Still a Ball of Fire

U.K. STRAT LEGEND ROBIN TROWER TALKS NEW MUSIC, THE SECRETS TO STELLAR TONE AND WHY HE'LL ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR AMERICAN FANS

- Mark McStea

ROBIN TROWER IS due to celebrate his 60th year as a recording artist in 2023, but at 77 years old, he’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. He recently released No More Worlds to Conquer, a fairly mellow affair — and the perfect accompaniment for a late-night drive — with Trower’s distinctive tones dripping emotion over every track. This is his third album in just over four years — and he’s about to start recording his next album, with enough songs on hand for another record after that.

You’ve called the new album No More Worlds to Conquer. Is that how you feel, musically? No. [Laughs] It was just that it was my favorite track on the album, and I like the story that the lyrics tell. It seemed to be the natural track to name the album after.

Speaking of conquering worlds, what’s still on your wishlist? I’m going into the studio in a month to record another album, so I guess my wish list is just to be able to keep going and keep being able to make records.

Your last “Robin Trower” album, as opposed to a collaboration, was 2019’s Coming Closer to the Day, which was a bit sombre lyrically, wrestling with issues of mortality. This is a much lighter album. What changed? I think Closer was a more introverted album, whereas this time I made a conscious attempt to write a much more outgoing album. As I started to write different material, I thought the songs I was coming up with were beyond me vocally, which was why I got Richard Watts to handle the singing. Luckily enough he agreed, and he did a wonderful job. I think that’s something else that gave the record a very different atmosphere, as I sang the songs on Closer.