Today we’d like to introduce you to Roberto Fabre.
Hi Roberto, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I am Roberto Fabre, a Mexican musician born and raised in Mexico and now living in Austin, TX. Music has always been a huge part of my life, but my love for it was ignited during my childhood; my mother would take me to jazz gigs at coffee shops and small venues in Guadalajara, Mexico. I would sit there and dream of being able to play music. Going to local shows exposed me to the world of live music; however, my real love for music happened when we came to Texas to visit my mom’s family and stopped at Fredericksburg, Texas. At a local tiny shop, my mother bought a blues album from Putumayo Records, a record label dedicated to sharing music from different parts of the world. The title of the CD was “Mississippi Delta Blues.” This changed everything. I discovered Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, Arthur Crudup, and Muddy Waters; from there on, it was nothing but the old delta country Blues for me (I was never a huge fan of the Electric Blues). The real feeling of the blues and the folk stories touched my heart, leading me to dive into old country music like Hank Williams, Jimmy Rodgers, etc. It’s always been folk music for me. The authenticity and realness of the country or folk music have always resonated with me. Hence, genres like Gypsy music, norteno, or anything that tells a story have strongly influenced me.
Music has always felt like my calling, but art is challenging. Part of my family has never been supportive of my musical journey, discouraging me from pursuing my love for music. The economic struggles of an artist are tough as well; making ends meet does make it hard for any musician to continue on this path. 7 years ago, I left Mexico; I decided to quit music and go up north in search of the American dream, a better life, a life where I would not struggle to pay for rent or pay for groceries. It has not been easy; since I moved to the USA, I have been a taco guy, a cook, a waiter, a martial arts instructor, a janitor, a barback, a lawnmower, and a dishwasher till I eventually ended up working for the man, corporate, the tech world. When I started working in corporate, I felt like everything was falling apart; I remember promising myself as a kid that I would never end up working at an office or a monotonous job. As a kid, I wanted to be a gypsy/Romani, a Hobo, a vagabond, a troubadour, or a Boheme. So, working at a corporation was outside the plans. I felt devasted, and more than ever, I was so far away removed from music, but like any sad story, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Music wouldn’t quit me, even though I tried. I just kept playing, getting better, writing, and learning more songs. I said fuck this. Music is what I love, and music is what I am good at, so when my mind and soul remembered this, everything started to fall into place. Music came back more vital than ever. As an artist, we all have experienced this sort of moment, but the important thing is where we go from there. I constantly think, “Why am I doing this? What is the point? Why the struggle? Why study? Why care?” but somehow, I can’t stop, so I just keep going. When I am playing, I find something that nothing else can give me and something no one can take away from me. One thing is sure: I gotta keep playing, and that is what I have been doing for the last 12 years. Now, I am proud to say that I have had great opportunities in life; I have played at Formula 1, I have been a participant in the voice, I have collaborated in multiple projects, I have traveled the world with my music and things just keep getting better little by little. Texas music adopted me and showed me the beauty of the Western swing, the honky tonk. The music in Texas has led me to play in multiple venues across town, like the Continental Club, the White Horse, The Broken Spoke, Hole in the Wall, and many dance halls. I have been lucky to play with amazing artists like Gus Clark, Wayne Hancock, and some other local legends.
At this point in my life, I find myself searching for my voice: who am I? I am a Mexican immigrant, and not from the USA, but then again, all of my musical influence has been mostly from the USA. I do not know who I am at this point, and I am embarking on a journey to find that out. One thing I know for certain is that I do not want to be another guy repeating the same formula. My musical journey in Austin has been playing for other people as a hired gun and playing guitar for multiple bands. Last March 2023, I decided I should do what I always wanted to do, which is why I started to play music: to be like my blues heroes. I want to tell a story about what it is to be an Immigrant, to talk about my Mexican heritage, and incorporate the vibrant sounds of blues, country, swing, and western swing with the clashing sounds of Norteno and the tearful deepness of boleros. I want to tell stories of hope, love, and loss with an honesty and authenticity that cuts to the core of human experience. We never stop evolving, and life’s journey is tricky; I think the most important thing is never to let the fire in your soul die. Sometimes, we feel high and low, but it is all part of this journey. The most important part is never to stop believing and never give up on your dreams and what makes your heart tick. I am still playing all around town. However, I am working on new original material, which will be released in 2024; for now, you can listen to a single I released in mid-September: https://open.spotify.com/track/5MhzuZV0flp1pLbodQLMVa?si=eefdbc4462374492. You can find some of my videos on YouTube.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has always been challenging; multiple challenges have appeared throughout my life. The biggest of them has been believing in myself, that I can accomplish my dream, and that I can be an amazing artist. My dad never supported my music and constantly mocked me. Ever since I can remember, he ridiculed my passion for the arts and music, saying that I had no talent or was just not good enough. Of course, as a kid, if you hear this repeatedly, you start to believe the words of others, and this becomes your reality. For many years, I was afraid to sing, to be on stage, and to fail. When I moved to Austin and heard all these great musicians, I felt so little; I thought I would never be on a stage in Austin. I kept on playing and working. That was the only thing I could do; I got better and more confident. Now, all of this is a thing of the past. I am here playing, being recognized for my talent. Life has a way of teaching us and making us stronger. Life taught me that no one would ever believe in me until I started believing in myself. I am happy to say that these insecurities are a thing of the past, and now I am the most comfortable person on a stage. I love to be on a stage and scream out loud, make people happy with my music, and smile at them when they enjoy a tune or a good solo I just did.
We all have a spark waiting to shine; it is sad how our life experiences outshine this light and extinguish the fire within our souls. As artists, what we do is a very vulnerable thing. We put our hearts out completely; we get ourselves naked to the bone; it’s tough but gratifying when we can connect with other people’s hearts and souls. I still doubt myself sometimes: why am I doing this? What’s the point? But I can’t stop when I play that music. I feel like I am flying high; the world ceases to exist, only this perfect moment. Life has challenges constantly; how we face them and decide to move forward matters. You can sit down and cry or sit down and cry and keep pushing forward. Good days and bad days are always present, but such is life. I am happy to be able to play music.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I play all sorts of music, mostly swing, country, and Mexican. My music school was jazz. My Ex-Step dad was a jazz musician, and when I got into music, he said, “Roberto, if you want to be a good musician, you have to play jazz.” I only wanted to play the blues like Robert Johnson and be a hobo. However, I listened and learned how to play some jazz; today, I am glad I did cause playing that Western swing guitar makes me stand out. One thing that sets me apart from the rest is my high energy on the stage, my ability to improvise, and my ability to give it my all in every show. I am proud of how much intention I put into the music while I play it. I learned these skills when I was a broke musician in Mexico and had to busk on the streets to make some penny; the audience is always the most important thing. Musicians forget this: it is not about you. It is always about them, the audience.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Be real and be humble. Anyone has something to teach you. Look into yourself and be honest; where are you? Where do you want to go? and then do it, no matter how hard.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robfabre.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elrobertofabre/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@rob_fabre
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5IgOWz7Yi27tSiIevAwzBy?si=aFEq54p2SPanrnj1SAXPEQ
Image Credits
Elias Manglar
