A Dirty Dozen with ROBERT DEEBLE – November 2025

Photo credit: Michael Wilson

According to a recent press release: “Robert Deeble’s seventh album, The Space Between Us, is a lush and emotionally resonant work that reveals a quiet, literary depth. Produced by Ric Hordinski at The Monastery Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, The Space Between Us will be released to streaming platforms on February 6, 2026, through Deeble’s Mind Bomb Publishing imprint. The Space Between Us is being released in three phrases. First, supporters of a crowdfunding effort received a private stream of the album in March, followed by a physical copy or download in the Summer. Next it emerged as an exclusive Bandcamp pre-release in August making vinyl, CD and downloads available to the public. Finally, the album will release on all streaming platforms in February. For this phase, Robert created several exclusive Dolby Atmos tracks—immersive mixes that can only be experienced on streaming. Born in 1966 in Long Beach, California, Robert cut his teeth as a songwriter in the gritty underground of the LBC, which introduced him to longtime collaborators like drummer Stephen Hodges (Mike Watt/Tom Waits) and folk heroine Victoria Williams, who helped launch his early records.” We get Robert to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Many, if not most, of the songs were inspired by literature or reference literary themes. “Pleasure to Burn” was inspired Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, “The Forest from the Tree” was in response to The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben), “Orphan Song” is the story of the AP & Sara Carter as told by the graphic novel The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song), “Not on your Team” was inspired by the themes found in The Book of Amos.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Yeah, it was a visual memory actually. I was a kid and stumbled across the Yellow Submarine movie on TV. The vivid colors, the sound of an electric guitar going through a vintage vox amp – the harmonies, it all caught my attention. I was particularly struck by Ringo I liked his comedic character. I wanted to play the drums afterwards and that became my first instrument.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

There have been several… naturally the Beatles were my entry into music but honestly there the two pivotal albums were Revolver for the tension of the grit combined with lush string arrangements and studio experimentation – and The White Album for its human transparency and simplicity. Moving on from there though… early Bob Dylan for his lyrical prowess and mid career his Infidels record for the tension he held on that record between his humanity and spirituality. Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen both became a thing for me after my first album in 1994. Several reviewers likened my work to them and by doing so I was introduced to their work. I became transfixed by the way Cohen could flip words around to create surprising images… and Drake, well he was like anti-depressant for me. I always felt so calm listening to him. Five Leaves Left in particular.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Oh man, well I feel pretty humbled to have worked a variety of wonderful people. Stephen Hodges was a big part of my first two records, this was when he was working with Tom Waits and then later with Smashing Pumpkins… Stephen taught me a lot around listening and feeling the music. I was thrilled at the time to form a friendship with Victoria Wiliams who sang a duet on my first record. Vic as you remember was opening for Neal Young when she was stricken with MS and then helped formed the Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund. Subsequent records had Rachel Blumberg from The Decemberists partner with me on drums and vocals for the This Bar Has No One Left EP.  My dear friend Anna-Lynne from Trespassers William did a beautiful track on Heart Like Feathers. Tomo Nakayama and Jen Wood (from The Postal Service) did backing vocals on BELOVED. But on this album I ended up working with Ric Hordinski. Ric was probably best known for his guitar, but honestly he is really more of a Brian Wilson or George Martin – a truly gifted artist. Ric took this album in places I would of never imagined. When using backing vocals for example Ric would use them like an instrument – writing particular notes for them to hit like a horn section. This was particularly noticeable on the track “The Attic of Desire.”

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I like exploring… I love thrift stores and consignment markets… always on the hunt for forgotten items that no one else noticed to see if I can bring them back to life. I used to collect paperback books from the 50’s just for the artwork… I love that whole Saul Bass era of illustration.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Oh that’s always hard one because if I were to reference folk music, people immediate of American folk and country… If I say singer songwriter or acoustic people think of some guy slumped over a tip jar… I remember when I first started out playing acoustic folks asked if I was like James Taylor and that always made me cringe…  I guess if I were to put words to it then I am a melancholic, and reflective songwriter which, you know, is why some folks in those early days referenced Drake or Cohen.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Sadly none of us are up for a sing along… I suppose I hand out the drink tickets so that counts for drinks right? Man, I wish someone would cook… we’d be an ever better band.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I’ve been star struck twice. Which is weird cause I’m generally pretty chill around people who have accumulated some sort of star status – I just see them as people like the rest of us. But ok so this is super nerdy but I got completely star struck and befuddled meeting Suzanne Vega after a show I was pathetic. Same thing happened meeting Daryl Hannah at the Roxy in LA in the late 80’s. I guess I tend to blush around female folksters and mermaids.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

To take part of something bigger than yourself… art does that and to be a part of that in some way is mysteriously awesome. My other job is pretty great, I am a therapist so I get to journey with people into their lives and stories in a meaningful way. It’s lot like being on the road with a band only you get to sit in a chair.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Dang… good question.  I think it starts with the relationship I build with the interviewer and whether I sense we have some common thread of experience together and then any question they ask is the one I was hoping for and conversely if there is no relational commonality then the very same question can become tiresome…

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Oh yeah I suppose. Probably a lot of them if I think about it. One comes to mind pretty quick… my band and I got pictured on the front page of the LA Times entertainment section with a story about a new LA songwriter scene emerging in the early 90’s. We were playing the infamous Highland Grounds in LA at the time. Sadly never followed up on that media moment with more shows for probably a good half a year and our booker was dumbfounded why we wouldn’t of made the most of it.  I think I was a bit overwhelmed at the time.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

May sound trite but Miles Davis – Kind of Blue.  Just kind of amazing how that record unfolds live on record. How everyone plays off each other. I’m not a big jazz guy per say but I love anything that is authentic and spiritually in the moment like that.

ROBERT DEEBLE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews