful that I have continued to cross paths with people who have encouraged me in digging deep into who I am and what I love about music, which has really helped me to find my footing. I do know that my music will be ever evolving and growing just as I am, and I take a lot of comfort in the fact that I am never bound to make music the same way forever; that’s what’s so amazing about art: it moves with us.“
Girl Gang Music: I see that all of your songs up to this point are solo; are you interested in collaborating, or is that something that you are turned off to? I know some artists feel the need to be fully individual to express while others encounter creativity in community; can you comment on your approach to teamwork, collaboration, growth, and the future of your music? Who would you like to work with?
RH: “Yes you are correct, everything has been pretty solo up till now, however, (keep it on the down-low) I’ve actually got a collab coming out with my good bud (and producer) Sansol the Artist in the fall, so be on the lookout for that!!!
I love love love collaboration!!! When I started out songwriting I was given some advice that I took wayyy to seriously that said “write by yourself until you can’t write by yourself anymore” or something along those lines. Sometimes when you’re young or put too much weight in one person’s opinion you can take advice to extremes which can be unhealthy, which is what I did. I started cowriting only a couple of years ago and it has given me LIFE! I have such a love of humans and working with others has stretched me and grown me in so many ways I did not expect. I also really believe that it has shaped my music in so many wonderful ways. I can’t stress how fulfilling it is to me. My Dream team situation, I would love to work with Tayla Parx, Emily Warren, Sarah Aarons, Elof Loelv…. just to name a few.”
Girl Gang Music: Who are 2-3 Girl Gang Music picks we can feature on this post that you love? This is just any female, nonbinary, LGBTQIA+ human or band you want more people to know about. If you have a specific song you love most or commentary about them, send that too! 🙂
RH: “I am really into Gatlin right now. She rides a motorcycle and sings like an angel.”
“Daisha McBride is also a huge fave of mine, I’m high-key obsessed with the talented queen.”
“Bantug, she’s such a badass songwriter and producer. I am All about her newest single.”