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Opry North

Name: Robyn Pauhl

Age: 16

Birth date: March 3, 1984

Birth place: Hamilton Ontario

Home town: Hamilton Ontario

Resides in: Hamilton Ontario

Pets: A dog, Tessi

Group name: N/A

Instruments played: Guitar, bass, alto sax.

Started performing at age: 10 years

Most memorable performance: Jim Witter Show, Niagara Falls (Festival of Lights)

What do you do to relax: Write poetry or songs, go to the gym or spend time alone.

Finished CD's: 6 song demo from Nashville

Cd's for sale: - N/A

Management: N/A

Record Label: N/A

Website: http://www.robynpauhl.com

At ten years of age, Hamilton Ontario's Robyn Pauhl was introduced to some Patsy Cline records by her grandmother. It was the start of something big. For Robyn, the sound of those songs took over and became the driving force that led her to decide, at 13, that she was going to follow the same path as Patsy and become a country recording artist. This young girl began to sing along to the different female artists and soon demonstrated that she not only had the vocal ability and volume down but she also had a very mature sounding delivery, which has continued to this day and is the most surprising aspect of her performance. Beginning by attending karaoke shows with her grandparents and entering singing competitions around the Hamilton/ Toronto area Robyn soon attracted a lot of attention, especially when she began to win those competitions and drew supporters to her appearances.

Things began to move quickly for this young woman when she decided on the path she would take. With some preliminary, local demos under her belt and a better idea what was going to be involved she began to take some steps to help her career. She learned to play some instruments, she studied voice with a Toronto based vocal coach for a time and acquired a manager. She established a company, Robyn's Nest Productions Ltd., of which she is the CEO (with help from her mom, of course) to oversee her career. At the same time, she entered high school and proved that singing isn't her only talent by continuing to be at the top of her classes and bringing home 90's, despite being very busy nights and weekends performing.

Demonstrating that age isn't a restriction in regard to talent, Robyn opened for George Jones at Lulu's in Kitchener Ontario in 1997 along with Julian Austin, who had just released his first CD. The following May had Robyn opening three shows for country legend Loretta Lynn at Copps Coliseum and the International Centre. Things flew in pretty quickly after that, with Robyn appearing all around Ontario with artists like Michelle Wright, Beverley Mahood, Jason McCoy, Bruce Guthro, Julian Austin, Jim Witter and many others, John Landry being the latest artist to welcome Robyn onstage, to sing a duet with him at one of his shows.

In February 1999 Robyn headed down to Nashville at the request of Jerry Renowich, who had started the amazing Canadian family group the Wilkinson's on their deal with Giant Records. Robyn recorded a six song demo and made the rounds of the legendary sites, even landing a spot singing a couple at the Bluebird Cafe. With the demo being shopped around to different record companies and Robyn entering the senior years at school, plus the busy festival season being upon us this just-turned-sixteen year old young woman has a very full plate, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

Robyn Pauhl is a young woman who knows what she wants and definately has the talent to get there, in addition to being an intelligent, well spoken and lovely person who we have had the privelege of working with many times. She has had many experiences in her career already that many artists years older have yet to have and these have been shaping her future in both professional and personal ways, leaving you with the opinion that you can't be dealing with such a young person, she must be much older. But no, she is actually sixteen, and she loves to do the normal teenage activities with her friends that everyone else does. When she steps onstage though, she transforms into a seasoned professional who demands perfection in any performance she does although I sometimes feel she is too critical of herself and she always does a wonderful job.

Robyn was the subject of one of our first profiles (see archives) and since we've designed a new format for our profiles we gave Robyn the option of being featured again, in the new more interactive style that we've adopted. She agreed and passed along to us the completed questionaire that we have been using so you will see, in her own words, what the Robyn Pauhl Story has revealed so far. Keep in mind that this story is far from over and the next few years, the next few months and even the next few weeks could add chapters to this story, so keep your ears and eyes open. You will be hearing a lot more, of that there's no doubt

Starting Out

Q: Looking back on your earliest experiences in the music industry what did you learn that made the most difference at that time?

"Not to rush anything. When the time is right things will happen with more ease. If it's forced things will be hard and rocky."

Q: What is the one part of the music industry that you had to learn about that you hadn’t really thought of when you started out?

"The process of how hard it would be to 'make it big'".

Q: What two things would you say are the most important things to do or have to succeed to the level you’d wanted to out of the following: practice, ambition/determination, organizational ability, creating enough buzz.

"Ambition/determination, because if you don't have the drive to succeed you'll just be tossed out like so many have been. Also creating enough buzz, because no matter how organized you may be or how much practice you have it won't matter if people don't know who you are."

Q: Being aware of the highly competitive nature of the music industry were you given any guidance or support from established performers on your way up, and how valuable has that been?

"The words I'll always remember are from a member of the band Skarecrow. He said, 'Never think you're in competition with anybody else. Everybody has their own thing and is unique in their own way. Just focus on what you're doing and be happy for others.'"

Q: The world of press kits, promo shots, making contacts and networking may seem overwhelming to someone just starting out. What’s the best advice you could give someone regarding getting all this sorted out?

"Remember it will always be hard, so that's why you need to be focused and determined. You can't succeed in this business alone, always have people to help. A star is never just a star by getting there themselves."

Q: As an up & coming artist did you find it was difficult to get your name and your sound out into the public at times? That there was a shortage of showcase media be it print or electronic to fill the void between the clubs and the stadiums?

"Well, there's always going to be ups and downs, nothing is ever as planned, so I guess at times. But for me, I've always been so accepted by everyone that when I need the media by my side I luckily have them there.

Q: Looking back, do you feel that focusing on being a songwriter, learning about producing or learning about the whole process was the thing you should have done as opposed to what you did do? Or, are you satisfied with your route and wouldn’t have changed a thing?

"Luckily I am still young and getting advice everyday from people that really know the business. I can learn from their mistakes, which in the long run will make me better for it."

First Making it “Big”

Q: With success comes a lot of responsibility. How do you decide when it’s time to delegate some of the load, who to delegate to and what you’ll keep for yourself?

"A lot of the business goes through my mom. I don't like dealing with a lot of it. It's my job to be a good singer, entertainer, song writer and be friendly to meet so if I have a lot of stress it will affect all of the other things."

Q: If the success you’ve worked for seems to be overwhelming you and you’d like to step back for a breather is that acceptable or is there pressure to keep the push on while you’re hot?

"Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I'm busy because there is pressure to be better every time I perform. Although when I'm not busy I am more relaxed, but I always have perfection going through my mind."

Q: Some people are content to stay on the same path they’ve always been on after they’re successful. Others see it as a good time to show versatility and go in a different direction. Not always to people’s liking. Can you see yourself breaking out into slightly different direction instead of staying on the safe road?

"Yes, of course, people grow in life and they change. This also applies to a career, people need to try new things and sing different kinds of songs. I'm all about going in some different directions."

Q: The team you choose to help out when things take off plays a large part in how stress free things become. What qualities must you look for to be sure the person you've chosen is right for the team?

"A good team consists of honesty, trust, reliability, respect and dedication."

Q: It’s been said that the music industry is a very small world, with you running into the same people all the time. I know it’s important to always treat others the way you’d want to be treated but have there been instances where you’ve been caught off guard with someone popping up where you really didn’t expect them to (or want them to, maybe)?

"The music industry is really small, everybody is always watching and talking about you, so beware: You always have to try to be more polite and friendly because that role comes with the job. Not to say I'm not friendly anyway, but if you're not word will get around."

The Future

Q: With the arrival of the cyber age, with online stores, MP3’s and the like how do you see the music industry changing? Can you see contracts in the future outlining who has what rights in relation to the Internet?

"Yes, the music industry is changing because of the Internet. So many people are able to steal entire CD's off the Internet which makes it impossible for songwriters to get their royalties, so who knows where that is headed. Even at this point contracts are being made for artists to give up their freedom on the web. Record companies want the rights to everything."

Q: Will there be such an importance in being signed by a major label do you think, with the ability to produce, promote and sell material independently taking off?

"I think that there will always be that interest in having a major label sign you, but now-a-days I think it can be beneficial to do things on your own. There are so many unbelievable artists and songwriters out there just giving up because they can't get a major deal. What should be done is, give more funding to those people who have great potential."

Q: Can you see such independent productions being accepted into the same leagues as the major label productions by both or either the industry or public?

"Any CD, whether it's major or independent should get the same respect if the quality is there. Which will be hard for independent artists because quality usually comes with money. Hopefully if more companies/organizations like F.A.C.T.O.R. come along in the future it'll be that much easier for independent artists to compete."

Personal Questions

Q: What, if any, preparation did you have to do to get started or advance? Has there been vocal, dance, maybe business instruction along the way?

"I've had some vocal training before I went down to Nashville."

Q: What surprised you the most about being in music? What elements caught you off guard or weren’t what you’d expected?

"Having to deal with musicians surprised me the most. It's amazing the different personalities you have to deal with or not deal with."

Q: What part of the up & coming process would you change if you could? Or do you feel that everyone should take some bumps along the way?

"Everyone should get bumps along the way because you learn from every bump that hits you. You also can't avoid running into them."

Q: What was it like when you first started recording? How prepared did you feel going in and how prepared were you really?

"Now that I look back I think I could have done so much better. I've improved so much. But really I did the best that I could for that time. Whenever you look back you always want to change something, but maybe if I did I wouldn't be where I am."

Q: They say to be good at what you do you have to keep learning. What areas of the music business do you want to start learning more about next?

"Right now I'm dealing more in the business of musicians. Talking to them myself, organizing rehearsals, songs to learn and having more control of the stage act."

Q: If you had to choose one part of the music industry and do only that one thing what would it be?

"I would choose to get up on stage and to have things go perfectly and not to worry about issues outside of the performance."

Q: What did you discover about touring that you hadn’t expected?

"I haven't started touring on the road, so I'll get back to you for this one."

Q: Any tips to make things run smoother?

"Not yet."

Q: Are there any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

"I'm looking forward to doing some more recording. I'd like to focus on that real soon."

Q: What would you like to do for 2000 that you haven’t tried before?

"Well, maybe in 2001 I'll be touring and have a song on the radio and a video on CMT."

If you've ever daydreamed about being a performer when you were in your teens, either because of the Beatles, the Osmond's, the New Kids on the Block, or Christina, Brittany or Ricky, just think of what they had to go through and learn to get where they ended up and ask yourself if you would have been able to do it too. Being a performer is a desire that comes with a lot of hard work, disappointments, high hopes and of course, talent. Being a teenager can be a blessing or a curse when you are also a performer, but for country music and Canada a performing teenager named Robyn Pauhl seems to have it all under control and will do whatever she sets out to do.

We would like to thank Robyn for her help with this profile and for her support for our efforts and her friendship. We have grown very fond of her over the past couple of years and have watched her develop into a self assured young woman with an amazing talent that has only gotten better with age. As she progresses in her personal life and her career she will, no doubt, emerge as one of the leading country performers to come from Canada. Watch for her, time will prove us right.

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