Amy Robbins grew up in Lady Lake and now lives in Mount Dora, Florida. The 32 year old singer-songwriter and guitarist has been playing professionally for eight years and her circuit spans all of Central Florida. Meanwhile, she has firmly established herself in the Orlando music scene, opening shows for notable Americana acts like Sarah Shook, Scott Biram, and The Curries. Amy also performs as a member of the Swamp Sistas ensemble, a group of songwriting women l assembled to serve as musical ambassadors for our grassroots movement. In my home recording studio, I’ve been helping Ms. Robbins add finishing touches to her solo artist debut “Maple Sparrow” which she plans to release at the Swamp Sistas La La at Orlando Fringe Festival on Saturday, May 18. After a recent session, I asked her to tell us about growing up in rural Central Florida, as well as her musical influences and aspirations.
You’re a native Floridian! Yes, my family has been in Central Florida for several generations and relatives say we were some of the original settlers in this area, but I’m not sure exactly how accurate that is, haha.
What was it like, growing up in Lake County in the 1990s?
Pretty rural! I spent lots of time outside, swimming, playing various sports and participating in competitive horseback riding. Country music was always the sonic backdrop at competitions, I think that dictated my love for the genre.
I hear the country influence in your songs but there’s more, how would you describe your sound?
Some of my favorite memories are riding in the car with my mom, listening to the “Saturday Night Gold Rush” on local Country radio, but MTV reigned supreme during that time too, so I got a healthy dose of other styles and found appreciation for most of them. I think my sound is folk, with an indie rock and country vibe and a little blues influence.
What kind of musical experiences was available to you, on a local level, growing up?
Locally, there were only a few places to see live music, outside of church and family reunions, but sometimes we would drive into Orlando for shows. I started playing trombone in middle school, my first real instrument outside of piano lessons as a small child. I played trombone in my high school jazz band and church orchestra, then eventually picked up mountain dulcimer and guitar.
What led you to start writing your own songs and follow music as a career path?
I made up songs as a kid, funny little rhymes that I would turn into tunes. I remember one about my hamster Dusty and the water he was drinking. There was another about adopting a whale. As a teenager, I started writing poetry and one day it occurred to me that I could combine my poetry with playing guitar. I didn’t take it seriously until a few years later when I collaborated with a musically inclined friend. That opened up the possibilities and growth, and I haven’t stopped. I don’t think I could if I wanted to. I feel lucky to be able to pursue music as a career. It’s not always easy, but I have a great support system and work hard at it every day.
What is your songwriting process?
I typically start with a melody and chord progression, then try to come up with a lyric that fits. Sometimes I have words already written that are perfect, other times it’s a whole new thing that strikes like lightning. From there, it’s all about putting it together in a relatable way.
You perform in lots of configurations from solo to full band, do you find it helpful to have options for different gigs? Having various options for live performances allows me to be more flexible to the needs of any event or venue and I’m able to take more bookings, so yes!
You’ve been involved with the Swamp Sistas for a little over a year now, and you’re a member of the Swamp Sistas ensemble, too. What’s that been like?
Swamp Sistas has been a career changing opportunity for me. I have grown so much since I joined in January 2018. From the beginning, it offered a musical family vibe and a safe place to workshop new songs. I love being involved in our community efforts and have always been in awe of the way you bring together music and community, Beth. It has been a constant learning experience in every aspect, from singing the right notes to the business side of things. This group is very special and has offered me friendship and guidance when I needed it most.
Finally, you’re planning to release your new album “Maple Sparrow” at the Swamp Sistas La La on May 18, are you excited?
I am super excited to release this album! It has been in the works for a while. I recorded with my full band and invited special guests Brian Goodpaster on pedal steel guitar and Gailanne Amundsen on fiddle. I’m eager to get it released, first of all, so folks can hear it, and secondly, I’m ready to start my next project with all new songs and ideas. Gotta keep moving!
