Today I will be interviewing one of the finest and most hardworking singer songwriters in the Rock world. Mr R.P. Mixon hails from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a place full of beautiful nature that inspired the amazing music he came out with. With a wide variety of influences, his music is bound to take you back to the 70s, visiting Classic Rock, Country Rock, and getting to enjoy his incredible vocals and guitar work. I had the pleasure of chatting with Mr Mixon and here’s how it went.
- First of all, I would like to welcome you and thank you for being with us today. Can you tell us a brief history about who you are and how you started making music?
It all started a long time ago when I saved up my lawn cutting money to buy my first guitar – a Fender Stratocaster which came with a free Fender acoustic. Every song I’ve ever written was written on that acoustic guitar. When I graduated high school, like a lot of musicians, I labored a long time in the clubs in Philadelphia, and towns in New Jersey and New York, before I was signed by a Columbia Records subsidiary. After having recorded a big-time record with a famous producer, they decided not to put out my record, and I quit the industry for a long time. The industry was a meat grinder. But music has always been my true passion, and I am now taking the opportunity to reinvent myself, reimagine my songs, and write and release new ones.
- In the music you have released so far, do you play all the instruments? Who records and who produces your records for you?
A core band of musicians recorded the tracks for the upcoming album, but in the process of building on that foundation, I added a lot of my own sounds and instruments. I have my own recording studio now, so a lot of the work took place there. Other times, I just picked up my laptop to bring the songs to other studios I have been working out of. Many of the songs on the record have been mixed by Sylvia Massy, a multi-platinum engineer who recorded and mixed Jason Isbell’s latest Grammy-winning record. And a lot of the recording and mastering work has been done by a great producer-engineer from Philadelphia, Jim Salamone. I am producing the record, and all of the songs were written by me except a song called “Where The Rain Hides The Tears,” which was a collaboration with pretty famous guy named Jack Blades.
- Your latest single, Zen, is amazing. I love how it touches on Pure 70s Rock but also has a Country and Country Rock influence. Would you tell me how you made this song and what inspired it?
I’m really glad you like it because all of the songs on the record show different sides of me. My roots are in classic rock and Southern rock, and my first two singles, “Thank You” and “Shades” feature those styles. But on “Zen,” I wanted to produce a sound that channels George Harrison Pink Floyd in the verses, and a combination of Oasis and U2 in the choruses, mixed with some classic rock-style guitar riffs. It’s a deeply personal song of empowerment, and I reveal many of my musical influences in it.
- Throughout 2024, you have released three singles, and I care to know what you have chosen to release singles instead of an album.
That’s a great question. I have a number of marketing people on my team who convinced me to do what is called a “waterfall release,” where you release one song, and then another for a second release which includes the first one with it, and then a third single with the first two attached, and so on. It’s supposed to have some magical Spotify algorithmic benefit. Frankly, I am as anxious as anyone to get the full record out, but this release schedule has given me an opportunity to experiment with marketing, and bought me a lot of time to tinker with, and put the final touches on, the last couple of tracks. This is going to be a big long album. One of the tracks runs about 8 minutes, and I think it’s going to blow people away as it builds to an amazing crescendo. The album will be worth the wait.
- In your opinion, how does a rock artist stay relevant in 2024 compared to the past? Is it touring or content creation, or what is it in your opinion?
I am trying to figure that out! I believe now, as has always been the case, that money drives a ton of the success that popular acts experience. You have to have great songs, you have to be a performer and a social media creator, and you need a big team, including management, press, and booking agents, and you have to have a lot of money behind you. Sorry to say that is still the way it is done. It is almost a true miracle when an artist goes “viral” somehow with no budget and no record label. I believe that true relevancy ultimately comes from writing. If you are writing good music, you will be relevant to some constituency of fans. I’m doing whatever I can to get my music to the most people possible.
- Do you plan on touring in the near future? If so, do you have any particular venues in mind?
I would love to tour with a band in the future. I’m from Philadelphia, and there are a ton of great venues here and throughout the Northeast Corridor. Too many great ones to name. When the record is completed, we’ll be looking for booking agents who can jump start the live performance part of the machine. Ultimately, I’ll love to have fans everywhere, and am happy to start as small as is necessary to bring the music to the people who want to hear it.
- If you had the chance to collaborate with any artist or band, living or dead, who would you like to play with?
I would love to have been in a band with Jerry Garcia, Leon Russell, and Stephen Stills, with songs co-written by Kris Kristofferson.
- What’s a piece of advice you would give a new rock artist or band that’s just starting out?
Be prepared to do it all, and wear many hats. Then find someone with deep pockets who can advance your career or you will likely become just another tree that falls in the forest, with no one to see it, and making no sound. You have to be a relentless promoter of you and your art.
- Last but not least, what kind of songs do you plan on releasing in the future? Like…can we expect any twists or different genres?
A big group of songs will be released together this coming February. No question, listening to my record will be a musical journey through several different genres. After this record, I am going to focus on a strictly acoustic album. I see great potential for my songs in that format.
- At the end of the day, I would like to thank you for giving us some of your valuable time and information, and it’s always a pleasure having you here. R.P. Mixon’s latest single “Zen” is out on all platforms now, so be sure to check it out and follow R.P. Mixon on all his social media accounts to stay updated.
