Robin Anne Ettles

Artist Information

Biography

NEWSFEED

* TWO YEARS IN A ROW! ROBIN NOMINATED FOR MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR AT MUSIC NEW BRUNSWICK AWARDS 2011 and 2012 - AND THIS YEAR, ALSO FOR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL! * (Sept 11)

* ROBIN RECEIVES HONOURABLE MENTION FOR 2 SONGS AT THE 2010 BILLBOARD WORLD SONG CONTEST * (Sept 10)

* Also contributed to recordings / live performances by 4 other MNB nominees: Mel Keith, Zwerg, Samantha Robichaud, and Melanie D *

* MEL KEITH & THE STROMBACHS (eponymous) NOMINATED FOR THE 2010 EAST COAST MUSIC AWARD FOR POP RECORDING OF THE YEAR; produced by Robin *

* 'DARK & DIRTY' by BARLEY & THE DURT CHOSEN FOR RADIO RNR COMPILATION OUT OF LOS ANGELES; produced by Robin *

* ROBIN WINS THE 2009 CONTACT EAST AWARD FOR PROFESSIONAL PRESENTER OF THE YEAR * (October 09)

* TWO OF ROBIN'S PRODUCTION WORK RELEASED: POP-AMERICANA RECORD 'MEL KEITH & THE STROMBACHS' (eponymous, June 09) AND TECHNO-LOUNGE OFFERING 'SOCIAL LATIN LINE DANCING' BY RAE (November 08) *

* 'SECRETS OF AUTUMN (PASSING THROUGH)', DIRECTED BY PAMELA GALLANT, ORIGINAL SCORE BY ROBIN, GOES TO MOVIEOLA, THE SHORT FILM CHANNEL * (March 09)

* ALL 5 EPISODES OF DOCUMENTARY SERIES 'PETITES VUE DE CHEZ NOUS' (SEASON II) TO AIR ON RADIO-CANADA IN EARLY 2009, ORIGINAL MUSIC BY ROBIN * (December 08)

* 'SECRETS OF AUTUMN (PASSING THROUGH) TO SCREEN AT 2008 ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER AND AT SILVERWAVE FILM FESTIVAL IN NOVEMBER * (August 08)

* 'AMAZING' RECEIVES HONOURABLE MENTION AWARD AT THE 15th ANNUAL BILLBOARD SONGWRITING COMPETITION, PLACING IN THE TOP 500 WORLDWIDE * (August 08)

see more highlights following the bio.

BIOGRAPHY

Robin Anne Ettles continues to build on a list of musical experiences that are both wild and enriching. After playing a concert at North Pole, producing a banjo version of ‘Ave Maria’ and travelling all around her home province to write songs inspired by the same, Robin has decided to focus on songwriting and producing. In 2008, two recordings will be released with Robin’s name in the producer credits, following two releases in 2007 and others in years previous. This past year she completed a songwriting tour and a songwriters’ circle tour, all in and inspired by New Brunswick, and is plotting a similar jaunt to France and Nashville (because France and Nashville are so obviously connected).

Meanwhile, Robin still composes music for television and film and has credits with CinImage Productions, Productions La Difference, Productions Phare Est, and the National Film Board of Canada. Several of these series and productions have aired on Radio-Canada, CBC and Bravo. Works featuring Robin’s compositions have played in film festivals from coast to coast, receiving awards and critical acclaim. Please see the discography section for more details.

As a performing artist, Robin is a multiple award winner, having netted the ECMA for alternative group with SOL in 1999 and the New Brunswick Songwriting Competition in 2001. Songs written by Robin have received airplay across the country on commercial, campus, community and CBC radio. The video for SOL’s ‘Lucinda’ received play on MuchMusic’s ‘The Wedge’ and ‘MuchEast’. Robin co-wrote, with SOL bandmates, a version of ‘Blue Tattoo’ that appeared on the tribute album for Hard Core Logo, a Bruce MacDonald film. In 2007, Robin's song 'Amazing' made it through to the second round of the International Songwriting Competition.

Robin’s freelance work includes international touring experience with two-time East Coast Music Awards Nominees Banshee and Darcy Mazerolle, Justin Bird, Jason Haywood (The Divorcees), The Keats and various other artists for NXNE, CMW, ECMA, MNB showcases and more.

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* 'RUN', WRITTEN BY PETER POST - PERFORMED BY BIG WHALE - PRODUCED BY ROBIN, BREAKS THE TOP 100 ON THE MEDIABASE CANADA AC CHART, REACHING #87 - SANDWICHED BETWEEN JAMES BLUNT (#88) AND JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE (#86) * (July 08)

* ROBIN PERFORMS SOLO SINGER-SONGWRITER MATERIAL WITH OTHER NB SONGWRITERS AT THE 'NEW BRUNSWICK SONGWRITERS SERIES' IN APRIL 08, HOSTED BY THE IMPERIAL THEATRE, THE FREDERICTON PLAYHOUSE AND THE RIVERVIEW ARTS CENTRE/CAPITOL THEATRE * (April 08)

* 'LA VOISINE' WINS 'BEST NEW BRUNSWICK SHORT DRAMA' AT THE 2007 SILVER WAVE FILM FESTIVAL; ALSO SHOWING AT THE 2007 CINEMENTALE FILM FESTIVAL IN WINNIPEG * (November 07)

* 'RUN' ENTERS THE MEDIABASE CANADA AC CHART AT #155 - AHEAD OF THE NEW MAROON 5 SONG AND THE NEW MADONNA SONG * (June 08)

* 'RUN' GOES INTO REGULAR ROTATION ON MAGIC 104 * (June 08)

* 'LA VOISINE' (short fiction) SHOWING AT THE 2008 RENDEZ-VOUS DU CINEMA QUEBECOIS ET FRANCOPHONE, VANCOUVER and MONTREAL - supplementary showing added in Vancouver due to the film's popularity; ORIGINAL SCORE BY ROBIN * (February 16 08)

* 'LA VOISINE' WINS 'BEST ATLANTIC SHORT' AT THE 2007 ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL; ALSO SHOWING AT THE FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DU CINEMA EN ACADIE, supplementary showing added due to sold-out showing Sept. 22 * (September 20, 07)

* 'TRIPPY' CHOSEN BY TORONTO'S PROUD FM HOST LISA MARSHALL AS BED MUSIC FOR HER WEEKEND SHOW * (August 20, 07)

* 2007 RECIPIENT OF A CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS GRANT TO PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, NON-CLASSICAL MUSIC, FOR COMPOSITION * (May 07)

* 'AMAZING' REACHES ROUND 2 OF THE INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION * (February 07)

* 14 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OF ROBIN'S MUSIC ON RADIO-CANADA! Check out the 'Petites vues de chez nous' and 'Bazart' series * (January 07)

Instrumentation

Songwriter, producer, composer of music for television and film, freelance bassist and guitarist.

Also plays percussion and synth, can do backing vocals.

Robin is endorsed by John Pearse Strings.

Discography

2011 ** in production for this year: 'Petites vues de chez nous' series produced by CinImage Productions, music composed by Robin; studio guitar work for the upcoming Zwerg album.

2011 Allan Cooper Rose Dale
Produced and mixed 5 songs for Allan's full length solo recording. http://www.allancooper.net/Rosedale/

2010 Barley & The Durt Skeleton Closet
Produced and mixed full-length record, contributed bass, guitar, keys, percussion and vocal tracks. www.barleyandthedurt.ca

2010 Chris Boudreau No Man's Land
Contributed bass tracks to full-length recording.

2010 Hélène Godin Coeur battant
Produced and mixed full-length record, contributed bass, guitar, keys, percussion and vocal tracks.

2009 Mel Keith & The Strombachs (eponymous)
Produced this artist's debut EP; contributed guitar, bass, synth, & keys; plays bass in her band. Album released in June 09.

2008 rae social latin line dancing
Created and produced original techno-lounge recording. www.indiepool.com/RAE221

2008 Robin Anne Ettles Secrets of Autumn (Passing Through) (OST)
Composed and performed original music for short film (fiction) produced by Segue Films and directed by Pamela Gallant.

2008 Big Whale 'RUN'
Produced and contributed guitar tracks to single written by Peter Post in memory of Sean Collins, a boy who lost his battle with cancer a year ago this June. Release date via radio and webcast: June 2, 08.
www.peterpost.net/music.htm

2008 Robin Anne Ettles 3 - 4 - 5
Three songs written and performed acoustically by Robin, now available on CD. Released April 18, 08.

2007 Robin Anne Ettles La Voisine (OST)
Composed and performed original music for short film (fiction) produced by Productions Phare Est and directed by Pamela Gallant.

2007 The Ettles-Keith Project 'Trippy'
Song composed by Robin chosen by Weekend Host and Assistant Programming Director Lisa Marshall for her show on Toronto's Proud FM.

2007 Robin Anne Ettles 'Amazing' (performed by The Strombachs)
Advanced to second round of the 2006 International Songwriting Competition.

2007 Barley & The Durt (eponymous - Independent).
Produced this artist's debut album; contributed guitar, bass, synth, & keys; plays bass in his band. Album released in June 07.

2006 Robin Anne Ettles Bazart
Composed and performed title theme for documentary series produced by CinImage Productions for Radio-Canada.

2005 Robin Anne Ettles On the Road with Mary (OST)
Composed and performed original music for feature-length documentary film co-produced by CinImage Productions and the National Film Board of Canada.

2005 Robin Anne Ettles Petites vues de chez nous
Composed and performed musical score for documentary series produced by CinImage for Radio-Canada.

2004 Robin Anne Ettles ‘Trippe’
Composed and performed musical logo for Cinimage Productions.

2002–04 Robin Anne Ettles Artiste dans l’âme/Spirited Artists
Composed and performed musical scores for documentary series produced by CinImage Productions for Radio-Canada 3 years running, which was translated and aired on Bravo.

2004 The Ettles-Keith Project Imitating Hercules (Independent).
Produced, wrote, co-wrote, and performed on the first volume of the ‘Songs for a Cinematic World’ series.

2004 Robin Anne Ettles featuring Melanie Keith ‘Your Beauty Lies Within’.
Wrote, produced and performed track contributed to the compilation Songs from the Bay: The Fundy Sessions (The Fundy Guild).

2004 Robin Anne Ettles ‘Stairs’ (Hawk Communications).
Composed and performed music for a radio PSA against Family Violence.

2003 Robin Anne Ettles Moi, c’est moi
Composed and performed musical score for an educational documentary produced by Productions la différence and the National Film Board of Canada. Aired on Radio-Canada in 2004.

2003 Peter Post ‘I Can Hear You’.
Contributed guitars, bass and arrangements to track from the album Change (Independent).

2003 Tinah Caught Between Two Worlds (Independent).
Contributed bass and other arrangements to 8 of 10 tracks on the album.

2001 Robin Anne Ettles ‘Shotgun Wedding’.
Composed and performed theme song for Service New Brunswick CD ROM produced by Tantramar Interactive.

2001 Robin Anne Ettles ‘Last Year’s Disaster’ (Independent).
Composed and performed Grand Prize Winning song of the 2001 New Brunswick Songwriting Competition. The recording received airplay on CBC.

2000 David Rioux and Steven Price ‘So Many Reasons’ (Independent).
Contributed acoustic guitar track and arrangement ideas for CD single, which received airplay in Halifax.

2000 SOL Live (SOL/SOL Music).
Composed 8 of 10 tracks, contributed acoustic guitars.

2000 SOL ‘Salem’ (SOL/SOL Music).
Composed song and played guitars on track contributed to the Moosetracks compilation (Moosehead Breweries).

1998 SOL ‘Blue Tattoo’ (SOL/SOL Music/Colonel Festus Publishing/BMG)
Co-wrote and performed on song selected for the 'A Tribute to Hard Core Logo' CD accompanying the Bruce MacDonald film.

1996 SOL Lucinda (Resort/Universal).
Composed 10 of 11 tracks on the album; contributed arrangements and all guitars.

1993 Les Oranges bleues Les Oranges bleues (Independent).
Contributed guitar tracks and arrangement ideas.

1993 Les Oranges bleues L'Arc-en-ciel musical (Radio-Canada).
Contributed guitar tracks and arrangement ideas to the winning songs of the Pop-Rock 15-25 competition, which were re-recorded at CBC studios for the compilation.

Audio

• wandering first off - rae, from 'social latin line dancing'
  Listen  
• producer - Adjustment - performed by Barley and The Durt
  Listen  
• producer - Jasmin - performed by Hélène Godin
  Listen  
• vocalist - Another Mile - Allan Cooper
  Listen  
• singer-songwriter: Myles' Car (DEMO)
  Listen  
• producer - Circles - Allan Cooper
  Listen  
• producer: Run - performed by Big Whale
  Listen  
• One Week
  Listen  
• Paper Dolls and Radio Songs
  Listen  
• 3 Amazing
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Paper Dolls and Radio Songs
• One Week

Video

Robin Anne Ettles - film & television demo reel

Photo Gallery

Press

• quotes regarding 'social latin line dancing', the new techno-lounge record by rae ... [+ Show ]
  

  "Trippy ... I always find this kind of stuff you can get lost in, like a weird dream. " - Eric Lew..."Trippy ... I always find this kind of stuff you can get lost in, like a weird dream. "
  - Eric Lewis, East Coast Noise, Times & Transcript, via e-mail
  
  "Love the album, has a Stars-like sound, it's great! Congrats!"
  - Meghan Scott, Boot Soup Entertainment
  
  "It's ****ing wicked."
  - Adam Gould, Broken Coast Productions
  
  "I must say I was floored! Excellent song crafting and vibe on this gem."
  - Pierre Pitre, via facebook
  
  "CD sounds great!"
  - Glen Deveau, Radio-Canada, via e-mail
  
  "Really cool tunes."
  - DJ Bones, via facebook
  
  "It's a really great album."
  - Monique LeBlanc, CinImage Productions
  
  "Then there's an unlisted eighth track that GraceNote 'identifies' (if you can call it that) as 'Untitled' - is that the name of the track or does it really not have a name? Synthesizers that I can only call zany appear and I thought I'd slipped onto Passion Pit for just a second, before the clapping percussion and Mel Keith's voice kicks in followed by the ever present guitars. Can you have power chords right alongside keyboards? That really should belong to Stevie Wonder or Steely Dan. Well it seems that you can now and this is glorious. This track is a remixed by 'rae' and it's a relief to be out from the country rock sound of the rest of the album. Bizarre though putting it here when the rest of the record is so much of a specific type. It's the final track and I'm hooked. I don't care if this music is made by the PCD or Norwegian trolls, this album ain't going back."
  - altsounds.com, regarding the remix of 'Don't Walk Away', which is the hidden track on the Mel Keith & The Strombachs record

• quotes regarding Robin's work ... [+ Show ]
  

  2008 'It was easy to work on - tracks sounded good to begin with!' - Brad Blackwood, Euphonic Ma...2008
  
  'It was easy to work on - tracks sounded good to begin with!'
  - Brad Blackwood, Euphonic Masters (clients include Jully Black, will.i.am, Alvin Youngblood Hart) on the subject of 'Run', written by Peter Post and produced by Robin
  
  'I have listened to some of your music - great stuff!'
  - John Rowley, music supervisor & composer
  
  'Really good song.'
  - Ron Hynes, during an editing session for 'The Split'
  
  'You rock at life. Bass playing too'
  - Jolene Keats, Executive Director, Music NB
  
  regarding 'Imitating Hercules' by The Ettles-Keith Project ...
  
  ''Imitating Hercules' from The Ettles-Keith Project displays both the uniqueness of their personalities and the cohesiveness of a championship team. while there is quite a diversity in the tracks, they still have a common thread. This is a very well put together project.'
  - Blair Patton, host of Action Atlantic, C103 FM
  
  'I can picture the whole album doing well ... great blend of totally different musical styles! I love the concept of what you are doing ...'
  - Catou MacKinnon, CBC Mainstreet
  
  'I really like the songs individually and as a group; cohesion is today's word.'
  - John Knox, K94.5 FM
  
  regarding Barley & The Durt ...
  
  'There are some really nice sounds there.'
  - Carey Beck, artist
  
  'What the **** was that?'
  - Iain MacD, Mount A student
  
  'I had to shut it off, it was frightening me.'
  - Gayle M., Mel's mom
  
  'I listen to it fairly often, actually.'
  - Paul Goguen, aka Paranerd
  
  more to come ...

• produced by Robin: review of Mel keith & The Strombachs [+ Show ]
  

  MerleSong / Dangerous Parade September 18, 2009, 11:14 PM Buy Mel Keith and the Strombachs - Self ...MerleSong / Dangerous Parade
  September 18, 2009, 11:14 PM
  Buy Mel Keith and the Strombachs - Self Titled [EP] From Amazon.com
  
  
  Listening to Mel Keith and the Strombachs opening track - 'Is Anyone Here' - I can see why the promo self titled 8-track CD I've been sent has a sticker that says 'for fans of Lucinda Williams, Sheryl Crow and Kathleen Edwards' - much as I resent being put into a box like that. It's got a bit of a summery Sheryl feel to it, but the voice whilst similar is also totally totally different. There's a sparseness in Mel Keith's vocal phrasing, gaps that work to emphasise above the jangly country-rock guitar.
  
  'Don't Walk Away' has got a breathy catch on the voice, just like when engineers first started playing with backwards snare sounds. That's got me intrigued, that little bit of experiment. Also, this track, the hook is really strong and I think I've heard it before. I know I haven't but my mind thinks it has. I love the way Mel Keith croaks a bit towards the end.
  
  'Amazing' opens with strummy, jangly country-rock guitar and is very listenable due entirely to Mel Keith's voice. She has got the sort of East Coast / Canadian inflection that's charming to Northern British blokes who write CD reviews. It makes me look on the CD cover for some info and I find it's recorded in Moncton, New Brunswick. Is that where they are from? What's a Strombach? Apart from a 19th century zither playing child-murderer? Oooh, quick, drop the doo-wop backing vocal. At this point I could quite get into the whole feel of the record.
  
  'Just Like Kathleen' jumps right in and Mel's accent twangs through nicely enough to tell of a bad girl called Kathleen who likes to sink a few beers while the cable TV plays on. I dunno but this all felt a trifle snobby. We're all a bit more grown up than that, aren't we dears? And is there a bit of a theme about bad girls as anti-heroes?
  
  'You shine' starts off again with just the voice and folk guitar. It's all a tiny bit self-help about how even if you're messed up, don't you know how much you shine? It's almost embarrassingly earnest like Alanis Morissette, and strings out the phrases a bit like Alanis Morissette would but luckily it just about redeems itself. In fact by the end I almost love it.
  
  Then there's an unlisted eighth track that GraceNote 'identifies' (if you can call it that) as 'Untitled' - is that the name of the track or does it really not have a name? Synthesizers that I can only call zany appear and I thought I'd slipped onto Passion Pit for just a second, before the clapping percussion and Mel Keith's voice kicks in followed by the ever present guitars. Can you have power chords right alongside keyboards? That really should belong to Stevie Wonder or Steely Dan. Well it seems that you can now and this is glorious. This track is a remixed by 'rae' and it's a relief to be out from the country rock sound of the rest of the album. Bizarre though putting it here when the rest of the record is so much of a specific type. It's the final track and I'm hooked. I don't care if this music is made by the PCD or Norwegian trolls, this album ain't going back.
  
  So, yes, Mel Keith is from Moncton, New Brunswick. That's relevant because I'm a big follower of Canadian music but know next to nothing about stuff coming out of the Maritimes. She's played in the UK at Wakestock of all places, but is still hammering out loads of gigs in Eastern Canada. If Mel Keith sticks with the country-rock guitar, that's where she will stay and be happy and worthy to boot. If she does more like that last track, look out.

• Barley's debut an interesting listen [+ Show ]
  

  Moncton's own Kolin Barley has assembled an all-star cast of some of the best musicians on the East ...Moncton's own Kolin Barley has assembled an all-star cast of some of the best musicians on the East Coast to help him bring his debut album of quirky, bluesy alternative rock to life. For starters, East Coast Music Award winner Robin Anne Ettles produced the record and played a half-dozen instruments on it. Danny Bourgeois, Chris Colepaugh, Fred Hétu (who plays a fantastic bunch of keys on the album's second track), Steve LeBlanc and Carey Beck played on the album. Melanie Keith and Andrea Somers each sang on the album. It's a who's who of some of the city's best. So you know the playing it top notch.
  
  The songs, all penned by Barley save for "Invisible, I Am", written by Ettles, are mostly dark and dirty acoustic guitar-driven rockers. The quirky lyrics about drugs, alcohol and troubled relationships -- "Your ego is so big, you comb your hair with the Gunningsville Bridge" -- make you wonder where Barley's head is at sometimes, but it's a fun, interesting trip.
  
  Barley's singing -- with a gritty, nasally voice on most tracks -- doesn't sound skilled or practised, but instead spur of the moment. It takes a bit of getting used to, but isn't bad. On "Pedal To The Metal", however, he surprises with a nice singing voice.
  
  "I Shot My Wife Today" is kind of humourous. It has a simple synth riff (which sounds like an old video game in a weird way) and bouncy rhythm that you'd think really wouldn't fit the lyrics.
  
  The album bounces around in style here and there. "Carmen" starts off slow and builds into a messy grunge tune. Ettles' "Invisible, I Am" has a slight industrial feel to it. "Gunningsville Bridge" is a piano-led ballad.
  
  It's an interesting listen from no doubt an interesting character.

Setlist

For rae: DJ/electronic original music set, 45 - 60 mins. Basic soundboard (min. 8 channel) and PA required, with subwoofers.

For Robin Anne Ettles: original singer-songwriter material, can perform two 45-min sets with intermission or one 75-min set. Features one or two covers by other Canadian artists and a touching rendition of 'Doll Parts' by Hole.

Robin also works as a freelance bassist and guitarists, accompanying other artists.

Basic Requirements

Calendar