GUITAR Robby Newton
[ WM ] Tell us about how you got started playing guitar ?
[ Robby Newton ] I started out when I was about 13 years old . I ’ m self-taught , but had some experience with music playing flute ( I know …) in the school band . I picked up guitar because it was central in the music I was listening to , and I loved the sound . I became obsessed and was constantly running our printer out of ink printing tabs for my favorite AC / DC songs .
When I gave my life to Christ at about 14 , my youth pastors immediately recruited me onto the worship team and the rest is history . Since then , I haven ’ t put it down and I ’ ve been involved playing at my local church week in , week out for over 20 years now .
[ WM ] Who were your main guitar influences ?
[ Robby ] I started out listening to some of the great rock guitar heroes my Dad showed me … Hendrix , Clapton , SRV , Angus and Malcom . Then I moved onto John Mayer , Foo Fighters ( Dave Grohl and Chris Shiflett ), Coldplay ( Jonny Buckland ). When I was in high school , my best friend loaded my iPod with all of Radiohead ’ s discography , so I ’ m a huge fan of Jonny Greenwood and Ed O ’ Brien . So many others .
When I started getting more involved playing at church , I went with my youth group to see Hillsong United live when they were touring for United We Stand , so I began to take notes from Michael Guy Chislett and Nigel Hendroff . I remember riding up to a youth camp and someone put in a burned copy of Jesus Culture ’ s Awakening : Live in Chicago . The guitar forward sound , Jeffrey Kunde ’ s parts and cutting tones blew my mind . Bobby Strand . Michael Pope . James Duke .
[ WM ] You most likely have played worship guitar alongside many other guitarists on the platform . What is your strategy for arranging the guitar parts when two ( or more ) guitarists are on the team ?
[ Robby ] Generally , we have a traditional lead / rhythm approach unless the song calls for more specific parts from each player . I ’ m always keeping an eye and ear on the other player to make sure we ’ re complimenting one another . We ’ ve been busting out baritones a lot lately , it ’ s so fun to play and really widens out the overall guitar sound .
[ WM ] Do you also play outside the church ? If so , tell us about your other guitarist roles ?
[ Robby ] I ’ m primarily a church player ! I play for conferences , camps , recordings , worship nights , prayer rooms , etc . My playing is so connected to serving in the church and worship that I really don ’ t want to do it anywhere else !
[ WM ] Do you have a home studio setup ? If so , what are you using to record with ? ProTools ? Plug-ins ? Tell us about your studio .
[ Robby ] Nothing fancy ! I have a 2023 Mac Studio , a pair of Yamaha HS8 ’ s , and a Universal Audio Arrow . I ’ ll typically use Logic or Ableton . Plugins I use are pretty minimal , UA preamps / comps and Valhalla Vintage Delay / Reverb . My
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