Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon-Mark Robb.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I got started playing music at a very young age thanks to very musical family. I started on guitar around 7 and singing shortly after. I spent my childhood running around the wide open spaces and rolling in the creeks with my dog. Only when I wasn’t dancing in the mirror, with a guitar in my hands, stuck somewhere between George Strait and David Gilmore of course. Though I’ve always been passionate about music, I grew up on a farm in a town of around 450 people in rural Illinois. So there was very little opportunity to excel in music.
I spent most of my teenage years working on the farm and on other neighboring farms in the county. I decided in highschool that music wasn’t means to a living, so I devoted my time and education to agriculture. Going as far as to move to Kentucky to study agriculture business and crop science.
It wasn’t long after attending college, while at home for summer and working on the family farm. I met some touring musicians from New braunfels. They had made a stop to see some friends that just so happen to live in my hometown. Something about seeing those guys do their thing, hearing their church like harmonies, and free as can be way of living in my tiny local tavern, really lit a fuse somewhere deep inside me. I was too young to drink at that point, but in my hometown, If they know you, they’ll let you in. It was something I’d never seen before, especially in that little bar, with hard wood floors and Harley burnout marks from wilder years past. It made me yearn for something more. Most importantly, it showed me that I could do it if I really had the heart for it.
I soon realized that Texas was wear I needed to be. I made it through college by the skin of my teeth, (my parents only wish was that I’d finish). As soon as I could, I packed up my stuff with a curly headed, wild eyed girl from Tennessee and we made our way to Austin. Absolutely clueless to say the least.
We have been in Austin now for a couple years and have been slowly working our way through the ins and outs of the music and art scenes. Not without a fair bit of struggle along the way. Between horrible experiences working on a local farm around Austin to pay the bills, and the adjusting it takes for a farm kid to live in a city like Austin. Though I can’t say that I would trade the experiences and lessons for the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not.
Going to my first open jam and realizing I had no freaking clue as to what I was doing. And the Existential crisis that comes with that.
Adjusting to city life.
Bad employment experiences
Learning to be yourself when coming from an area and lifestyle that doesn’t necessarily accept you for who you are.
Finding new inspiration when what typically inspires me is no longer around. Or at least I’m no longer immersed In it. Finding a way to make new inspiration and old, come together.
So many more.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a songwriter at heart. I love to tell a story. Wether metaphorical or a true story. I love to capture the essence of rural life and farm living from a perspective that isn’t necessarily the same old song about a tractor and a pretty girl in your truck. Though very loving and in my eyes magical, it’s a much tougher and brash way of living than some may make it out to be. There is a whole lot more involved that what you’d typically find around the subject matter.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
In my heart I know I belong in two places, in the woods and anywhere music can be played. This city is the best of both worlds. If im not playing a show or making music, you’ll probably find me if you walk the creeks and rivers in the area. Just look for a hippie with pasty legs and fly fishing rod in hand. I’ll likely be covered In mud and grinning ear to ear.
What I like least, the tacos…
Just kidding. Honestly, there isn’t much I can say I don’t like about this city. I could make the cliche comments about the cost of living or the traffic. But really I’m just happy to be here and doing what I love with awesome people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jonmarkrobb-music.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/joma_6strings
Image Credits
PK Thomas
