After many successful years in the music business, Robin Winther finally found his call in the country scene. During a long-awaited trip to Nashville in 2019 he fully discovered the heart and warmth of the country music community. Inspired by classic country artists, his love for the northern woods and the countryside of Sweden, he has created a warm and nostalgic form of country music.
Robin Winther is an \experienced music producer and musician that has previously produced music to prime time television with 1M+ viewers per episode, and to some of Sweden’s most viewed Youtube videos with 32M+ views. He has a background as a guitarist and lead singer in multiple bands with many tour dates all around the world.
With his rollicking single “Lone Country Nights,” Winther delivers a campfire party of a song, reminiscing about good times and looking forward to the future ahead. Winther told us about his inspirations and motivations within the country music world.
Explain the title of your single.
The title of my single “Lone Country Nights” summarizes the nights I had in Nashville when I drove alone through the south. I’ve always been fond of the American south, the desert roads and open views, with a small town here and there. I spent a lot of time in the car, I love driving at night, it is like something just happens then. You think in new ways, and it generates loads of inspiration.
I started to write “Lone Country Nights” when back at home in my house on the Swedish countryside. My neighbor (who’s also a musician) came in and asked if he could borrow some milk, and then he sat down and started to write with me. I showed him what I had written so far and we got into a nice flow and finished writing the song in just an hour.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I get lots of inspiration from Swedish folk singers such as Daniel Norgren, a true talent from the Swedish woods. He writes beautiful songs from the heart that really grabs you. From the country scene, one of my main influences is Alan Jackson. I see him as a young ancestor to country music. Then we have Brad Paisley, of course. He has made classic country available to everyone, and he does it in a way that is catchy while at the same time technically amazing. I would love to collaborate with Brad, but we would probably just jam, talk and laugh.
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
If you are to write something, do it from the heart. It has to be real. Write something that you think is good, that comes from the heart, and that makes you proud. Otherwise, it will shine through and the potential of the song is limited already from the beginning. Don’t just write because you want the song to fit the mass and don’t write something that’s not you. Believe genuinely in what you write. Otherwise it won’t be convincing.
Do you have any go-to albums to listen to in the van?
Frank Sinatra. We play him all the time, both out on the road but also at home. If you have a bad day, your day just gets a little bit more smooth and fine with Sinatra. Everything gets a little bit more fun and exclusive, and his music invites you to an atmosphere as if you lived in a movie. What I love most about him musically is his timing. His vocal phrasing is one of a kind.
Where are some places you’ve found joy within the country world?
The first time I went to Nashville and got to experience the incredibly familiar feeling in the country community. I traveled alone and went to a small bar on the outskirts of town. I was definitely the only one from out of town – and from another continent at that – but I was welcomed with open arms and by one of my most memorable music experiences. I was blown away by how much everybody wanted to help each other. I come from a music industry with a lot of competition, but here people wanted to help each other to succeed. It definitely inspired me to take the step out on the country scene. Another night, I traveled with an Uber driver who told me he was a drummer. I asked him whether there was a lot of competition given the number of musicians in Nashville, and he said: “Son, you got it all wrong. Here we support each other. As long as you fill up these three things: You got to have your shit, you got to know your shit, and you got to be a nice guy to be around. If you have those three, you will make it in this town.”