Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Kevin Corey Robbins
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember being a kid and feeling like certain songs could completely change the temperature of a room. There was always music around the house—old records, guitars leaning in the corner, somebody humming something in the kitchen. I can’t even tell you the first song, but I vividly remember the feeling of sitting way too close to the speakers, staring at the artwork, and thinking, “Whatever this is, I want to be inside of it.”
That sense that music could be a whole world you step into has stuck with me ever since. It’s what I’m always chasing when I write or play live.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
At first it was just curiosity. I picked up a guitar because I wanted to know how the songs I loved were built under the hood. Once I started learning chords and could fumble my way through covers, I realized there was this huge difference between playing someone else’s story and telling my own.
The first time I wrote a song that felt honest—even if it wasn’t perfect—it was like a door opened. Suddenly music wasn’t just something I consumed; it was how I processed what was happening in my life. From there it stopped being a hobby and started feeling more like a calling.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Right now my world is centered around Mellow Minds Media and a live performance series called Live From The Casita. The idea was to build a little ecosystem where the songs, the live performances, and the visuals all talk to each other.
Live From The Casita is an intimate, in-the-room show we film in a small, character-filled space—the Casita—that’s become home base. I’ll play sets there, and we also bring in other artists whose songs have depth and soul. We capture those performances live, with all the little imperfections and magic that happen when you’re actually in the room.
On the release side, I’m focused on building a catalog that feels cohesive: studio versions of songs, live Casita versions, and alternate takes that show different sides of the same material. The project, in a big-picture way, is about creating a world where people who love honest songwriting and live musicianship feel at home.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I’d call it Americana / songwriter / rock—songs rooted in storytelling and emotion, with the energy of a band that can really play.
You’ll hear:
● Emotionally honest lyrics – I’m trying to say something real, not just rhyme for the sake of it.
● Strong melodies – I love songs you can hum after one listen.
● Guitars front and center – including slide guitar and textures that feel a little dusty and lived-in.
● A blend of introspection and energy – Some songs lean into quiet reflection, others are meant to hit hard in a live room.
If you like that space where Tom Petty, Jason Isbell, and bands like Dawes overlap with more modern indie-leaning songwriters, you’ll probably find something you connect with in what I’m doing.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music? That “perfect” and “true” are not the same thing—and if I have to choose, I’ll pick “true” every time.
When I started out, I obsessed over getting everything flawless: perfect takes, perfect mixes, perfect vocals. Over time I realized the moments I loved most in other people’s records were often the slightly raw ones: the crack in a voice, the guitar note that wavers, the tiny bit of noise that reminds you it’s human.
Now, instead of chasing perfection, I’m chasing honesty. If the take has emotion and tells the story honestly, that’s the one.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? At the core it’s pretty simple:
● A good acoustic guitar – That’s where a lot of songs are born, just me and a guitar. ● Electric and slide guitar – For color, attitude, and giving the songs their own sonic fingerprint.
● A basic home studio setup – Interface, mic, monitors, and a DAW so I can capture ideas quickly before they slip away.
● A notebook and voice memos – Half my ideas start as a line scribbled down or a mumbled melody into my phone.
From there, it’s about building out arrangements in the studio and then taking them into live spaces like the Casita to see how they breathe in front of people.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
It’s always changing, but I keep coming back to artists who balance great songwriting with really strong live energy. Folks like Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, and Tyler Childers are big touchstones for me—there’s a honesty in their writing that hits hard.
On any given week there’s some smaller indie artist in my headphones that I’ve stumbled across through live sessions or playlists. I love discovering people who are clearly doing it for the love of the song first.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? Pretty much everything I write is rooted in something real I’ve lived through or watched up close—relationships, loss, small victories, seasons where things felt stuck, and moments where music was the only thing that made sense.
Those experiences pushed me toward an artistic vision that values depth over gimmicks. I’m not interested in pretending I’m something I’m not. If a song doesn’t feel grounded in real emotion or a real story, I have a hard time finishing it. That’s also why Mellow Minds and Live From The Casita are built around intimacy and honesty; I want listeners to feel like they’re right there in the room with us.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work? I hope people feel seen and a little less alone.
Some songs are about hard stuff—regret, heartbreak, growing pains—but I try not to leave listeners stuck there. I want there to be a thread of hope running through it all, even when the lyrics are heavy.
If someone walks away from a song or a Casita performance thinking, “Yeah, I’ve felt that… and maybe I’m going to be okay,” that’s the best possible outcome.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
That playing the long game matters more than chasing quick hits.
Music has a way of humbling you: there are quiet seasons, setbacks, and moments where you’re not sure if anyone is listening. But if you stay focused on the work—writing better songs, playing better shows, building real connections—things slowly start to compound.
It’s also taught me to be present. Some of the most meaningful moments have been in small rooms with a handful of people listening like their lives depend on it. Those nights remind me why I do this.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Two that always pop into my head are Red Rocks and Newport Folk Festival.
Red Rocks because of the sheer energy of that place—playing songs that were born in a small room on a stage carved into rock would be wild. And Newport because it’s such a songwriter-centric festival with a deep history of artists I admire. Being part of that lineage, even for one set, would mean a lot.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? I’d love to sit in a room and write with someone like Bob Dylan. He has this way of cutting straight to the emotional core of a story with just a few lines, and I think being around that would push me to dig even deeper in my own writing.
On the “past” side, getting to trade songs with Hank Williams would’ve been a dream. His music has this timeless simplicity—songs that feel like they’ve always existed—and that’s something I’m constantly chasing in my own work.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website, Spotify, IG, links) You can find me anywhere you normally listen to music—just search “Corey Robbins” on:
● Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms
● YouTube – look for my performance videos and also the Mellow Minds Media / Live From The Casita sessions
● Instagram, TikTok, etc. – search for my name and for Mellow Minds Media and Live From The Casita to follow the broader world around the music
Mellow Minds and Live From The Casita are the hubs where a lot of the live performances, behind-the-scenes content, and future collaborations will live.
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Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
My dream is to build a sustainable, long-term career making music that feels honest—and to bring other artists along for the ride.
In practical terms, that looks like:
● A growing catalog of records I’m proud of
● A steady rhythm of Live From The Casita sessions that introduce people to new songs and new artists
● Touring and live shows where the audience feels like a real community, not just a crowd
I want Mellow Minds and Live From The Casita to be a trusted name—when people see that logo, they know they’re about to hear songs with depth and performances with soul.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? I hope they discover that I’m in this for the long haul and for the right reasons.
I care a lot about the craft: the lyrics, the melodies, the way a band breathes together onstage. But underneath all that, I’m just a person trying to make sense of life through songs and share that process with anyone who might need it.
If listeners pick up on the fact that I’m genuinely grateful they’re on this journey with me—and that I’m always trying to give them something real in return—that’s enough.
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Link: https://linktr.ee/coreyrobbinsmusic
