Interview with Robby Fonts of Repentance

November 05, 2020

Interview with Robby Fonts of Repentance

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Robby! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: So many things can define an artist; their sound, their style, their look...even their attitude. What do you think makes an artist unique, even iconic? Is it something more than just the music?
Robby Fonts: A unique artist is someone who creates great music, is honest with their convictions, isn’t afraid to showcase their personality and is an exceptional storyteller.

CV: Is being a "rock star" still a relevant term in today's music industry? Is it something worth aspiring to become especially for a young, up and coming artist?
RF: If being a rock star means a lifestyle of excessive partying, then no, it isn’t worth it. Modern rock stars put the art itself first and that’s what it should all be about.

CV: From your experience, does songwriting tend to define the band or does the band inevitably define the songwriting in your opinion? Meaning, can specific songwriting styles or formulas pigeon hole a band over time, creating limitations or does that particular style create a level of freedom and uniqueness?
RF: It depends on the band. Some bands like Slipknot or KISS are/were never afraid to experiment and change up their style of music with each new record. Other bands like AC/DC, Motorhead, Slayer or The Black Dahlia Murder have used the same songwriting formula for each album and it works for them. That’s what their fans want and expect to hear.

When an AC/DC riff hits, you know it’s AC/DC and that definitely isn’t a bad thing.

I don’t think it pigeon holes anybody retaining the same writing style. If the formula isn’t broken and fans enjoy it…let them enjoy it.

CV: Given that there has been so many major developments and changes over the last several decades, would you consider the music industry to be a viable and stable enough environment for new artists and bands to even attempt to make a successful career, or at any rate, a living, in your opinion?

RF: The difference between how things were back then and how they are now is: You don’t get signed to a label and paid large amounts anymore. You just have to take on more of the workload yourselves and grind it out.

You can definitely make a living off of music, but the methods to do so have changed. What worked 20 years ago isn’t how things work now.

With the internet widely available, any band or artist can put themselves out there and find some kind of audience.

We have the means to learn how to play, mix and record through online tutorial videos. We can build home studios and record music from home. We can now publish music ourselves. It’s easier than ever to get a merch design made and print out t-shirts to sell.

If you want to monetize your music you need to: Learn to play, get great at your instrument, learn o record yourself, learn basic mixing techniques, learn to market yourselves, create an identifiable brand, play live shows, have merch designs to sell, have digital music to stream, physical albums to sell, don’t be afraid to take on paid studio-based gigs elsewhere, upload cover songs and start giving other upcoming musicians lessons.

To succeed? You can’t just be a “guitar player”, you need to be the band manager, the social media person, the producer, the mixer, the recording engineer, the band manager, the band booker, etc.

We take on more work and inevitably, it’s all on us concerning how much we earn through music.

CV: How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows trends and one who sets them?
RF: An artist who sets a trend is someone who understands what “sound” is popular in their scene at the moment, but chooses to write differently regardless.

However, there’s a bunch of bands out there that try to sound like Meshuggah, there’s bands that have the screaming verses/clean singing formula, there’s bands that started off with brutal heavy sounds then eventually evolved into having a pop structure to their music and presentation.

When one sound starts working for a band and it starts gaining traction, similar bands from the same scene tend to follow suit, because that’s what they believe is catchy at the moment.

Music’s subjective. Set trends or follow the crowd. If someone enjoys your work, that’s what counts.

CV: Has digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion? Has such access, from a consumer standpoint, changed the game for more seasoned artists to find and maintain their audience?

RF: If you say you’re an artist and you create art, then you’re an artist.

For big time artists, they can afford to pay people to deal with social media and their online presence for them. They’re so big and established; it doesn’t affect them as much.

Artists who are still here, but come from a prior era are forced to adapt to all these changes. Navigating through these changes can get rocky if you’re used to things being done a certain way.

There’s a learning curve for them and newer artists emerging during these times are figuring things out as they go along with it.

CV: Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of individual privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal space” in your opinion?
RF: Absolutely. You can be as transparent with your audience as you’d like to be. We don’t have to post or present every aspect of our personal lives to public audiences if we choose not to.

CV: Do you feel music still holds a place in our current culture of social media distancing and instant gratification? Does music still have the same meaning as it once did in our world?
RF: Of course. Music is helping people get through these dark times. It sucks that lockdowns and restrictions are preventing live shows from going on at the moment, but I believe it’s only making people realize how relevant social interaction and live events truly are. We shouldn’t take it for granted.

CV: What's one thing being in a Rock band taught you that you feel you would not have learned elsewhere?
RF: Adaptability. Revolving your life around creating music forces you to make sacrifices and do whatever it takes in order to do it.

I quit a comfortable and secure job back in my hometown of Montreal for music. I’ve worked hard labor jobs in between touring and recording albums to earn money and fund my projects.

It’s not easy and isn’t for everyone. You have to live through the process, the good and bad times and truly enjoy creating songs and playing shows.

You’ll go through a lot more bad days than good ones, but if you end up appreciating the results, it’s worth it. It’s what separates the lifers from the wannabes.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming post COVID-19?

RF: Definitely look forward to playing more shows. Some good friends of ours are putting out new records in 2021, so tagging along for some tours in support of their records and our record, God For A Day may be a possibility if venue restrictions are lifted.

CV: Thank you again Robby for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
RF: Thank you for your time and for having me. I appreciate you. Until next time, cheers!

Check out Repentance at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreRepentance/
Official: www.Repentanceband.com

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.