I was browsing Instagram at the start of March when a post from Assai Records Glasgow popped into my feed. Robyn, the pop genius, was coming to the store to sign copies of her new album Sexistential.
Really?
Robyn? In town? For a record store signing session? 3-months ahead of her Hydro show?
I took a chance, ordered a copy of the record for my daughter Rosie who is slowly but surely building a cool collection that includes; Robyn (my sister Carla had got her a cracking ltd edition RSD album for Christmas), Gracie Abrams, CMAT, Madonna and Taylor Swift. I also ordered a CD to ensure I could definitely get in with Rosie.
As time progressed, I really wondered if I was dreaming and found myself checking the Assai Insta post and my email confirmation on multiple occasions. But yes, it seemed like Robyn was coming to Glasgow and Rosie and I were going to meet her.
Assai sent an email the day before the event to say that we should get there for 1.50pm. So, on the day ... still scarcely believing we were going to meet an international pop star, a true pioneer of synth pop, a brave woman who stepped away from the industry cycle to do things on her own terms, songwriter and performer of pure pop magic ... Rosie and I jumped the 1144 train into town. We grabbed lunch at the excellent Franco Manco near Central, walked up to Waterstones on Sauchiehall Street (where Rosie grabbed the new Hannah Gold book) and then sauntered further up to Assai at around 1.30pm.
I was surprised to find the shop pretty quiet, but posters were up, staff were getting ready and then (by chance) someone said; 'Are you Murray?' To which I replied; 'Are you Radhika?' After we both confirmed we were who each other thought, I introduced Rosie, to which Radhika replied 'Yes, I've seen you in Since Yesterday.'
It was lovely to meet in person. Radhika very kindly answered some questions for my blog back in January. I'm excited to hear Cine-Pop, her forthcoming debut album and finally get to see Radhika perform live with her band at Mono on 5th June. TICKETS
Radhika told us that Robyn would be arriving soon and that we should join the queue outside. Thankfully, the rain (which has been super heavy overnight and through the morning) had stopped. We sheltered in a doorway round the corner and got caught up in the excitement when 2 blacked out mini-buses arrived and Robyn's team came out to meet the Assai team. We could see someone make a call to confirm everything was OK and one of the buses zipped off to collect Robyn.
The Assai team started to move people in, but thankfully we were just on the corner when Robyn arrived and went in the side entrance. It was cool to see Rosie getting excited. As was I! We enjoyed some chat with a couple of lovely guys behind us, one in particular was a huge Robyn fan and had a clutch of her records with him. His friend/partner had an amazing pair of shows on - I was glad he got inside before the rain came back on!
Robyn was in, signing records and posing for photos, and we began to edge round the shop to the front of the queue. Radhika was taking peoples phones to ensure they got photos, so it was lovely to hand my phone to a young musician to take a photo of Rosie meeting another.
Rosie was the only kid there! Robyn smiled as she approached with her record (vinyl as the hipsters in the shop call it) and asked her name. 'Is that Rosie with a Y or I E?' There was a short chat and then Robyn ushered Rosie to come alongside her and she put her arm around her which was lovely.
And then it was my turn. Robyn asked if the CD should be made out to me, or Rosie. I said Rosie, and talked of how she had a record player and was enjoying buying albums and how she loved music and dancing. As I then grabbed a photo, I also said, thanks for creating such amazing pop music.
Dancing On My Own, Hang With Me, Dopamine, With Every Heartbeat, Call Your Girlfriend ... as mentioned at the start of this blog, Robyn is a genuine pop genius.
Sexistential is a cracking album. Dopamine (the first single) is sublime, Rosie and I first heard it on 6Music while driving home from her dance class. 'Is that Robyn?' she asked, leaning forward to turn the radio up as familiar sounding synths kicked in. Indeed it was Robyn, with an outstanding burst and rush of electronic pop brilliance.
Nothing's ever gonna cut you as deep
As the very first time
Nothing's ever gonna taste just as sweet
As when it is just out of reach
Blow My Mind (about her son) is a cool groove that melts my heart.
It's like you're the cloud underneath my feet
And you're the reason that I breathe
Light Up is spine tingling with brilliant synth sounds, the song threatens to drop big beats several times but somehow refrains. Album closer Into The Sun is all kinds of 80's pop bliss with a modern sheen. 9 songs, 29 minutes, brilliant pop music that will leave you wanting to play it all again.
