Sly is joined by Robin Taylor Zander to discuss his eleven-song debut album "The Distance". A collection which finds the jack-of-all-trades musician known as "Cheap Trick's secret weapon" (Rolling Stone) showcasing his equally masterful songwriting and production for the first time.
A touring member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees since his early 20s, it was Robin's own original work that caught the attention of legendary producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, The New York Dolls, Patti Smith) - who founded just-formed Confidential Records with Robin as his first new artist. Robin is still in his 20s, but most of 'The Distance' is nearly a decade in the making - evolving and growing right beside him from one stage of life to the next. The culmination of his musical life to date.
Effortlessly rotating between guitar, bass and drums during 'The Distance' recording sessions, as he does on tour with Cheap Trick, Robin brought this new material to the live stage last month with a dynamic full band. On April 18 at a sold-out Webster Hall, he made his triumphant New York debut alongside Joe Perry - and on Thursday April 27 he played his first Los Angeles headline show at Hotel Cafe. Beforehand, he celebrated the long road to 'The Distance' with a New York album release party at The Delancey tonight. “I’m really excited for people to hear my debut record 'The Distance,'" says Robin. "This collection of songs is wide ranging in both style and influence. You may hear something that reminds you of a different time or a different place. Hopefully this record makes you feel a certain kind of way, whichever way that may be is fine with me. Listen carefully and enjoy the delicious melodies.”
The Distance was recorded by Robin in Catskill, NY with co-producer Kenny Siegal (Neko Case, Langhorne Slim), featuring contributions from many members of the Woodstock music community nearby - including new wave legend Wreckless Eric, harpist Mikaela Davis (who also provides backing vocals) and a horn section led by Jay Collins of Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band. The album draws from his love of vintage and contemporary music alike - artists like T. Rex and Harry Nilsson, alongside Cate Le Bon and Melody’s Echo Chamber - but is defined by Robin cementing his own sound within those vast inspirations.
The Distance is available in stores now and you can find it at amazon.com, iTunes, or stream it on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, or Deezer!