Rob Finlay + Musician in Hitchin, EN

SEEKING

ABOUT

https://www.robfinlay.co.uk/
A Visionary Voice in Modern Music

With a voice that soars between raw emotion and haunting beauty, Rob Finlay is a musician who defies simple categorisation. As Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music aptly puts it, “Call Rob a songwriter or call him a singer – both of which he patently is – but not a singer-songwriter. He’s so much better than that.”

Drawing from an eclectic range of influences, including R.E.M., Tori Amos, Goo Goo Dolls, and Jeff Buckley, Rob crafts music that blends introspective lyricism with dynamic, genre-defying compositions. His sound channels the intensity of Bob Dylan (an influence since his Mum put headphones on her pregnant bump), the poetic depth of Leonard Cohen, and the raw honesty of traditional Irish folk music. Keith Ames, The Musician (MU Publication) said of Rob “He has the ability to weave unconventional elements into familiar genres… intriguing… gorgeous.”

Rob is a rare breed. Those that meet him can’t help but fall under his spell. An English gentleman, a grafter, an Irish poet, all rolled into one. He has a degree in Archaeology from Bristol University, has run a successful video production company for over 20 years and still finds time to write and record incredible music in his spare moments.

Film & TV in his blood: Rob grew up in Borehamwood, UK inheriting a passion for the British film industry from his Dad and Grandad, who were both set painters on TV series and feature films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter. His parents took him to rock festivals from the age of four, he started learning to play classical guitar at seven and wrote his first song at aged 13. Rob had local success with his band Captain Davenport, where he played at the iconic Elstree Studios bar for his 17th birthday before heading to Bristol University.

He came home to play a memorable show at the Top of the Pops green room to entertain the BBC staff for Millennium night in 2000. Upon returning home from university he became an award-winning corporate filmmaker and has had many famous interactions, from drinking with Matt Damon, to accidentally winding up Hugh Grant, to having Ian McKellen dance for him. Throughout this time his desire to write and create music never left him.

A Legacy of Acclaimed Releases: Rob's debut album, These Words Aren’t Meant for Me, was hailed as “an album of uncompromising vision and beauty” by Todd Severin, The Ripple Effect. Colin Bailey of Folking said “Powerful, catchy, anthemic songs. Strong and memorable.”

Highly syncable: The film industry sync panel at SXSW said Rob's music was highly syncable, around this time Sister to a Brother was synced on the hit reality TV show Breaking Amish and regularly garners listeners from around the world who discover his music through Shazam.

He has been likened to Tim Buckley, Uriah Heep, Tom Waits, City and Colour, Billy Joel, with a sound undulating from 90s Indie Pop to American jangle.

A Stage Presence That Resonates: Rob has taken his music across the globe, performing all over the UK, Limerick (Ireland), Perth (Australia), Ghent (Belgium), Baños (Ecuador), and completed a three-month tour around the US, including New York and Los Angeles. He has graced major festival stages, including Standon Calling, The Great Escape, Roskilde, and SXSW.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity: In June 2014, Rob became seriously ill due to an autoimmune attack following vaccinations, ahead of a planned work trip to film pink river dolphins in the Amazon Rainforest. The worst could have happened if it were not for the quick action of a doctor friend, but he has been left permanently deaf in his right ear, with constant tinnitus. The traumatic experience left Rob uncertain about his future in music, yet he has emerged stronger, proving that true artistry transcends physical limitations. His ability to channel pain and resilience into his music only adds to its emotional depth.

Half-Heard: His second release, the EP HALF-HEARD, was inspired by the events surrounding his sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). The record is a concept work exploring the lives and stories of five women including Joan of Arc. It further cemented his reputation as an artist unafraid to push boundaries.

A New Era Begins: Rob has taken the time to develop himself. He gave up drinking in 2011, has physically and mentally transformed, improving his health and building his confidence back up through circuit training and counselling. He has continued to build his successful production company Written Records Limited (recently directing three TV commercials for Co-op) and has otherwise been focusing on songwriting from his home studio in Hitchin (he converted his garage during Covid). He is set to release his third record, EP Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise, composed of four new songs: All Eyes Surrender, Afterglow, Ballerina, and In White this year.

The EP charts the time in many people’s lives when they lose their first love and how they come to terms with that. It goes on to explore the wilderness years and finally re-discovering new love and the peace that comes with it.

Rob filmed and edited two music videos for the tracks Afterglow and Ballerina, which will be the first two singles from the EP. He is once again ready to captivate the world. His music is not just heard; it is felt.

Screen name:

Rob Finlay

Member since:

Jan 18 2022

Active within 1 week

Level of commitment:

Touring

Years playing music:

20

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

4-5 nights a week

Most available:

Nights

Influences

Tori Amos, Goo Goo Dolls, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Rush & Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Eagles, Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers, Nick Drake, Bob Mould, Neil Young, Soundgarden, Sylvia Plath, Dylan Thomas, T.S. Eliot and traditional music played raw in the pubs of Ireland.

Instrument experience:

Vocalist:

Expert

Acoustic Guitar:

Expert

EQUIPMENT

Guitars:
* Vintage Martin D35 (1972) acoustic guitar (LR Baggs pickup)
* Yamaha acoustic guitar - set up with Nashville tuning (with Seymour Duncan Woody pickup)
* Baby Taylor (with pickup)
* Jackson Performer with Floyd Rose
* Hoping to add a Taylor 314 CE Studio soon

Amps:
* Marshall Valvestate VS265 (3 channel chorus amplifier)
* Boss mini amp

Mics:
* 1x Austrian Audio OC18
* 2x SM58s

Stands:
* Mic stand with pick holder
* Music stand
* Lighting stand
* Studio arm mic stand with cradle

Various:
* Capos including short cut / slides & picks
* Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Studio Headphones - 250 Ohm
* FiiO E10K Headphone Amplifier, Black
* Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
* Macbook Pro
* Boss RC-20 Loop Station Twin Pedal Recorder Looper
* Tuner pedal
* Marshall Drive Master Distortion pedal
* Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus keyboard

MUSIC