Music

Luscious soundscapes, etheric vocals, poetry and thought-provoking lyrics, Robyn’s recent compositions weave tapestries in sound and space.
Multi-talented musician, artist, earth activist, and international permaculture designer/trainer is just as at home turning compost as she is composing luscious electronic soundscapes on her laptop. Robyn studied music and composition from an early age and was a successful folk singer/songwriter in the 70’s before getting side-tracked with saving the world. Since 2003 she has been composing ambient electronic music. Her deep love of nature, concern and hopes for the future, inspire her work. Her love of diversity and different music genres pervades her music.

Albums

EarthSong a collection of ambient chill and luscious soundscapes, released elcetronically 2010

Dancing the Windstreams songs and ambient instrumental released 2007. A Dolphin Music Award Ballad nomination was received for the song ‘Freedom to Fly’

Songs of a Green Guerilla released 1992, is a diverse collection of songs from the late eighties-early nineties with genres ranging from folk to rock to reggae, and received nominations for the Dolphin Music Awards in 1993.

Robyn’s music history

“Music has been a major life passion since early childhood. I grew up in a musical family, my father played the cornet, concertina and piano-accordian and had a great voice. My mother had a light soprano voice and my earliest memories are of my parents singing duets, and encouraging me to sing along. I started piano lessons at 9 and at 12 discovered the magic of classical music when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra came to our town during a rare tour of rural NSW. My teens years, during the sixties, were influenced musically and philosophically by music with a message, especially the later Beatles songs, Bob Dylan and protest singers like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, who also introduced me to the great heritage of traditional folk music. I acquired a guitar in 1970 after I left home and moved to Sydney (the guitar being more portable than a piano) and was soon performing sets of traditional and contemporary folk and my own songs in Sydney’s numerous folk clubs. Songwriting opened a new world of creativity combining my passion for poetry and music”

Robyn then lived in South Germany for 3 years, where she became a regular performer at folk clubs in Munich. After returning to Australia and moving to a rural property, she continued to perform occasionally, write songs and was member of a local Bushband. In the mid eighties, back in Sydney promoting permaculture, she teamed up with some musicians to form a rock band performing her original songs, however permaculture work and teaching began took over her life. A move to northern NSW, she found time to produce her first album “Songs of Green Guerilla”, released in 1992, but as before, her commitment to the environment and empowering people through permaculture training took precedence over a career in music. Another blow was repetitive strain injury in her hands which made sustained guitar playing very painful.

In 2001, a friend introduced her to Reason and the potential of composing music electronically on her lap top. This triggered a new wave of creativity, not being limited to a guitar, to compose ambient and chill soundscapes and write new songs and arrangements. A second album, “Dancing the Windstreams”, was produced in 2007. She continues to compose when she finds time and share some of her creations through music websites such as Reverb Nation and MySpace Music, where she has a solid fan base and many thousands of plays.

Songs of a Green Guerilla

MusicAugust 15, 2013

Songs of a Green Guerilla is an eclectic collection of songs by Robyn Francis, written during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Not one to confine herself to one type of musical genre, Robyn poly-cultures her music as well as her garden. this album incudes folk, folk-rock, reggae, ska and melodic thought-provoking ballads. The CD […]

Supplication to Gaia

MusicJuly 17, 2013August 14, 2013

In ‘Supplication to Gaia’, Robyn Francis takes you on a journey of music, spoken word and images exploring our relationship with the earth– of inspiration, despair, hope and empowerment. Robyn weaves powerful poetic imagery in a moving appeal to all to tread lightly on the earth. Please share this video with your friends or embed […]

Celtic Wisdoms

MusicMarch 21, 2013August 14, 2013

… a journey into earth spirituality and re-awakening of the rich cultural heritage and philosophy of our Celtic ancestors. The ancient wisdoms of the druids and bards are as relevant today as they were over two thousand years ago and their integration of the practical and the spiritual brings to us a personal and cultural […]