Robin Auld is a South African songwriter and musician born in 1959 in Lusaka, South Africa. His music reflects a life spent moving between southern Africa and Britain, and he is associated with Cape Town.

Background and style

Auld is born to Scottish parents in Zambia and describes his musical approach as centred on the song itself. His work draws on a wide range of influences, bringing together elements associated with Bizet, Burt Bacharach, Philip Tabane, Lionel Bart, Steve Reich, The Soul Brothers, the Beatles and Joni Mitchell.

Career perspective

His songs sit between different musical and cultural worlds, mirroring the alternation in his life between southern Africa and Britain. The result is a body of work shaped by movement, mixed influences and a strong emphasis on songwriting.