As a man caught between two countries, Rob Picazo never really felt Spanish nor English, but music provided an escape into a world that felt warm, welcoming and deeply soulful.

As he explored his father’s vast record collection, the calls of Southern Soul, Rhythm & Blues and Gospel were loud and clear, and so the explosive genius of Ray Charles, smooth Gospel tones of Sam Cooke, and the seductive preaching of Solomon Burke led to an obsession marked by listening, research, and adulation. Over time, all these influences inspired Rob to write songs with themes of vulnerability, intensity and heartache.

Recorded in Memphis with a band that featured Charles Hodges and Kirk Smothers (Hi Rhythm), Rob’s upcoming album travels the map of US Soul, R&B and Gospel, drawing inspiration from the sounds of Chicago, New Orleans and, of course, Memphis in the 60s and 70s, as Rob’s caramel vocals sit atop a stew of boiling guitars, simmering organ, soulful horns and funky rhythms.