Red Moon Travelers is a Florida-based, Los Angeles/Nashville recording group featuring Robbie Royer on lead vocals/guitar/keys, Stevie Watts on drums, Rich Lansberry on bass/vocals, Ed Campbell on percussion and Max Bolton on keys/guitar/vocals. Their new award-winning album ‘Beyond the Mirror’, a unique blend of Southern Rock and Memphis blues, is attracting fans who seek out unrestrained rock music. While the success of their debut radio single 'She's Fine' must no doubt come as a relief to this hard-working ensemble, it might just prove to be a small slice of what Red Moon Travelers truly has to offer fans. Recently, reporter Alexis Adams caught up with the band to learn more about them and their music.

ALEXIS: When When did you first discover your love of music?
ROBBIE: I think I speak for everyone when I say that music came to us very early in life. We all have that first instrument, a gift or hand-me-down to noodle with. After a while you start to figure it out, play along with records or the radio... and next thing you know you’re on stage behind some chicken wire cutting your teeth in the business. Then it's all uphill from there! (laughing) After a while you are writing your own songs and trying to create a niche for yourself, and that's not easy. You really do have to have a love for it.

ALEXIS: Your song ‘She’s Fine’ is receiving a strong listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard it played?
ROBBIE: Well, of course we were all excited. That is something that will never get old. The ultimate goal is to create something that people will like and want to hear again. But when you hear it on the radio, it adds a whole new dimension to it. It will also drive you to write more just so you can do it again. It becomes like a drug, really. Just can't get enough!

ALEXIS: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
ROBBIE: Debra Mitchell and I co-wrote ‘She's Fine’. Debra is a long time friend of the band. She sent me some lyrics that she was working on and asked to see if I could do anything with it. I took it in a totally different direction than she was intending, I think. Basically we all have that one love or relationship that is totally wrong for you; yet you are completely consumed by it. Then it's over as quickly as it started. Debra started off with an angel and I ended up with a devil. (laughing) Such is love I guess, but it makes for a great tune, don't you think?

ALEXIS: Would you say that the mood of your other songs is in the same vein as ‘She’s Fine’?
ROBBIE: No, they are not. Each song on ‘Beyond The Mirror’ is slightly different from the last. This is what we were aiming for. We didn't want a bunch of cookie cutter tunes. We wanted real stories with real honest sound. Different feel for each one, different personalities. That's why we have several different writers on the album. Steve (drummer), Rich (bass), Debra Mitchell, J.D.Brayton, Jimmy Hall and I (singer) all contribute to the songs on this album. Everyone has a story to tell, and we want to tell it our way.

ALEXIS: How would you characterize yourselves as musicians?
ROBBIE: (laughing) The one thing that we don't do is take ourselves too seriously. All the guys are really down-to-earth people and we like it that way. There are no divas or self-indulgent members, well... except for Stevie! (laughing) The one thing we do is always keep it fun... otherwise it turns into a job! And who wants a real job? This is way more fun!

ALEXIS: Did you come from musical backgrounds? Are there other musicians in your family?
ROBBIE: Max (keys) and Ed (percussion) didn't really have anyone in their families that was a musician. Stevie's dad was a guitar player in a well known band called Sassafras, Rich's dad played several stringed instruments, and I spent most of my childhood playing music with my younger brother. Sometimes it's just something that evolves over the years. Influences arrive from many different sources and it's hard to nail down exactly where in some cases. Whatever the source, it works for us... we hope. (laughing)

ALEXIS: What do you find most rewarding about being musicians? What do you find most challenging?
ROBBIE: I think the most rewarding is being in a band with other musicians, and the most challenging is being in a band with other musicians! (laughing) When everyone works together toward the same goal and you create something great it's like magic. When you are onstage and it all comes together, you get that instant feedback from the crowd and it seems to dwarf the challenging parts. I think the business side is the most challenging. There are too many tedious tasks that need to be done to move the band forward. Most people don't know or see that side of the music. But, it needs to be done... it's a yin-yang thing. There are positives and negatives to everything in life. The trick is getting someone else to do challenging things for you! (laughing)

ALEXIS: Who are your role models in music?
ROBBIE: I don't have specific role models, but have always tried to be the best that I can be. Anyone who is selling a lot of albums! (laughing) Everyone in the band has many different influences. Stevie is the metal guy - Metallica, Led Zepplin and Rush to name a few. Max, Ed and I are more like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Santana-type influences. Rich is more of the jazz type - Weather Report to Grateful Dead, that type of music. Together it makes for an interesting mix. Or a train wreck! (laughing)

ALEXIS: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
ROBBIE: For us, there is no ‘one’ memorable performance. They are all memorable. Each time brings something new to the table. People, location, weather, sound - these are all factors that make each performance different. Some good, some bad, but each one gives us more stories to tell. For instance, we were playing in Navarre, Florida, about to start our second show and got delayed because some guys wanted to sing karaoke. (laughing) Now for me, that was a first! I mean, who wants to hear two drunk guys sing ‘On The Road Again’?

ALEXIS: Do you have a music video for your hit single? If so, what can you tell us about it?
ROBBIE: We do have a music video for ‘She's Fine’. You can find it at www.youtube.com/redmoontravelers. We shot this in Clearwater, FL. After working in the studio for several days, we decided to blow off some steam and just relax a little. I called a friend of mine to hang out with us and take video and photos. We ended up using the footage for our video of this song. Currently we are in discussion with a professional organization to help us put together more videos for some of the other songs. Stay tuned, this could be interesting. None of us are very photogenic. (laughing)

ALEXIS: I look forward to hearing your new music. Thank you very much for sharing your story with me. Wishing you all continued success.

http://www.redmoontravelers.com

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