David Robbins is an internet acquaintance I’ve made who is talented in the ways of music. He’s so talented, that he has an album and the internet voted and we all think you should buy it.

If you are curious about this album, and you should be curious, click here to sample it and to verify what the preceding paragraph just told you. I’ve actually used my own real money to buy it and it is fantastic. Not like, “This guy wants me to promote the album and say it’s fantastic” fantastic. It’s more like, “The album is soulful and raspy and beautiful” fantastic.

If it wasn’t good, I would just tell you that it’s a great album with a really neat personality. Honest. So read the interview and then click it here to treat yourself.

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*Five Questions About David
1. David, tell us about your new album Echoes in the Pines.
Well, I don’t really want to call it “new” because it’s technically not. It’s the first thing I’ve ever released on a very public platform, so I guess we can call it my “first” album, if you will.
In a nutshell, it’s a collection of stories that I feel represent most of what I remember of life growing up in Louisiana and Mississippi.  
2. Give me the top 3 elements that most inspired you in the creation of this album.
There’s a line in ‘The Other Side’ that talks about ‘the evening southern skyline’, and it’s an incredibly vivid memory from my childhood. I remember the purples and pinks and yellows as the sun set. It evoked a bittersweet sense of sorrow. Still does. I wrote that line before I wrote any other song, and from there I think everything else was birthed. Secondly, I was pretty isolated at the time of writing everything. This was before I met my wife, so there was a lot of loneliness I was dealing with. It wasn’t a bad thing, I don’t think, but I was able to wrestle with a lot of my issues with love, loss, God, faith, death, etc. I’m still dealing with most of these, but in a much healthier way. Lastly, I was reading a lot. Khalil Gibran’s ‘The Prophet’ was one that really hit home with me. It dealt with all the issues I was struggling with which sometimes gave some clarity while at other times creating more questions. 
 
3. If Echoes in the Pines took the embodied form of a movie star who would this movie star be?
I want to say Ryan Gosling, but I know that’s not going to happen with anything I do. He’s too pretty and I’m not that fortunate. Dennis Hopper, possibly. He was an incredible actor and didn’t have the pretty boy looks Gosling does. Maybe that’s why I’m favoring him. I feel like music is too overproduced these days because everyone is so concerned with the quality of production rather than the song itself. It loses a lot of it’s luster in the mix. 
4. What song are you most proud of and which song do you think is the best?
‘Gather Roses’ has to be my favorite. It’s my own poor man’s version of ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ by John Bunyan. It was the one that genuinely came from out of the blue. I was driving in my car on the way to a show and it just started dancing through my head. It was a cool experience. As far as what’s best, I have no clue. I like to leave that up to the listener because I think each song means something different to someone else. 
5. Where do we go to find out more about Echoes in the Pines and how to support you and your musical stylings?
I’ve got the album up on Bandcamp right now (http://www.davidrobbins.bandcamp.com) where you can purchase it for $7. I’ve got some new stuff in the works but need to raise up a bit more money for the recordings so every little bit helps.  
*Five Rapid Fire Questions
1. Favorite current / all time book?
‘The Illiad’ by Homer. There’s nothing as cool as Greek gods fighting each other.   
2. Favorite current / all time album?
‘Be Here to Love Me’ by Townes Van Zandt.
3. Favorite movie?  
Back to the Future. All of them. No doubt about it. 
4. Favorite musician?
Johnny Cash.
5. Favorite Meal?
Jambalaya.

*Five Hypothetical Questions
1. In 5 years, time travel will not only be possible, but it will be commercialized. As such, you are invited to participate in the Laser Tag Championship of All-Time, which is no doubt sponsored by ESPN and Geico.  Spanning recorded history, name the 3 people you would select for your team and why.
  
Alexander the Great. Jesus. Tyler Durden. 
2. Let’s assume that through a cluster of savvy business moves, you have been named the Chief Operating Officer of a new company that will compete directly with Old Navy. Let’s further assume that the CEO of the company wants to engage Old Navy in conflict on all levels and as such, the CEO wants you to come up with a name that copies the format of Old Navy (Adjective + Military Term).
What would your best suggestion be for such a name?
Middle-Aged Coast Guard (i.e. Kevin Costner). 
3. A song featured in the movie Juno by The Moldy Peaches contains the following lyric: “I want more fans / you want more stage.”
If you were a musician, which would you prefer? More fans, which speaks to your popularity or more stage, which speaks to your superior skill level as a musician?
More fans. Have you ever seen George Strait perform? He never moves. It’s sad. But look at how many fans he has. They don’t care. So, fans. 
4. Let’s assume that in a parallel universe, you are a single man. You meet a woman and she is obviously meant to be your beloved. She embodies every trait you value and she is selfless and devoted to you.
However, due to a slight mental illness, she believes you to be Magnum P.I. and she continues in the relationship believing that you are, indeed, Magnum P.I..
To continue the relationship with her, you have to answer to Thomas Magnum and your interactions with the world, while in her presence, must be indicative of the interactions that Magnum P.I. would have. You would have to grow and keep a mustache and adopt Thomas Magnum’s backstory as your life story in terms of interacting with and in front of her.
Do you pursue a relationship with this girl and, eventually, marriage? Why or why not?
I would absolutely follow through with it. Even though my mustache would be crap, she wouldn’t view it that way and would consider it sexy. I’ve always wanted to be a P.I. I would even start a business because of her. It would be magical.
5. Let’s assume that you are given a proposition from a supernatural being. You can receive the gift of musical genius and mass popular appeal without selling your soul with the only caveat being to that your gift only activates when you are playing inside a certain and specific portapotty outside a McDonald’s in Tupelo, MS. OR you can headline the greatest Michael Bolton cover band the world has ever or will ever know and play wherever you like.
Which option do you select?
I’d take the Tupelo gig. I have no respect for Michael Bolton. None. Whatsoever. His hair is too precious to cut but he went ahead and did it anyway. Selfish jerk, that guy. 
*Five Final Random Questions
1. Beatles: overrated, underrated, or properly rated?
Properly rated.
2. What’s something the average human would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a HUGE Harry Potter nerd. Seriously. I own wands.
3. Which character from LOST are you most like?
Never got into it. I’m sorry. I know you’re disappointed. 
4. What is your biggest pipedream?
To be an Olympic gymnast.
5. In 10 years, where do you hope to find yourself? 
On a t-shirt at Love’s Truck Stop.