INTERVIEW: Alternative Pop from Robbie Fitzsimmons

Robbie Fitzsimmons is a talented singer-songwriter based in Santa Cruz with a creative story woven from the threads of life’s complexities. The journey of this gifted artist takes us through his own life experiences, peppered with the intense highs and lows of living with bipolar disorder. It’s a context that’s presented with emotional honesty, revealing the stark contrasts that define his artistic output.

For years, Fitzsimmons’ vast repertoire of songs remained largely concealed, a consequence of the turbulent nature of living with bipolar disorder. The condition alternated between periods of intense inspiration and creativity and those of profound depression, a stark juxtaposition that seeped into the very fabric of his work.

Despite his substantial contributions to the music scene which has seen him co-write with Lana Del Rey and perform at various festivals, Robbie Fitzsimmons unveils his solo work cautiously. In 2022, Fitzsimmons took a decisive step into the solo spotlight with “Money in Your Pocket,” his debut single that marked the beginning of a new chapter in his musical journey.

Since then, he’s dropped several singles that each add a unique piece to the puzzle of his original musical vision. Now, currently working on his upcoming debut album, Blue Meets Orange, Robbie Fitzsimmons shares a glimpse of his evolving sound with the release of the single “The Mountain That Turned Upside Down.”

Opened by soft vocalisations, slowly fading in among delicate piano notes and warm string tones, Robbie’s elegant lead vocals stretch out to thread beautiful melodies carrying poignant lyricism. Building up the arrangement with the gentle taps of percussion and rich orchestral textures, “The Mountain That Turned Upside Down” delivers graceful ebb and flow that swells to anthemic heights.

Robbie’s stunning voice soar high, dancing above the grandeur of the instrumentation resulting in a moving, memorable and theatrical alternative pop outing that distils his experiences and talent into an epic musical experience that builds excitement for his forthcoming full-length album release. As he stands on the precipice of stardom, “The Mountain That Turned Upside Down” delivers a powerful display of his songwriting talent and vocal panache, wrapped up in a truly dazzling sound.

We caught up with Robbie Fitzsimmons to find out more about his musical journey so far, his new single “The Mountain That Turned Upside Down” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Robbie Fitzsimmons below.

Hey Robbie, how’s things?

I’m very busy releasing a new song every 5 weeks, creating videos for each one, promoting everything, practicing, and working a day job. But I’m happy doing all of this.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

When I was three years old I plunked out Slash’s guitar line from Sweet Child of Mine and it blew my parent’s minds.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, Ravel, Thomas Newman, Alan Menken, Cirque du Soleil, Andrew Lloyd Webber… My inspiration draws from many places including grunge and alt music to film scores and musicals.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

The music finds me while I am most in a flow state. This can be found by walking through my nearby redwood forests, loving my dog, or driving my car. When the inspiration strikes I must act on it before I lose it.

What was your highlight of the year for 2023?

Living after suffering a near fatal brain trauma. In July, I had a seizure as a reaction to a medication I was taking and fell backwards on to the cement, landing on my skull. My parents were there to perform CPR and call an ambulance which saved my life. I was in the ICU for 3 days and the hospital for 8. I’ve been working to make a full recovery while simultaneously releasing all my music. So, I suppose my highlight is in direct relation to one of the lowest lights I’ve ever experienced.

What do you love about the Santa Cruz music scene?

Santa Cruz is off the beaten path but draws incredible touring artists, so the shows feel intimate and authentic. I’d say authenticity overall is what I love about the Santa Cruz scene. Most people appear to be creating simply because they love what they do.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

I think my music is best experienced in moments of focussed solitude. It’s not background noise. It requires focus to truly be absorbed. My music often makes people emotional and it can be easier to emote when you are alone.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

My style is evolving song by song. It’s hard to pinpoint an umbrella genre for me because every song on this album is pretty different.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

I would be honoured to be produced and collaborate with Jon Brion who produced Fiona Apple and scored my favourite movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

How did you find making your new single “The Mountain That Turned Upside

Down”?

Making this single was a part of making my entire album which has been a roller coaster of a journey fraught with debilitating depressed lows, irresponsible manic highs, addiction, apathy, success and setbacks. I feel for my mixing engineer because “The Mountain That Turned Upside Down” required 5 mixes to get it just right. I’m very happy with how it turned out.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

Life throws mountainous challenges at us and it’s our choice to either climb them and find the positive growth on the other side, or run away.

What can we expect from your upcoming album ‘Blue Meets Orange’?

The album is being unveiled one song at a time every five weeks until the last song on May 24th, 2024. Accompanying each song is a music video. There will be more live videos and content released along the way as well.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

I’ve been loving Hozier and Polo & Pan recently, but have also been returning to Alan Menken’s scores from the Disney movies of the 90’s.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

I want people to know that they’re not alone in their struggles and triumphs. As someone who has dealt with bipolar disorder, I am very familiar with life’s ups and downs and hope that my transparency can inspire people.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

I wrote the music for a show that was produced by Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, who was a childhood hero of mine.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

Radiohead, Queen and Björk. The festival would be tucked in between the groves of an ancient, old growth redwood forest.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

Listen to the inspiration when it finds you and remember that we are all antennas for the muse who needs us to make art tangible. You can either ignore this inspiration and let it find someone else, or take the responsibility of creating it so that we may all be so blessed to experience it.

Finally, what do you have lined up for 2024?

I am looking to perform at as many festivals as possible, I’ll be starting my next record and continuing to create as much visual content as I can to support my music. I’m crazy busy, but excited to see what comes next.

Listen to The Mountain That Turned Upside Down below