Artist Bio

Ask Robert Lang about the great passion in his life, and he replies: “Music, definitely. There’s never been anything that mattered so much to me, that gave me so much, that makes me as happy, or that I can express myself through so completely.” Robert’s friends and fans are often quick to point out his sense of humor, intelligence, and chocolate cake-making skills, but they also agree that music is his essence. And he is not limited by any particular genre. “It may be a cliché amongst musicians, but I do really love almost all types of music. There are great elements to be drawn from different styles, and I try to integrate them into my compositions, and I love playing everything from old jazz tunes to the great singer/songwriters to Brazilian bossa [nova].”

Indeed, listeners often comment on the broad range of Robert’s material. While other musicians enjoy specializing in one type of music, Robert finds it essential to tap into as broad of a range as he can. “If I’m playing for three hours at a restaurant, I want you to hear a little James Taylor and the Eagles, then maybe ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ into a Cole Porter tune from the ’30s, and all over the map, so you can enjoy the whole three hours and not overdose on any one thing.” With over two hundred songs in his repertoire, Robert has entertained diverse audiences for over sixteen years.

Beginning instrumental studies with the clarinet in the fourth grade, Robert later found a stronger connection with the guitar in high school, yet he didn’t think a career in music was feasible. “Ya know, a few years back I came across a journal I kept in college. The first entry was sort of a ‘here’s where I am right now in life’ kinda thing. I wrote about how I wasn’t really happy with my college studies, and the only thing I wanted to do was music, but ‘you can’t make a living doing that’ or something to that effect. I’m glad I was wrong, but it took me a long time to figure that out.”

Indeed, Robert worked for five years to obtain a degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, graduating cum laude in 1989. He describes this time as less than happy. “I was really miserable, to be honest. I think I just knew deep down inside that it wasn’t me. After I graduated, I looked for ANY kind of job in the EE field that I wanted to do, and I just didn’t find one. I looked into becoming a math teacher for a while. At some point, I just said ‘forget it – I’m going to try doing music. I can always go back and do something else.’”

He began learning enough songs to build a solid set list, and started performing professionally in 1992, in bars and restaurants in the Boston area. As soon as those first gigs started happening, he knew he had made the right decision. Yet, despite the success and personal satisfaction of live performances, he felt compelled to explore other musical avenues. After two years, he put performing on hold and began to study recording engineering, which is now a second career. By 1998, Robert was again drawn to live performance, but this time in more intimate and sophisticated venues. "Now I was playing the songs I really loved, and I had rediscovered a lot of older tunes that made my shows more diverse, for myself and my audience.”

Although happier with these gigs than he had been with shows past, Robert was again ready for a change. But this time, it was a geographical change rather than a professional one that was in order. With no job or music connections, he packed his trusty Honda Civic bound for the desert of Phoenix, Arizona. “It was my Motel 6 express tour of the US”, Robert laughs. He was soon attending open mics, meeting fellow musicians, and lining up gigs. “I always had some sort of day job in Boston, and did music on the weekends. But, by late 2001, I was gigging 15 to 25 times a month – enough to not need a day job any more. It was really great to finally make my living doing just what I love.”

In 2002, Robert released "Self-Portrait", a collection of his instrumental guitar pieces. By this point, he was also performing with percussionist Marco Santello as Seven Oceans. After becoming a trio in late 2002, Seven Oceans released "Perfect Day" in 2003, an album of originals written by Robert and new bass player Andrew Bailey. Both CDs are available at all of Robert's performances.

Since his arrival in Phoenix, Robert has established himself as one of the Valley’s premiere performers, entertaining at restaurants and coffee shops, as well as at weddings, holiday celebrations, and other special events. Additionally, Robert keeps busy as a recording engineer at his studio, Big Bug Sound. “I enjoy playing out as well as the recording work – it’s a great mix, and I wouldn’t want to choose one or the other. But, playing music is really where my heart is.”

To book Robert for a performance, please call 602-820-6861.