Back in my university days, I played football for my college albeit with a heavy lean on the social side of organised sports. My captain in my first year was an excellent midfielder player, who I got on well with but fell out of touch with after a few years. So, imagine my surprise when, having reconnected via Instagram recently, I found out he was in the process of starting a music career.
Bedfordshire-based Ali Robbins, who’s previously lived in Suffolk and London, has always considered music a major part of his life, having primarily featured as a guitar player. However, life events saw Ali take a shift in approach, launching his solo career with his debut single, The Darkest Sunrise, at the end of last month.
As Ali tells us: “The catalyst for launching as a solo artist was the loss of a close friend at the end of 2024. Writing became a way of processing my grief and it was a really cathartic experience. The songs that I created combined my personal experiences with imagery drawn from landscapes and seascapes.
“I built up a repertoire of songs, worked hard on developing my voice, and as I started to play the songs live, I found that they were connecting with audiences. The Darkest Sunrise was the song that consistently seemed to resonate most strongly with people.”
Ali describes his newfound solo music as “reflective, atmospheric and emotive,” further adding: “I’d describe it as music rooted in storytelling and atmosphere. The songs are lyric-driven and draw heavily on imagery, emotion and personal experience. There’s an acoustic foundation to a lot of what I do, but I also enjoy creating rich soundscapes that help bring the stories to life. There are definitely prog and folk influences running through the music. Playing live, I use alternate tunings and effects to create sonic texture, and I’ve recently started working with flautist Zoe Douglas, which has really elevated the live sound.”
As mentioned, our first taste of this is his debut single, The Darkest Sunrise. It opens up with delicious guitars under Ali’s echoey vocals building a sombre atmosphere. Guitar chords creep in as drums join in alongside backing strings building the darkness as the engaging vocals continue with the chorus “This is the darkest sunrise that I’ve ever seen, Blackened skies and winter haze, Tears for loss and memories, I’ll carry you, always.” More strings join in as it builds in intensity and flows into a powerful and moving section that ends with the line “You always were an inspiration, The bravest soul I’ve ever known.” That flows into a final chorus supported by piano and strings that maintain the dark yet touching ambience of the track through to the end with repeats of “I’ll carry you, always.”
On the track, Ali said: “The response has been incredibly touching. The song deals with loss and remembrance, so it’s been particularly meaningful to hear from people who have connected with it through their own experiences.
“The Darkest Sunrise was written as a tribute to my friend Nicki. At its heart, it’s about the idea that even when someone is no longer physically with us, their influence, inspiration and presence remain part of our lives. The imagery throughout the song was heavily inspired by journeys through the Chiltern Hills and the local countryside.
“For anyone hearing it for the first time, they can expect a thoughtful, emotional song that balances sadness with hope. Although it starts from a very personal place, I think the themes are something that many people can relate to.”
Ali’s music is heavily influenced by artists who put songwriting and storytelling at the centre of what they do and create a strong emotional connection through lyrics and melodies. That includes classic rock artists like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac, through to progressive artists like Pink Floyd, Genesis, Steven Wilson and Opeth. He’s also inspired by alternative acts like Radiohead, R.E.M. and Doves have also had a significant impact, as well as folk songwriters including Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell.
And on what influences him to write music, Ali explained: “Most of my songs start with an experience, a memory, a theme or an emotion that drives my writing and gives me a foundation to create from. I’m particularly fascinated by the way people navigate change, loss, connection and hope.
“Nature and landscape often find their way into my writing, and the Chiltern Hills and the Bedfordshire countryside were a huge influence on The Darkest Sunrise. The relationship between people, memories, and locations runs throughout my work.”
Ali’s looking to build on the momentum of his debut single by releasing his second single in the autumn. He’s also in the process of recording his first album Dan James Short at Melonwave Audio, which he hopes to be completed in the next couple of months and released early next year. Gigs are also in the works and, following a successful launch show for The Darkest Sunrise, he’s got exciting live performances plans for the rest of the year and beyond.
And Ali added: “One thing I’d love people to know is that The Darkest Sunrise has been built on collaboration and community. From producer Dan James Short, to filmmaker Lobke Van Eijk and artist Carmen Carreira, every stage of the project has involved talented local creatives helping bring the vision to life.
“Music started as a way of processing a personal loss, but the most rewarding part has been seeing other people connect with the songs through their own experiences. If people can find comfort, connection or meaning in the music, then it’s doing exactly what I hoped it would do.”
You can follow Ali Robbins on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out his music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Image credit: Joshua James
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