Today we’d like to introduce you to Robyn Cage.
Hi Robyn , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Robyn Cage is a multifaceted artist whose powerful vocals have commanded stages nationwide — from soloing with the Boston Pops in Symphony Hall to Austin City Limits and the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Born Robyn Kemp in Salt Lake City, Robyn’s musical interests surfaced at an early age. She began studying piano as a child, but composing her own music felt more urgent than playing anyone else’s — and by age 11, the world agreed. Her “Sonatina” claimed first place in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) composition competition, and she placed first in the Young Composer (18 and under) category of the Composer’s Guild competition as well.
However, as a rebellious non-Mormon kid growing up in Utah, a rigorous practice schedule was not what Robyn had in mind for her teenage years. She walked away from the piano at 12 and didn’t look back for fifteen years. Instead, she found other ways to express herself: acting and singing.
After graduating from the Boston Conservatory in Musical Theatre, Robyn established herself as a notable NYC actress, earning praise from The New York Times and Variety. She was building a career, but something kept pulling her back to her own voice, her own stories.
At 27, that pull won. Robyn Kemp took the name Robyn Cage, and returned to Utah and to songwriting, collaborating on her debut album with Grammy-nominated producers Dan Burns (Michelle Branch) and Darryl Neudorf (Sarah McLachlan). Born in the Desert topped Music Connection Magazine’s Best New Music of 2016 — a homecoming in more ways than one. Her sophomore release, Slow the Devil, earned Best Indie Album of 2018 from Scorpius Magazine. Her acoustic piano interpretations of well-known songs have racked up millions of views, and her cover of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” went viral on Facebook — proof that she’s always been most herself when she’s doing the unexpected.
Cage’s songs can be heard in Tyler Perry’s Nobody’s Fool (starring Whoopi Goldberg), FRIES! The Movie (featuring Malcolm Gladwell), MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, and a range of commercials. Her extensive touring has taken her across the world singing with Brit Floyd (dubbed “The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show” by Rolling Stone), the Airplane Family (alumni of Jefferson Airplane), and her own band.
Now, Cage is channeling her years of theatrical training, musical instincts, and unrelenting irreverence into her original musical BLACK FRIDAY — a satirical, genre-bending stage production that feels like everything she’s been building toward. When she’s not on stage or taking requests at her piano bar residency, you’ll find her in the Utah mountains, skiing or mountain biking, still as unwilling to sit still as she was at 12.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Haha, is it ever a smooth road for anyone? I’ve certainly experienced challenges and setbacks – health struggles, vocal issues, a failed marriage, the usual financial feast or famine of being a full-time artist – but I’ve also had perhaps more than my fair share of good fortune as well as incredible support from so many amazing people.
I think my greatest challenge as an artist has always been this one thing: trying to curate and define my own unique, highly specific Artist Identity. I feel a constant pull toward trying to fit in, trying to be “commecial” or “accessible” or “cool” or “current,” when my authentic self is rarely any of those things. As I get older, and especially after several cathartic and life-changing experiences in the last few years (thanks, Burning Man!), I find myself becoming increasingly willing to be boldly “weird” and “different” and unapologetically “me.”
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
After years of creating music that many people (often critically) described as “theatrical,” I’ve decided to lean into my dramatic, storytelling inclinations instead of fighting my instincts or trying to hide them.
Right now, I’m neck-deep in four massive projects: 2 musicals, a play with music, and a music-based narrative performance art piece. Though each is very different in many ways, they are all darkly comedic, extremely edgy & geared toward adventurous adult audiences, feature rock bands instead of more traditional orchestration, and each one tackles a big theme or question about the very nature of humanity. My work on these projects is my proudest yet.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
AI is changing everything. I used to earn a substantial portion of my income from licensing my music for commercials, internet ads, TV, film, or movie trailers. That work has gone to AI. I also used to do regular voiceover work and was the voice for several major brands. That work is also gone. (I’ve even seen commercials narrated by AI using MY voice- which is wild…)
However, I can’t say that I’m terribly sad to see it go, as that market was generally for more watered-down, boring parts of the industry. Work (not Art) done solely for the money. And money is great and necessary, but now I have even more motivation to create ultra-unique, inventive, visionary art that could only come from my individually bizarre brain. Plus, our addiction to our devices makes live music and in-person experiences more important and valuable than ever.
Pricing:
- Private concerts, parties, and corporate events: Contact Robyn for a quote.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robyncage.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/robyncagemusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robyncagemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/robyncage
