Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens)

Sending Signals

Sorry it’s been a while. Delighted to have Robert Forster as my guest this episode. Robert Forster is an Australian singer-songwriter, raised in Brisbane, where he currently resides. He’s perhaps best known as one of the co-founders and leaders of indie-rock royalty The Go-betweens. The Go-betweens were formed in 1977 and had an initial run that lasted until 1989, before a reunion run from 2000 until 2006 when co frontman Grant McLennan died of a heart attack aged just 48.

As well as a run of solo albums, Robert also ventured into musical journalism writing for Australian magazine The Monthly and sister publication The Saturday Paper. Some of his writings were collated together in the book The 10 Rules of Rock n Roll.

On February 3rd 2023 Robert releases his 8th studio album The Candle and the Flame. The album was created during an incredibly difficult time for Robert and his family. His wife Karin, who plays violin on Robert’s albums, had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and playing music in the evenings along with their son Louis was a much needed escape from the ravages of chemotherapy. You would imagine from looking at some of the lyrics, that this situation influenced Robert’s songwriting on this album, but remarkably, just one song, She’s A Fighter, was writing after Karin’s diagnosis.

Robert was fantastic company and had a lot to say. I really hope you enjoy our conversation.

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