Rob Christensen: Press

The following interview was conducted around the time The Truth Hurts was released.



ROB CHRISTENSEN - The Truth Hurts.

Rob Christensen is a 29 year old singer/home-recordist/ songwriter,/musician/whatever from Eureka, California. His new cassette, The Truth Hurts, is the follow-up to 1994’s critically acclaimed Smile Slightly. As with Smile Slightly, Christensen stayed solitary with The Truth Hurts, recording at home and playing all of the instruments.

The following interview was conducted by Toby Cook, leader of the Fortuna, CA band The Long Boat.

Toby Cook: What inspired the title "The Truth Hurts?"

Rob Christensen: I had all the songs written and mostly recorded and I needed a title. I had a "name this record" list going which included things like "The Eyes Have it," "The Scars To Prove It," and "Queen Monday." "The Truth Hurts" popped into my head and I went with it.

Toby: What about the cover photo?

Rob: The cover idea came right after the title. I'm meeting someone to go out, at her house, I've got flowers and a suit, and she's not there.

Toby: So the theme of this album would be?

Rob: Romantic rejection. Loss. It's not necessarily personal experiences, like "A Perfect Afternoon" is about a woman I know who left her husband, out of the blue, and moved out of state. It was pretty gutsy because they'd been married for like ten years. So that song came from somebody searching for something new.

Toby: Tell me about how you recorded this. Recording methods, instrumentation.

Rob: In the living room, by myself, with eight tracks. The idea on most of the songs was a four-piece band. Drums, bass, me on acoustic guitar and lead vocal, and a fourth guy doing something else. Like on "September Knows" there’s piano. On several songs there’s organ. On "A Perfect Afternoon" and "Sorry Again" there’s electric guitar. I tried to keep it to four main parts. But on "Somewhere Down The Road" and "Promises" there's more going on. And on "Listen" there's just me and my acoustic Guitar.

Toby: What made you tone down? Your previous tape was nosier and more electric. This one is more spacious.

Rob: After Smile Slightly I wanted to do a pure pop thing. But I was writing songs that came out sort of quiet and sad. I was doing solo acoustic shows so I guess I subconsciously wrote songs for that type of situation.

Toby: So why do you record by yourself?

Rob: I had a frustrating band experience a few years back with people who, if I had something in mind, would play just the opposite. I got a "Don't tell me how to play" vibe.

Toby: That's how it happens sometimes. You’ve got a vision and you bring people in - sometimes they're going to try to bring in their personal whatevers, their ideas of what it should be.

Rob: Yeah. It just became easier to do it myself. It's not like I'm anywhere near a great player or anything but I can teach myself to play the parts I hear in my head. I'll probably always record by myself because I really enjoy it. I'm always there when I need me.

Toby: Do you look forward to having a complete band if the right people come alone? Would it be just a live thing?

Rob: I definitely want a live band. I like the idea of other

people contributing, but I also like the idea of being totally responsible for the finished product. Artistically and financially.

Toby: Where do you go from here?

Rob: Again, I do want to get a live band together. I’ve been playing with people who are good players, who are willing to take ideas and suggestions, and who have good instincts. It's going well. We'll see what gels. Three-piece, four-piece, five-piece, whatever.

I want to be a full time musician. I want to tour. I want to have more time for practice and writing. I want to keep making records on my label, Sweet Science. Keep going on an independent level

Right now I’m working on a new tape and I’ve got a side-project going with Xeff Scolari from Chowderhead. We're writing songs and may put something out.

Toby: How did you get started doing music?

Rob: Right after high school I was helping to house-sit for a guy who had an incredible record collection. Hundreds, if not thousands, of records. Anything I ever wanted to hear, he had. So that was it. I had to do it for myself. I started buying records immediately and bought magazines to read about musicians. After awhile I decided that I wanted to write and play. So at age twenty I bought a guitar and two years later a PortaStudio. I started doing simple demos with a portable keyboard acting as drums and bass, figuring that I would get a band to flesh them out. I haven't found a band but I got better at recording and arranging, got better equipment, and in 1994 put out Smile Slightly and now I'm releasing The Truth Hurts.

Toby: Who are your big influences?

Rob: I had a friend take both tapes on a trip. She played them for her brother, whose response was "He listens to a lot of R.E.M., doesn't he?" So I guess that's there, I listen to a lot of music. Neil young, Beatles, Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, Rolling Stones, Prince (The Artist), Bob Mould.

Toby: Is there anyone who you'd like to emulate, not just in musical style, but who has made a good blueprint for your career plans?

Rob: I think there's something to be learned from everyone, including what not to do. Phish has developed a huge following doing it their way. East River Pipe has been able to make records at home and get them out to the world. I'd like to be able to do that. Ani DiFranco has done a fantastic job of working hard to reach people and they have responded.

I'm inspired by anyone who has blazed their own trail rather having that "I’ve got to get signed" mentality. You've got to do it for yourself.