An Interview with Bluey Robinson - Life on Earth
After attending the Life on Earth Label’s event at Stereo, Covent Garden, I had the chance to interview the amazingly talented Bluey Robinson about his involvement with Life on Earth Label’s events and the label itself.
Life on Earth Label helps to promote emerging and upcoming artists through their events, giving them a platform to get their time in the spotlight whilst having the chance to network with other artists. Bluey Robinson spoke on his involvement, hosting and much more in this interview and gave us a little more insight to the future of Life on Earth label and how they look to move forward.
So, what's your involvement with life on earth?
I run it with some friends. Well basically, Life On Earth is a platform for creatives, up and coming- artists, just creative people, to have a little spotlight shone on them. So, we started doing these live shows, where I'm on the host of the show and we curate the artists who are performing and set up the show as well, with a band. That's that side of it, but then we also want to do sessions for YouTube, filming live sessions with different artists. You know like ‘Colors’, ‘SBTV’, that sort of thing. Just wicked artists that could do with a little bit of a spotlight on them basically. I'm still figuring out my role completely. We've got a few friends who are helping with the filming and editing, that sort of stuff. So, there's a little group of us, just figuring it out as we go.
How do you find hosting the Life on Earth events rather than just performing?
It's different, I've got to basically put on different hats because I'm not just the host, I'm also performing and running the night as well, so it's a lot to take on. So, now I've got a bit more of a team, which is good. It's cool hosting, I've got some experience, I was at MTV for a couple of years, so I did a lot of live events and stuff. I'm used to being on the stage anyway, so that's fine. I can talk to people on the stage, it's pretty easy. Well, it's not easy, but it's not too uncomfortable for me. I'm used to it so I'm comfortable on the stage. I enjoy being able to bring up-and-coming artists, or any artists really, on stage as well, giving them their moment to do their thing and then doing a song together, having some fun with the audience, getting the audience involved, and that sort of thing. I enjoy it, it's a new phase for me, doing it like that, instead of just being an artist. So yeah, I'm just riding it out, we've done three so far, they’ve gone pretty good, people seem to enjoy it, so we’re just going to carry on and see what happens.
It definitely seems like good vibes. When you're there, especially from the audience's perspective, it all looks really supportive, which is so nice to see, so how do you decide what acts are going to be there? Do you have a process?
Well, I've got a pool of different artists and friends, some people recommend people, some of the other artists who perform recommend some of their friends and said, ‘oh, this person is really good’, and we check them out, and we see if they would be up for doing it. Obviously, we can’t have everybody, there's only like three slots in the show. We want people who we feel would be good for the night and put on a good performance. We do a big rehearsal with everybody and kind of listen to the set, listen to the songs they're doing and try and figure out what the best order will be. So, it's not so much about how many followers you’ve got or anything like that, it's more how the night will work together as a whole, what artists and songs will complement each other. That's how we try to do it. It doesn't always work out that way, but yeah, that's kind of how we do it. Sometimes we would do it where an artist would just have an acoustic set. The first one we did with Jordan Thomas, he just did all his songs acoustically by himself, no band or anything. So, we were like okay, that would be a nice way to open the show. I mean, I open it, do a couple songs and then it's the first artist. It varies, whatever makes the night itself the best is what matters the most.
So, I watched the clip of the previous event from May and attended your most recent event. The idea of getting the guests involved with games and getting the audience's participation. Was that a spur of the moment thing or was it just something you guys wanted to do from the get-go?
It was something I felt like I wanted to do, like stuff that kind of got the audience involved anyway. But then, one of the artists couldn't make it to the first show that we did. So, I was like okay, we need to figure out how to fill up this time and because I didn't know how long the show was officially going to be and how long people would perform for, like, people might talk in between their performances. I didn't really know. So, I thought, ‘well I need something to fill up this time’. We came up with a few games that we could play to get the audience involved and the first one just went so well, people loved it. Some people said it was their highlight. So then, we were like, let's do it again. We did it at the second one and it went really well, it's just a part of the show now and we’ve just kept it in. I think it's great to get the audience up on stage as well. Some people crumble under the pressure, and they do really badly but some people absolutely shine and it's like they've been waiting, they've been ready. They had the songs primed. It's cool because when someone's on stage and they've got their friends and the audience, sometimes their friends shout out words trying to help them. But then sometimes you think you’re going to do a good job and as soon as you get on stage, you get given a word and the pressure gets to you. It's like you’re really frozen in the moment. The band's getting involved playing the theme music. It's just a fun, different kind of night. I haven't really seen that before in London. Yeah, I enjoy it. I like that everybody feels they were part of it. It feels comfortable, and like they can get involved. It's not just the artist and they’re just watching it. It feels more like a community.
It was really cool. There are not many gigs you go to where the artists will interact with the audience so much. It was really nice to see it being more inclusive.
It's a weird one to be hosting it. But being an artist, you just go for it. We're going to get you up on the stage one time.
I would almost definitely crumble under the pressure up on stage. Do you think the venue has a lot to do with the atmosphere and the way the event plays out?
It's a nice venue. Yeah, I mean, I think so, definitely. The aesthetic helps the vibe and everyone who works in there is cool. It's a new venue and they are still getting their name out there. It's quite hidden so, not a lot of people know it, so it's nice to bring them in a crowd. Usually, my shows have a great crowd anyway, good people, everyone's pretty easy going and they talk to each-other, people make friends and they come together as a group. Some of the people who come to events have been coming to my shows for years. I like having artists perform and making it more about those artists and that, as opposed to being a Bluey show, you know. I kind of want it to be more about the community, the artists, the creative side of it. We've done some other venues. But I do like the moodiness of it, and I like the tone and feel of the venue. It's like classy, it's cool. it's like those places in America where they've got a rich history of music, those old school, like speak-easy sorts of venues. It gives me that vibe and I like that. There's another venue that was asking me to do some stuff there. I really like stereo. So yeah, we'll go ahead there.
So, what made Stereo stand out as a venue, how did you discover it?
Basically, I got booked to perform there. I think it was the beginning of the year sometime. I was like, what is this place? I've never seen it before. It used to be like some old sports bar or something like that back in the day. I'd always go past it and never went in. But yeah, when I walked in there, I was like, this is wicked. They told me they were trying to specialise in live acts and live music, they wanted live music going on a lot and I was like, okay I know a bunch of artists, like, if we can work together, give me a night, and we can try something. They were looking for that sort of thing as well. So, it just worked perfectly at the time. They wanted some R&B/soul nights, and they didn't really have it, so it just worked out really well, and I like them. The team is really good, really helpful. It sounds good and it's cool, people like it there. People feel comfortable and there's all these little corners you can just go sit down, relax, play pool or you can be right at the front.
So, are you guys looking to do it there again?
Yeah. definitely. We haven't got a date yet. I'm going to speak to the venue and figure out when we can do it because it’s summertime now. I might be doing some traveling as well. So, I kind of want to make sure I'm here for it. Even-though I've got a team now. I still kind of want to be involved and make sure it's all running smoothly. As much as you want to give people jobs to do and give positions, you still kind of do need to be involved. I have specific ideas and tastes and ways that I want to run shows. I've been doing it a long time, you know. So, yeah, we haven’t figured out a date yet, but we're going to do another one for sure. I don’t even have the artists ready. I’ve got some in mind, but nothing official yet.
Have you got anyone that you would absolutely love to guest or perform at one of your events?
I mean Anderson Paak. Andre 3000. Bruno Mars. D'Angelo. I like so far that it’s been a lot of new artists that people don’t really know but are really good, but yeah, it would be cool to have some people who are bigger names and established already eventually. But there’s nobody I’m like super, super crazy about that I really want to get to perform. It hasn’t even gotten to that stage yet. Eventually, it will, I'm sure. Right now, I'm just enjoying finding and discovering new artists and, like, being able to introduce the musicians, the singers and writers even, that are really good, but people don't know about yet. I enjoy that because then they get discovered, you know. We give them that platform. Hopefully, we start doing sessions and that sort of stuff as well in the future. Eventually, we will hopefully get some ‘’bigger names’’. Maybe start doing some guest spots, you know. Even if they just come and do one song, I would love it to be, like, people just come and just turn up on a day and there's someone like Jesse J, who just jumps on the mic, and everyone’s like ‘woah’. So, well, we'll get there. We'll get there.
So, in terms of, like, inspiration, what made you want to want to set up Life on Earth?
So, it's a weird one, like, it just started with a small idea, and it just grew and grew and grew. So, I was working at MTV and on my last day, they had this big wall where everyone signs of wall, everybody that comes through signs of wall, so, you know, I signed it and then I drew little alien face with a bucket hat. I just looked at it and for some reason, I was like, that's cool man. Something about it, it just really resonated with me. I just felt like he's an alien, but he's wearing a bucket hat, so he's still cool, he's still down with the people, he's got his steeze about him, but he's different. He's an outsider, he's a bit unusual and different to everybody else, but he can still kick it with everyone. You know what I mean? It kind of feels like he's an observer disguised amongst the crowd, and I just kind of related to that. That's how I feel. I feel like I'm part of this world, but I'm also sort of an observer, and I'm a little different. Not that I'm special, but I do feel, I've always felt like I don’t fully fit in with a lot of things that go on. A lot of things people talk about, what people are into, and I'm just kind of sitting back, observing, and learning. So, anyway, it's long story short. I was like, I should print that on something on that. Sell it on a hat, do merch, and stuff, because a lot of people used to ask me to wear their merch at MTV. You know, ‘‘Can you wear my t-shirt?’’, ‘‘Can you wear my hat?’’. Because I did the news, I always used to wear people's stuff, and I thought, maybe I'll make my own thing. Anyway, so I started doing these hats, these alien hats, and then I thought, well, this maybe could be something bigger. Then I just thought I could start doing events, some music, and I can put it all under this umbrella, you know, and then I can bring in other artists and they can perform. I thought, ‘oh, that's cool, that could be fun’. It was just a brainstorm, just kind of grew from that.
Why the name ‘Life on Earth’, what made you settle on that? What would you say the future for Life on Earth could be looking like?
It was called Life on Earth because it's like, is the alien life on Earth? He's come from another planet, and he's observing us, learning about us, teaching us stuff even, maybe. So, that was the name, I just thought the names sick. Then, after I got the name, I thought ‘now, what do I do with it?’, and so, I'm still figuring it out now to be fair. We'd like to build it, build it really big and then maybe start doing it internationally. Maybe doing Life on Earth Presents shows, in Amsterdam with artists who are coming up and doing a show there. Basically, take it wherever people will have us from wherever there's somewhere we can do something. Yeah, and that's it, really. We're still growing it, and every day we're finding out new things we can do, like sessions, the live sessions that we want to start doing. Then we've been doing it with these street interviews as well, where we just go around and interview people on the street and ask them the meaning of life. It's been cool, and we've kind of implemented that in the show as well, I had my friend Que, walking around and interview the audience. That was cool and we can put that on YouTube, and then once we figure it out, we can do more episodes and get more stuff out there. Hopefully more people internationally people will see it, and then want to come to shows and kind of grow with us. You know, we’ll discover more artists, and we'll have a great time.
In that case, I do have to ask. What do you think the meaning of life is?
I think the meaning of life is tailor made for you, like, it’s your own perspective on it. So, I'd say find things in your life and give them meaning, basically. Then, that's what the meaning of life is. It's your family, it's your kids, it's your passion, it's working with charities or anything. Find your calling, find your passion, find something you're into, and put all your meaning into it, but make that be your message, your legacy. It's a big question, it's something I’ve always wondered. Maybe there is no meaning, you know? I really don't know. If there is none, then you have to create your own. So that's what I say. Find things in your life and give them meaning.
So, you started off with the merch and stuff like that are you still doing this and working on this?
We are. We're working on it. I've done merch at shows, I've sold T-shirts and that sort of thing, but I want to kind of improve it, maybe. Just take it up a level basically. But yeah, we’re definitely still doing the merch. It's kind of like, the caps. T-shirts etc. Keep it simple for now and see how it goes.
So how about you? Do you have anything coming up outside of Life on Earth? Any new endeavours?
Just music mostly. Just recording a bunch of new songs. Working on a little EP project, which is going to be like paying homage to almost 80’s Funk and Soul, R&B and it’s a little bit 70’s inspired. I've got that project; I'm always working on music really. Then I've got another collective called Blkcurrent. Where it’s like more in the dance, deep house space, garage, that sort of vibe. It's me, two producers, or a producer/DJ and another producer and me, the singer, artist. So, it’s the three of us. We've just been putting out some music, we’ve got a new song out called ‘Work It’. It's basically remix to No Diggity by Blackstreet. We did it for TikTok just for fun, me singing a song over the beat that they made but then it just done really well on the algorithm. People started doing videos to it, dancing to it. So, after we put out our first song, we were like, ‘‘oh, we might as well as see if we can put this out’’. So, we got the clearance, we released that. We've been doing live streams on TikTok where it’s DJing and jumping on the mic. So, I’ve got an EP project coming out with those guys. Then I was in another group called ‘The FEDz’, which is another collective. We did an album a while back, I have no idea what's going on with it or when it's coming out, but it's coming out at some point. I also act and just finished filming a TV show which is coming out in maybe two months, then I do a lot of voice over work as well, keeping me busy. I think that’s it really.
Is there anything that you would like to tell the readers?
Just, you know, while we're here on this earth, if you've got a passion, you've got something you want to do, just get it done. Just go do it. Go for it, you know, don't overthink stuff too much. If you're not hurting anyone, and you're just coming from a good place, just go for it, man. Even with this whole Life on Earth thing, like, it was just an idea I had. I was just thought, I won't be able to sleep at night if I don't try and fulfil it somehow, you know, if I put it up, it'll be up and if nobody turns up, you know, okay, I'll get over it eventually and I'll be fine. I’ll go back to the drawing board and figure out if I want to carry on. So, I just think, if you've got an idea, you have something that you think is cool, you've got to start somewhere. It's good that people take the chance to take a risk, as opposed to never doing it. So that's my message.
You can find out more about Bluey Robinson or Life on Earth’s labels events and upcoming shows or visit the labels store here:
Instagram - @lifeonearthlabel - @blueyofficial
Threads - @lifeonearthlabel - @blueyofficial
Tik-Tok - @lifeonearthlabel - @blueyrobinson
Website - https://lifeonearthlabel.com/
Written by - Freja Bell
Photo credit - Idil Warfa