This week’s Indie Band of the Week is TRULY INDIE…We know, we know…not our standard fare of in-your-face, balls-to-the-wall, metal. Let’s turn over to expose the more sensitive nature of RockRevolt – and bring you Australian guitarist and singer/songwriter Robert Gaylard, The Nomadic!
And now you ask, why RockRevolt why? We want to suffer in the wraith of massive metal!!! Well…we all need to be well rounded, and The Nomadic is our way of culturing your asses. The Nomadic promotes and advocates for issues of social action and innovation, human rights, support for minorities, as well as doing the next right thing, including the idea that it is never too late, including for people to follow their dreams and passions.
AND THAT MY HEATHEN friends, is WHY we chose The Nomadic to be our INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK!
Why did you pick your band name?
I have always been a Nomadic person! My parents had international careers and I was taken as a 5-week old baby to Burma (now Myanmar) and then lived in 5 different countries before the age of 10! I used to play music with my cousin Maddie in Australia, and joked that I would form a band “Nomad” and there would be “no-mad” in the band! We got a good laugh out of that idea! My career in 2002-12 took me to Australia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan, U.S.A., Afghanistan, Indonesia, Israel, and Palestine. So, when I came to New York in Sept 2012, and was looking to further my songwriting and music, when looking for a band name, I was playing around with that idea of “the Nomad”; theme of travel, adventure, movement, strength through diversity and exposure to different cultures. Then I thought of all my friends and people around me, and realized we are really just one big “Nomadic” tribe!
Sounds accurate! Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about?
Absolutely! I think it’s probably good to pick 2-3 and really focus on that rather than spreading yourself too thinly! For The Nomadic, it’s probably Facebook and Instagram and YouTube check out our last 2 releases “Drifting” and “Waiting”!
What are your immediate music career goals? (Next 1 to 3 years.)
Focus on releasing great music! Keep releasing singles. Focus eventually on an album. Keep writing, playing live, and hopefully in the post-COVID-19 world, touring and playing festivals!
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
I learned early on just to ‘own any mistakes’ and keep on smiling! You are responsible for keeping the mood of the show positive, so the worst thing you could do is to stare/ glare at your bandmates or pull a negative face yourself!! Keep on going! You are in a very privileged position to have people watching your show, so just enjoy it and know that 9 times out of 10, the crowd will just think it was part of the song rather than a mistake!
Do you get nervous at all before a performance? What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
Yes, I do! A bit of nerves is actually very healthy! It’s good to be on edge a little. The adrenaline helps you to focus! Sometimes I will write down “Go with God” and “Be of Service” so that you take the ego out of the situation! You are there to put on a good show and to be of service to the crowd, not to feed your own ego! Try to do your best and just leave the results up to the universe!
Wise words! How would you define the word “success”?
Everyone has to define success for themselves. No-one can do that for you! For me, at the moment, it is about having the creative and independent freedom to express myself through the songs and lyrics!
Since everyone was a startup once, can you give any smaller or local bands looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Whatever your chosen art, (songwriting, instrumental expertise, production, graphic design, photography and videography, etc. etc.) do it for yourself and because it’s a part of you that needs to be respected, nurtured and honored. Be proactive, set short/ medium/ long term goals (creative and business) and do at least 3-5 things every day that contributes to those! These could be things like writing to 3 clubs about a gig, going to watch and introduce yourself to other bands; writing to a radio for an interview or to a reviewer/ blogger; writing a song; writing a video treatment for a song. Just keep going! Don’t give up! Believe in yourself and the power of momentum! Build a team around you that believes in what you are doing and wants to help you achieve your vision.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?
Like as before, it’s keeping everything in perspective and your priorities straight! Remember life as an independent musician is a marathon not a sprint! Believe in momentum! If you do 3-5 things every day to pursue your goals- that quickly adds up. Don’t do 40 things one week and then take a 2-month break, or worse still, give up on your project!
What are your songs about?
We often write about personal experiences, could be romantic, could be travel, political, cultural. I am interested in issues of social justice and social fairness, and telling the stories of people who are voiceless.
Is your family musical?
Yes! both my grandmothers were singers, my mother sings, my father was a very good guitarist in Australia. I found out very recently that as a young boy, 10 years old, my grandparents would take him to pubs in Brisbane, Australia, and he would make money by playing well know country music hits! I have cousins who are singer-songwriters, and now my niece in the UK, Libby, at 10-years old is starting to churn out some impressive guitar compositions!
