INSIGHT Magazine June 2015 | Page 14

Performing INSIGHT about coming home and appreciating family and what you have in life.” Dunaway calls himself a Renaissance man, pouring his creative energy into half a dozen outlets ranging from writing, producing and recording his music to teaching English and earning a degree in philosophy. He previously served as frontman for Wolf Hollow Revival, The Capones and others before deciding to head off on his own, taking a trip west to Colorado and Hollywood, where he opened for acts like Hank Williams III, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Derek Trucks. “Southern Road” keeps those influences well in hand, pulling from prior experience as well as his current reconnection to his hometown. “It’s very open, I wanted to let emotions out,” said Dunaway. “I think they’re universal themes that everyone can relate to in their own ways.” Much of the songwriting took place over the year since Dunaway’s return, after a long period of writer’s block. Cruising through his old haunts seemed to jumpstart whatever engine that runs the creative process, leading to six new songs and four reinventions of tunes previously played with his early bands. “I’d drive down the road and have to grab my phone, to hum this melody in my head and I had to record it,” said Dunaway. The upcoming release will be available digitally in early June and then on physical media later in the month, with local shows to support the album thereabouts. Dunaway hopes to engineer a charity concert in the summer with other local musicians, as well, though for now he’s satisfied with simply getting the music out into the world. “I’m not trying to force anything, just be real and who I am and have that connection with the South again.” ✻ For more information about the album, including purchase details, visit robdunawaymusic.com. Click here to meet Rob on Facebook. June 2015 INSIGHT