NYVC Singer Spotlight: Robin Avery

How did you discover your passion for singing?

I was 4 years old, and I was in my backyard swinging on our not-so-fancy swing set. I was singing about the dog next door, No-Tail. It was my first composition. While some children journaled about their day, I sang about my day. Paul, my partner, tells me that when I am in songwriting mode, I sing made-up songs in my sleep. My family was in the hotel business, and every night there was a steady piano and violin duo. I fell in love with the piano player, “Hi Fried,” when I was 5 and would stare at him longingly as he played Hungarian Rhapsodies, Rhapsody in Blue, and Grieg’s Concerto, to name a few. The music touched my soul, and I was smitten by music. My parents bought LP records of some of the famous Broadway shows of the day. On Saturday nights, the hotel would present shows for the guests that would consist of a band and two or three different acts. I was mesmerized by the tall, slim female vocalists in sequined gowns of red and royal blue with chiffon or silk scarves or feathered, plumed shawls as they belted out show tunes that captivated me, and I know I thought, even if I couldn’t articulate it, “I want to be and do that!”

What’s something recent or exciting in your singing journey?

New York Vocal Coaching, Justin Stoney, and Abby Payne. I have struggled with vocal freedom and therefore vocal insecurity for most of my life, which is a long time. They have incredible gifts and talents for conveying vocal techniques experientially, and I am getting it. I have never been willing until now to step outside my comfort zone and sing my favorite songs with abandon until now.

With Abby’s songwriting class, I am writing, producing, and recording new original songs that I love. For me, I’m living the dream thanks to the knowledge, teaching skill, and encouragement of Justin and Abby.

What is an interesting or funny fact about you?

Just a few things about me: I have been told I am funny, even when I don’t mean to be. For a psychologist, I’m kind of concrete, and I don’t get other people’s humor or cryptic messages.

I see individual people in my practice all day long, and I feel comfortable talking with anyone. I do feel quite shy in groups of people, and it can be surprising.

What led you to studying at NYVC?

I was living in Miami Beach, where I am from and grew up, and had met Paul Banman, my soulmate and partner for the past 25 years. Paul is a professional musician, keyboardist, and producer. He is my “Hi Fried.” I had been struggling with breath support and pitch, as well as vocal power. After seeing so many voice coaches and instructors, university professors, and choral leaders, searching for vocal freedom and having given up, I asked Paul to find me a voice coach. He searched the internet and thought NYVC would be right for me. And he is right!

Who or what are your biggest music influences?

First, I must credit my grandfather, whom I never met. He was a cantor and composer and studied in some conservatory in Europe. Caught in the fires of World War II, I never had the privilege to meet him. I understand our family has his manuscripts. From what my father told me, my grandfather wrote beautiful waltzes. What is interesting about that is that when I hear music and start composing, I hear and compose in ¾ time. It’s as if I am unconsciously channeling him. My father also had a magnificent voice and sang on live radio in the late forties and early fifties. People who never went to synagogue would come on the High Holidays just to hear my father sing.

But I had my own musical journey to travel. At 8 years old, I was listening to terrestrial radio and dancing to the R&B tunes of The Drifters, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, among many others, and my very favorites, Aretha and Marvin Gaye. On the soft rock side of music, I listened to James Taylor, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell. My very favorite, Laura Nyro, is my greatest influence. A little later, I ventured into smooth jazz and then trailblazer Sade. While her sultry groove, music, and voice are seductive and sexy, her thoughts and lyrics are relatable and profound.

What styles of music do you sing?

I sing all kinds of music. I sing from the songbooks of all the people I mentioned, and I love to sing my own originals. When I first met Paul in January of 2000, I could only sing one whole song, “Dreams,” by Fleetwood Mac. He helped me develop my song list. He put our first band together, and at one of the rehearsals, one of the musicians commented on how brave I was to do a show of all originals that no one in the audience knew. I wasn’t brave; I just didn’t realize bands don’t do that.

What is one piece of advice you’d love all singers to know?

When I was 16, I went to the University of Miami campus to take my SATs for college admissions. I decided to check out the Frost Music School—the music building. It was one long building with this long hallway and practice rooms on either side. I started at one end, and walking down the corridor, I could hear singers, violinists, pianists, etc., practicing. I kept walking, never stopping, telling myself, “I can’t do that,” until I got to the end of the building and walked out the other end. It wasn’t until I was 39 years old, having had my last child at that age, that I told myself it was now or never. And I started taking singing lessons.

To quote Vincent van Gogh:
“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist?

My own thoughts that say I can’t or I shouldn’t. I tend to be a little risk-averse. I could go on and on about how I was not encouraged because my parents were overprotective. But at the end of the day, it is on me to figure out how to overcome the conditioned false beliefs and fears that have gotten in my way of doing the very thing I have yearned for since I was 4 years old.

What has been your greatest victory as an artist?

Writing my forthcoming release, Old Friends, together with Paul, is the most incredible experience as an artist because I love this song. I love everything about it—the music, the lyrics, the production, Paul’s keyboard solo, my voice, the mix, everything. And we did it unhurriedly and tended to each note and measure with great care and consideration. And this has motivated me to move forward to our next recording, My Blue Heart, that I began 25 years ago when Paul gave me a blue topaz heart set in a thick gold bezel for Christmas. This song was tucked away in the “vault” of my mind until Abby’s songwriting class, when I took it out and moved forward with it until it is now nearly complete and says what I want to say.

I should add two other events. We did a radio promotion for one of our tracks, Love Trust, and were fortunate to rank in the top 40 on the R&R radio trade journal. And finally, my mother sat with Paul and me one morning having breakfast when somehow the conversation led to her telling the story of how Aretha Franklin came into Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, the same day I was there recording a solo in the cantata for my school record when I was about 14 years old. As the story goes, my mother told Paul Aretha’s agents contacted my parents to try to sign me to their agency, and of course, my parents said no way. But it’s nice to know that someone else on the planet heard this story and knows I didn’t make it up.

Where can people find out more about you and your music?

What’s most accessible about me is my psychology practice on my website, robinaveryphd.com. My original music can be heard on YouTube and all the online streaming platforms. I have a sweet music video on YouTube reflecting the sentiment of an environmental piece Paul and I wrote, Light the Way, where you can see us perform our song. We had some nice reviews on our album, The Way You Hold Me, as well.

Old Friends will be released this November through CD Baby and available on all the music streaming sites. We plan to run a Spotify Ads Campaign as well. I hope you find us.