Robert LaRoche channels the likes of The Everly Brothers – with more than a dash of Buddy Holly and perhaps a smattering of The Beach Boys – with his new single ‘Drawn To You’, set for release on July 12.
The singer songwriter and guitarist has been performing in a professional capacity since he was 15 years old and formed his first band, The Sighs, in 1982. The power pop group spent the next ten years touring New England, before being signed to Virgin Records, releasing their debut album, ‘What Goes On’, in 1992, which produced the hit single, ‘Think About Soul’. They consequently toured with The Spin Doctors and The Gin Blossoms, before ultimately disbanding in 1996, following the release of their second album, ‘Different’, the previous year on Big Deal Records.
Robert moved onto a career as lead guitarist and co-writer for Patricia Vonne, moving from Holyoke, Massachusetts to Austin, Texas, where he is now based. This collaboration has seen LaRoche and Ms Vonne awarded the critic’s pick for “Best Live Performance” at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2013.
In 2015 Robert released his debut solo album, ‘Patient Man’, which saw his musical influences come to the fore, with his songs filled with close harmonies and memorable hooks. Now, his new release, the six track EP ‘A Thousand Shades’, is set to come out on July 21.
Lead single, ‘Drawn To You’, opens with a Beach-Boys/barbershop quartet style harmony, before dropping into an Everly Brothers guitar and vocal verse, sewn together with drums. It’s upbeat and downright jolly, as LaRoche sings to the object of his affections about how much he’s drawn to them. Close your eyes and listen to the music, be transported on the wave of retro guitar. This song could be placed anywhere between 1957 and now; the jaunty, jangly guitar evoking in equal parts The Merseyside sound, even The Shadows, as much as Buddy Holly and The Beach Boys – you can feel how much The Beatles were influenced by Holly early in their career, just by listening to this track.
At just over 3 minutes long, it’s a pleasant listen, as LaRoche tells of how they are “the only one who understands”, the days when he “is blue”. It’s a deeply personal love song, and in way it feels invasive to be listening to him pouring his heart out. This guy’s in love and he’s not afraid to show it!
‘Drawn To You’ is from Robert LaRoche’s upcoming EP, ‘A Thousand Shades’, out July 21. Find out more about Robert online on his official website.
