Releasing seven albums in a single year carries a sense of urgency. Seven years ago, a fire destroyed everything Robbie Gennet owned, and that loss appears to be the driving force behind the quickened pace of his creative output.

Southern California’s devastating Woolsey blaze back in 2018 had immeasurable impact on his life, but it didn’t distroy him. The release of his new work is a sign that he’s managed to bounce back from tragedy.

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From pop rock to funk and art-rock, Gennet’s self-produced album Golden Wings reflects an evolving sound shaped as much by personal experience, fatherhood, and his California lifestyle as by musical ambition.

He switches from orchestrated pop rock on The Bitter Pill to smooth funk on Pain Killer. On Choices, the first single from the album, he fuses an angular, art-rock style bassline with funk, creating a sound reminiscent of the Talking Heads.

The Wurlitzer electric piano is a source of continuity throughout the album and much of his newer material. “I had a Wurly for many years, but lost it in the fire that took my house,” recounts Gennet.

Gennet agrees the piano lends a unique flavour and character to his sound and is partial to the sparse arrangement with the keys and bass, which, he says, just felt right for the song.

The song Do It with a Smile features the sound of a Farfisa organ, which evokes a heavy 1960s vibe. On Aegean Skies, Gennet set out to write in the style of songwriter and keyboard player Donald Fagen (Steely Dan, Dukes of September), an artist he has long respected and enjoyed.

Gennet’s work earns comparisons to early Elton John because of his vocal expression, songwriting style and bluesy jazz-based piano playing on some of his songs.

Being a keyboardist gives Gennet other voices to “speak” in, opening up a vastly wider array of personalities, characters and moods that he’s all too happy to explore. 

The songs Serious, and Handle It are primarily synth-driven, a harbinger of electronic sounds to come on future songs in the series. These albums evolve with Gennet’s curiosity and susceptibility to musical experimentation. “I find the more styles I dip into, the more I find my sound,” says Gennet.

He admires the same sense of curiosity in other artists like David Bowie. “Whether it was soul, funk and cabaret or jungle and drum and bass, he [Bowie] found his own sound with it. And that’s really how I’m continuously exploring my own style, driven by sheer curiosity and imagination.”

As each album in the series unfolds, Gennet’s sound evolves, making it more difficult to label him. By year’s end, he hopes his name will be the only label for his style.

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From bodyboarding to farming and getting real-time feedback on his music from his kids

With a series of seven albums coming out this year, we wanted to know how Gennet manages his busy life — especially as a father with young children.

1. Being a dad/Being a dad as a musician. 

Becoming a Dad changes you in many ways. As a musician, it’s a trip to hear my kids singing my songs back to me. It’s a cool whistle test, as you never know what catches someone’s ear, especially a child. I love taking them to concerts and sharing my love of music as well. I find that if you expose kids to great music, they’ll wind up with great taste! I make instruments available to them but don’t push or put any pressure on them to play. I think at the very least having an old acoustic piano in the house gives them a portal to their own creative dimensions and inventions, even if they never pursue it professionally.

2. What I do outside of music.

One of my passions is bodyboarding, which has been my sport of choice since my teenage years. I’ve travelled the world to ride waves, from Costa Rica and Nicaragua to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, even Indonesia. It’s an underground sport, mainly because the big surf companies refuse to sponsor it or any riders. I think they saw what snowboarding did to skiing and are trying to block the competition. Bodyboarding is a much more progressive way to ride waves and is more evolutionary and revolutionary than stand up surfing. I also am very into farm steading and have a wonderful orchard planted around the house. Chickens, rabbits and composting too. Anytime I’ve been in the studio a little too long, taking time in the garden is a great refresher. Plus, the fruit is organic and delicious! Feeding the mind, body and soul (and my family).

3.     Why LA?

I grew up in Florida and had my early bands there. But by the late ’90s Florida had turned to DJ culture and whatever cohesive live music scene was there had crumbled. I lived in NYC for a short stint but decided LA was going to be my home. Besides having a thriving creative scene, California has some great surf breaks, so it was a natural fit. I’ve loved LA and the surrounding areas and have never regretted moving here. Plus, I see so many fantastic concerts, as LA has a plethora of global and national acts coming through on any given day of the year, as well as a vibrant local scene. Good times!

4.     How the fire destroyed my home.

Having my home burn down was one of the more traumatic experiences I’ve been through. Besides losing all my instruments and studio space, I also lost a lot of my early art and memorabilia, which was very hard to deal with. And unless you are some big famous artist, an insurance company isn’t going to put much (if any) value on your art, which was a tough pill to swallow. As much as it hurt to lose all that I did, since the fire (and subsequent pandemic lock down). I’ve created an astounding new body of work that may never have come to fruition without the hardships I suffered. While I don’t believe artists have to suffer to create, I do believe that out of suffering, artists often create their greatest work. I feel like that’s true for me.

5.     Advice to people getting started in music.

Getting started in music or the business of music — I don’t think anyone has a clear angle on what works in music as far as business or the changing tastes of the public. My advice to musicians who are starting out is to pursue what you are passionate about, write what moves you and aim to create your own voice and style. To me the most successful musicians are the ones whose name is the only label for their music. David Bowie and Prince are two great examples of that. Be your own genre!

Ultimately, I find that curiosity is the number one driver of success, not just in music. When I was teaching, my goal was always making my students more curious to light the fires of passion where any embers might smoulder. And to know that the only person you are competing with is the person you were yesterday. Work to be a little better and more knowledgeable each day, and then every day after. Explore different styles and genres and stretch your listening to broaden your knowledge and ideas. 

Also, the kind of music you start out making may not be the music you succeed with. Don’t limit yourself! Try new things. Collaborate. Learn new abilities. Every next level has a next level, so keep climbing, reaching and exploring your own horizons. Lastly, I would say to develop a thick skin to critics, naysayers and non-believers. Sometimes creating art can be a lonely journey so be your own best companion. Always feel your best songs are ahead of you and keep striving for the gold even when the road is a lonely path.

Robbie Gennet/Cherryl Bird