Purchase includes postcard signed by Robert Randolph.
Robert Randolph took a step outside when it was time to record his new album, ‘Brighter Days’, available August 23rd via Provogue Records. For this release, Randolph looked beyond his own preconceptions and external expectations as he circled back to where it all began for him: church music.
Randolph grew up playing sacred steel music at the House of God church in Orange, New Jersey, and began taking his joyous, gospel-infused music out to clubs, backed by family members who shared not only backgrounds, but blood as well. “The Family Band” is not just a name meant to evoke connections of togetherness. They are an actual family; Randolph’s cousins, bassist Danyel Morgan and drummer Marcus Randolph and his sister, vocalist Lenesha Randolph, anchor the group together.
When looking for a producer for this record, Randolph chose to work with Dave Cobb, who is best known for his work with new country stars like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, and Jason Isbell. “Dave Cobb is just a guy who likes to record good music and good songs,” says Randolph. “He wanted to do something that was fun while also educing a gospel feeling.” Cobb is also renowned for his vocal work and has often said that the voice comes first for him, so it’s no surprise that he helped coax out some of Randolph’s best, deepest, most nuanced singing.
“Over the years I’ve learned how to write these songs that make you feel kind of spiritual and have the gospel roots, just like the great music of people like the Four Tops, Temptations and Ray Charles,” shares Randolph. It all comes from the same place. We don’t want to sound like them, but that’s the feeling we want to conjure.”
