It all started with a video, made in my car, that went viral and ended up on 4.6 million computer screens around the world. A cyber "explosion", if you will... I can’t really describe the feeling of gaining global recognition for doing something I love in a matter of days, but I will try: Day 1: “Holy sh*t we have 5000 views”. Day 2: 80,000 !??! Day 4: 1 MILLION views! Day 5: 2 MILLION VIEWS and so on... Sam Klass and I had a Skype Date each day to celebrate another million people watching us jam on the way to Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Of course, you know this changed everything! I was happy, or at least content, and grateful to be playing music as my full-time job. Always struggling with writing and making people smile, singing Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin tunes, I figured I was where I should be. My Universe opened up at the sight of an Inbox exploding with messages from Pakistan, New Zealand, Rhode Island, Chile, Ireland and the list goes on... Hundreds of beautiful people were seeking to buy my music, request songs, and just send their love to me, STRANGERS ???????!!!!!! This was the beginning of a whole new world. I could feel myself taking on the belief of others, that I had some sort of gift that thrilled people, and it began to thrill me. With this new found network of believers, and my relentless desire to please everyone, I understood that my NEW goal in life was to make a kick a** record. I had no idea just how much of an adventure making an album would be. Crowdfunding is the HOTTEST topic in today's Arts Communities--like acid wash jeans and hairspray were in the 80’s. The more I talked about it, the more people I had offering to assist in any way they could. Most importantly Laurel Stark, President of The New Media Group (and my best friend) jumped on board to guide me with her unbelievable expertise in Social Media or “Spreading the Word”. Little ol’ me, so green and not so computer savy, reached enough supporters to raise $6500 and it was GO TIME!!! They say, "the Universe works in mysterious ways” and I know this to be true because it happened to me. I had a producer, Andre Kaden Black, from Burlington make contact with me after seeing the You Tube Video. He was in search of artists that were looking to take their careers to the next level. My intuition gave him an A+ and, as the story goes, I need to trust my intuition more often. So I did. I knew I wanted to experience the entire Sacred Process of making an album beginning with Pre-production. To clarify, this meant: playing my songs for him on an acoustic guitar, accepting his feedback, and 'running with it'. "This song needs a chorus”, “Let's add a bridge, here", “How do you want to end this one?”… Then, we recorded the structure of all 6 songs acoustically and sent them to our Engineer, Tal Vaisman….then, there were three. Andre Kaden Black (from Black/Whyte Music Group) and Tal Vaisman, (lead guitar player for the Ascott Royals) are a 2-man wrecking crew! I will admit, it took me a little while to trust and open-up; but I spent most of my time with them, observing their working relationship, their respect for one another and how their minds sync up, and this made me feel confident that I had the right team. I swear, I am not being melodramatic when I say that these two guys have helped me grow not only as an artist, but also as a person. Then came the studio, and it just so happened that Andre already had his buddy, Duncan Coutts, in mind to play bass. Duncan plays bass guitar for the Canadian band, Our Lady Peace. I had my heart set on my good friend, Sean O’Grady, to play drums, so rhythm section…..CHECK!!! Contemplating guitar players over drinks with Sean one night, I blurted out, “It would be so amazing to have Steve Strongman play on this project!” Sean, being pretty tight friends with Steve, sprinkled his fairy dust and made a phone call for me. So, the boys chose Jukasa Studios, mainly because the drum sounds coming out of that studio in Caledonia are incredible. The most fulfilling thing in the world is watching super talented dudes play instruments on songs you wrote--and have a blast doing it! These people I have mentioned above showed me professionalism and charisma at its finest! Then, it was off to Toronto to record the vocals. Andre and Tal knew exactly what they wanted from me; knowing that they had never steered me wrong before, I believed in their Vision. They pushed me out of my comfort zone on a few of the tracks, as they were determined to bring out another side of my voice that I didn’t normally use--the softer side. After that, it was time for Tal to piece together the puzzle and add all the spices to create the final mixes. At 3AM on Monday, December 7, 2015, it all became REAL: Andre sent me a WeTransfer of the final mixes. The next thing I knew, it was 5AM, and I was WIRED and tingling with excitement. It was then that I realized that every single BABY step that I have ever taken over the course of my adult life, had been a catalyst for THIS MOMENT. Every smile, every handshake, every connection... Every decision, every failure, every heartbreak... It’s all in there somewhere in a song, in an opportunity, in all of my beautiful friendships. I am a different person Today because of this past year being so full of inspiring people and incredible leaps of Faith. Yesterday, I told myself to continue struggling with songwriting. Today, I know that Art comes in the most unexpected moments and cannot be forced! Yesterday, I told myself I would never have the means or the drive to explore my highest potential but TODAY, I am so filled with love and pride in each step that has brought me here. There Ain’t No Place I’d Rather Be… and it's all because of YOU. xox Robin xox All songs Produced by: Andre Kaden Black All Songs Engineered by: Tal Vaisman Assistant Engineers: Jill Zimmermann and Darren Magierowski Drums: Sean O’Grady Bass Guitar: Duncan Coutts Guitars: Steve Strongman Acoustic Guitars: Andre Kaden Black Additional Vocals: Andre Kaden Black, Tal Vaisman, Sean O’Grady, Jill Zimmermann LIMBO Written by: Robin Benedict Co-writers: Sharon Washington Logan Shea NOTHING TO LOSE Written by: Robin Benedict TIME IS ALL I NEED Written by: Robin Benedict STRANGER Written by: Robin Benedict DANCE AWAY THE DARKNESS Written by: Robin Benedict and Andre Kaden Black AIN’T NO PLACE Written by: Robin Benedict