Life Of A Gypsy by Brobst review

Brobst is a rock solo artist hailing from Las Vegaswho has already achieved quite a lot in the music industry, having performed with Queens Of The Stone Age when he won the People’s Choice Award at the Atlantis Music Conference in 2007. He also won Best Solo Performer at the LA Music Awards in 2013, as well as receiving much radio airplay and building a sizeable fanbase on social media sites.

His music has quite a ‘rock band’ sound for a solo artist, though he combines driving rock/metal electric guitars with electronic/synths that brings to mind bands like Faith No More and Nine Inch Nails, and even 80’s influences like Depeche Mode. Life Of A Gypsy begins with a rising synth riff that immediately creates tension and anticipation which is then doubled on guitar before a powerful, punchy beat kicks in that is halfway between rock and electronica.

The verse combines chugging Faith No More style guitars with Brobst’s distinctive vocals reminiscent of Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan. He sings the brooding verses in a low range, making it all the more effective dynamically when he sings the chorus in a higher range. The chorus is memorable (the chord progression recalling FNM’s Epic) with some effective use of harmonies. There is some fantastic guitar work towards the end, though wisely there is no obvious solo which seems regarded as clichéd these days.

Overall, this is an excellent piece of melodic rock that successfully combines elements of late 80’s/90’s style rock with more modern production and sounds. Having a different style as well as being a solo artist will help Brobst stand out from the hordes of rock bands and I expect he will continue gaining fans and become a big name on the rock circuit with more material of this calibre.

By Alex Faulkner

Exclusive Interview

So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

I had spent most of my young life, in a town called Hookstown, PA. I had lived in Myrtle Beach, SC for a while. It was at this point that I had gotten involved with a local rap/rock band. They had allowed me to use their studio. This is where I first started recording my first tracks. Believe it or not, the first music that I had recorded was rap. I was 14 years old, when I had recorded my first song. It was from this point that I had found my vocals to be the best fit, within the realm of rock music. I had always had a love for music and had enjoyed writing and recording.

How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

BROBST is actually my last name. The way I see it, it can be used as a solo artist or a band. This will allow the freedoms of being able to work on different collaborative projects and others, without having to change between a band name or being a solo artist.

What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

I think that online music sharing can be good, to an extent. Once in a while, I do give away music for free. I think that doing this, every once in a while, can be good for an artist, as it can help them to get their music in front of potential fans that may not have ever heard about them. I don’t feel that every song should be given away, as music is a form of art. Do artists give away all of their paintings for free?

Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Put your music in front of anyone that will listen to it. The more people you network with and get to know, the better off you will be. It is a matter of being in the right place, at the right time. If you open all the doors and connections to have the appropriate ears listening, there will be a right time eventually.

Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

The show must go on….Everyone makes mistakes during their performances. It is important to either laugh at it or act as if nothing had happened. If done in this manner, it is hard for the audience to figure out if the mistake is a part of the show or not.

Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Not currently on tour. However, browsing online, you will find that a woman in Australia claims to have been listening to the song “Rain”. She had stated that while doing this, with candles lit, rain actually started pouring down from her ceiling. Was it a leak? Something Paranormal? You be the judge!

Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

My songwriting inspirations come from real life experiences that others can relate to. Some of it may be fantasy, as I don’t feel that there should be any limits, when being creative. It is important to let your mind and creativity take you where it may.

Do you have a band website? Do you have a Facebook or Twitter? Do you use Bandcamp, Spotify, ExposedVocals or SoundCloud to share your music?

Yes, all of the above. I feel that each of these are great sources for exposure. It is important for an artist to get their music exposed, through as many avenues as humanly possible.

What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Believe it or not, my music on my MP3 player ranges from Metallica to Garth Brooks to Snoop Dogg and back. I’m not really embarrassed about any of the music on my player, as they are all artistic, in their own way.

If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

I would be taking a short vacation. Upon return, I would be putting a team together and focusing on a top of the line production of a new record. The budget would allow for mass promotion and the ability to get the music in front of the masses.

Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

We are in the process of building a studio for upcoming projects and a youth music project related to mental health. We are pretty much a MAC based studio using Logic Pro and related equipment.

How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Results focused research is done, in order to be able to find the most effective ways to promote the music. Any and all ways can be effective in promoting. It is important to have an understanding that everything is digital nowadays. I just read that no artist this year had even sold 1 million physical copies of their album. This goes to shown that the digital era is here to stay.

If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

I would have to say that I would be performing with NIN. I feel that this would be a great fit, as you can see what I am talking about, by listening to a few BROBST songs. Aside from that, we are from close to the same neck of the woods. I admire the accomplishments and creativity of Trent Reznor.

So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Currently, we are working on finishing the full-length album. There have been a few hurdles along the way. However, the ideas and the music are consistent. It is just a matter of finding the right songs to include on the album.

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

If not making music, I would still be listening to it and thinking about making it.

Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Yes, I remember buying my first album. It was Guns n’ Roses, Use Your Illusion. I remember being a kid and begging my mother to buy it. She was hesitant, due to the fact of the Parental Advisory Sticker. However, she ended up caving in and buying it. Great Album!

How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

It is important to find a happy medium, between the music and everything else that is happening in life. Certain times of day are designated to do the various responsibilities of my every day life.

What should fans look forward too for the rest of 2014 and beyond?

They should definitely look forward to new music coming very soon. They can expand much more promotion and a wider range of distribution. Also, the plan is to have some music featured in future movies. Stay tuned…..

More about BROBST

BROBST is a solo artist that has been following his dream, since a very young age. He had released his first EP at the age of 16. It had earned him press and write-ups in the local newspaper. In 2007, BROBST was the winner of the People’s Choice Award, for the Atlantis Music Conference, in Atlanta Georgia. He was given the opportunity to perform on the stage the same night as Queens of the Stoneage.
Shortly after, he was involved in a collaborative musical project with instrumentalist, Mark Barnes. They had submitted a video and song to a “band of the year competition” for SiTV. They had ended up as being one of the top 6 finalists.
Along his rise to fame, BROBST has received airplay on several radio stations and had created the jingle for Rhett Palmer’s, “The Florida Show”. He has also been featured in the new Facebook game “Rockstar Rising”!
BROBST, was awarded the LA Music Awards 2013 Solo Performer of the Year!
At the current time, BROBST is back in the studio working on some more hit music, to be released later in 2014.

Randy M

Since 2008, I've been dedicated to supporting unsigned artists through ExposedVocals.com, evolving from platform creation to in-depth music reviews and artist discovery. I showcase talent, amplify voices, and share industry insights from legends to empower the next generation of musicians.