Page 9 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2020

Marty Haviik: Robby, I normally like to start with the usual general question,
but today is special. I would like to begin by letting everyone know that you
just released a brand-new song, “The "Best Years of our Lives." I'm really
excited for you! Please share the backstory and what inspired you to write
this song.

Robby Lochner: Stepping back from the musician's role, I wanted to write about
how it felt as a fan of music. There are many songs that are the soundtrack of my
life. When I listen to a certain song or a whole record, it will bring me right back to
how I felt at that stage of my life. If I listen to Deep Purple's ‘Machine Head’ it brings
me back to being 10 years old in the front room of the house I grew up in listening
to it on vinyl. As a kid, many artists seemed larger than life and now remain so
because they are gone. However, they live on through their songs. Going to
concerts was an event that I remember as being ethereal. I remember the feeling
of being at shows more than the shows themselves. There is no way to write about
all the artists I love, so I chose a timeline to move through that expresses the
feeling. The video completes the feeling by paying homage to many great artists in
(royalty free) photos. I placed some pictures of myself in various stages of my
career over the solo section in the video.

MH: Throughout your music career you've performed with many incredible
artists and musicians. Robby, please share with our readers a little bit about
yourself. What first got you into music? Also, who were your inspirations and
what bands helped you along the way? Is there anyone else with whom you’d
like to collaborate?

RL: I have been blessed to have worked with some really incredible people. Many
of the special memories actually come from the very beginning. My brother Charlie
was one of the biggest influences for me as well as several local players who came
before me…Andy Highouse, Bill Sinclair, Bret Canfield, to name a few. When I first
began playing, I knew who most of the players in the local bands were and I could
name a dozen of them easy right now. I did learn some of my craft from playing
Rush, Zeppelin, The Beatles, CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Van Halen. Then I started
learning Paganini, Mozart, Bach Beethoven, Jerry Reed, Brad Paisley, and many
more. I've had influences in many different areas of music aside from the playing. I
have learned songwriting, producing, and mixing from listening to artists such as
Tom Petty, Pink, or Kenny Chesney, for example. I'm always looking to evolve and
grow, so it's not just about playing but all facets of music. The list would be too long
to mention the people I'd love to collaborate with both writing and playing. I'll let the
road take me where it does.

MH: You may or may not know, but I've followed your career since the early
to mid-80s…from you playing the local clubs like Tequila Mockingbird and
several nightclubs along 4th Avenue (Tucson, AZ), as well as some backyard
parties. Oh man, those backyard parties! As a musician myself, I fell in love
with your playing and your unique style of playing guitar. Share a little about
your style and how you came about to incorporate that double neck tapping
into your shows.