To say that Robert is passionate about music is the understatement of the year. He took up the guitar aged 10 and rapidly learnt all the basics, and was playing complex classical pieces by the time he was 15. But the calling of rock n roll was too strong for him to pursue formal guitar playing as a career. He spent his youth listening to Dire Straits, absorbing every guitar lick his then-hero Mark Knopfler came up with, and progressed to Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground, Jimi Hendrix (he would sit for hours learning Hendrix solos note for note), and most importantly of all, the Beatles. He devoured the Fab Four's music, at a time when everyone else was either listening to the Cure or to Gangstarr. "The Beatles changed my attitude towards music, as they made me view music as a phenomenon, rather than just bands and albums".  

In more recent years, he started to listen to The Stone Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, Red House Painters, Jamiroquai, and the Lemonheads. This last band were to play a very important role in the final stage of Robert s musical development, especially their enigmatic frontman, Evan Dando. Robert had begun to tire of guitar theatrics, and around this time began to sit down with his acoustic and write melodic, catchy songs with strong tunes and choruses. It was at this point that he realised he could write songs, and he was hooked. 

"That was when I knew I could do it," he says now. "I couldn't really sing then, but I knew I was able to write a good tune. The singing came later, that was only a matter of time. No one has a good voice when they are 18. But as soon as I figured out that I could write, how could I not want to do it for a living?"  

Today, Robert has his band, he has his songs, and he has his voice. These three things make him feel very lucky. "I can t explain the feeling I have when I sing and play. It s like all I m doing in the world, the only thing that matters, is when I m singing. And now I can say with conviction that yes, I am good; I have a great voice to sing all these great songs with, and I've done it all myself. That s what makes me feel proud, the fact that it was me all along, and I'm getting the job done." 

Most of Robert's songs are written in the first person, and tend to deal with personal issues such as relationships, and self belief. "That s very true," he says. "Some of the lyrics aren't too meaningful, but some I m quite proud of, like "Sorry When You re Gone". That s about telling someone, it could be a girlfriend or just a friend, to get up out of whatever rut they re in and start living. And if that means getting away from their friends or their home, then fine, and I won t be sorry to see it. But then you have your basic love song, like "Let Me See You". Those kind of words suit that kind of music." Words don t play as important a role as music in these songs, though. "The music is the key, alright. People will always remember a tune before a lyric. Well, in most cases. But you can t start singing rubbish - the words have to be good as well. It s all about finding a happy balance." 

It looks like Robert is on his way to finding that balance, and there doesn't seem to be much holding him back. He s on his way, and if you can catch him quick enough to join in, then its going to be one hell of a ride.

(In conversation with Tanya Mastin).