Bob Augustine on “Fountain of Love,” Pittsburgh Roots and 40 Songs Waiting

EV: When we shared ‘Fountain of Love (Remix)’ in Found in the Inbox, we only had the track itself to go on. What is the story behind the original song, and what made you want to revisit it as a remix?

Bob Augustine: The song is inspired by a time of terrible heartbreak and disappointment I had gone through and the surprise I felt when I found that there was still this ‘fountain of love’ within my heart that was capable of giving again. The original song was one of a handful of songs I did as my first studio attempt and I always felt that these recordings needed more life and detail.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that remixing would achieve what I felt was missing.

EV: Who did you work with on the remix, and how did that process unfold, from what you changed in the original to what you insisted on keeping?

Bob Augustine: I was happy to find Doug Caspar at Tonic Studios in Pittsburgh to do the remixing. He was able to bring out details that I didn’t even know were there in the original.

I also felt that the song needed more background vocals, so we recorded those and mixed them in as well. After his initial take we sat together and finalized the sound.

EV: What are you putting out right now, and how does it build on or move away from where you were with ‘Fountain of Love’?

Bob Augustine: I am focusing on one single at a time for now. My latest writings still hold to the themes of love, loss and redemption that are in so many of my songs so in that way they will build upon my previous works. Musically, I am experimenting with different styles and feels that are largely unfamiliar to me. I’m trying to master those and perfect what I want to hear from them. I am not satisfied to just keep going back to a single style or feel so this keeps me searching.

EV: Where do you come from, both geographically and musically, and how does that background show up in the way your songs sound today?

Bob Augustine: I come from a musical family and there were several family members who played instruments very well. There was always some kind of music playing in my environment. I write a lot about nature and I think this is a result of growing up in a rural setting near Pittsburgh, PA.

I think that after fifty plus years of listening to music, I have this musical ‘salad’ in my head and I never know what is going to emerge when I write.

EV: Walk us through how a song of yours usually comes to life: where does the first idea tend to arrive, and what does your setup look like when you start shaping it?

Bob Augustine: A lot of them come when I first pick up the guitar and just start strumming random chords until I find sounds that sound good together. The style depends on my mood and it’s generally very random. From there, I start to refine the bits and pieces into a structure that can be a song. I hum the vocals without words and sometimes I will have some part of an idea that will form a lyric. From there, I will write the actual lyrics based on thoughts or feelings I’m having at the time. I enjoy the poetic aspect of this and I enjoy keeping it separate from the music at first.

EV: What keeps you making music as an independent artist, especially in the stretches when it feels like nobody is listening?

Bob Augustine: Most of the time it feels like nobody is listening especially during the writing and recording process. Fortunately I’ve always been a creative person and I will continue to create even if it’s only for myself.

I am very grateful for each and every person who listens!

EV: Looking at the year ahead, what are you planning in terms of releases, shows or collaborations, and what do you most want to try that you haven’t done yet?

Bob Augustine: I am curating my live performances more to make time for recording. I have over 40 songs waiting to be fully realized in the studio so this is an exciting time for me and hopefully for my fans!