Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from London, born in 1953. He works in country, folk, jangle pop, neo-psychedelia, rock, singer-songwriter, alternative, folk, and folk-rock. He also plays harmonica, piano, and bass guitar.

Career

Hitchcock records and performs both as a solo artist and with groups he forms or returns to, including The Soft Boys and The Egyptians. His other associated acts include Nigel & the Crosses, Four Croakers, Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians, Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3, Robyn Hitchcock & Minus 3, Robyn Hitchcock & His LA Squires, The Hungry Moment, and Big Star’s Third. His releases appear on Tiny Ghost Records, Tiny Ghost Music, and A&M Records.

Writing, performance and artwork

His albums often feature his own paintings or drawings on the cover, and some liner notes include a short story. In performance, he often mixes songs with storytelling and surreal ad-libbed monologues. His lyrics frequently use surrealism, comedy, character studies of English eccentrics, and recurring images such as plant roots, insects, trains, dreams, and everyday melancholy.

Collaborations and influences

Hitchcock works with a wide range of collaborators, including Jonathan Demme, Alan Rickman, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Andy Partridge, Nick Lowe, John Paul Jones, Jon Brion, Grant-Lee Phillips, Bill Rieflin, and The Venus 3. His influences include Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso, The Byrds, Country Joe & The Fish, and Syd Barrett.

Family and themes

He is the son of novelist Raymond Hitchcock and the brother of artist Lal Hitchcock. His songs often return to death, sex, and eating, alongside other forms of melancholy and eccentricity in everyday life.