What is your name?
Rob Wylde from the band Midnite City
Give us a little bio about you?
I’m the lead vocalist and songwriter of Hair Metal band Midnite City signed to German label AOR Heaven. Midnite City’s debut album was released October 20th 2017 to overwhelming praise all over the world. Following the release of the album we toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe playing some of the biggest festivals on the planet as well as doing our own headlining shows. On October 19th 2018 we released our sophomore album ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ to worldwide acclaim and once again hit the road in the UK and Europe with shows in Japan booked for late 2019 and Australia booked for 2020.. I am also the singer of legendary Glam Metal band Tigertailz and have recorded three releases with the band since joining in early 2012 in the form of the EP’s ‘Knives’ and Shoot To Kill’ as well as the ‘Blast’ album in 2016. Tigertailz continues to tour all over the world and played shows with KISS and Cheap Trick in the USA in 2014. Previously, I was lead vocalist/ guitarist/ songwriter of UK Powerpop band Teenage Casket Company who released five albums between 2005 – 2016 and toured all over the UK, Europe and the USA. Also lead vocalist/ guitarist of U.S band Sins Of America who released an E.P and album on German label Mighty Monster Records as well as playing shows all over the East Coast of America between 2008 – 2010. Touring bassist for Frontiers signed band VEGA 2010 – 2012, touring guitarist/ vocalist for solo artist Steevi Jaimz 2009 and guitarist/ bassist for Norwegian solo artists Issa. I also write for other artists as well as doing session work and solo acoustic shows around the country. In early 2018 I co-wrote, produced and played guitar, bass and sang backing vocals on the Melodic Rock Records release, Nitrate’s ‘Real World’ album as well as the follow up, ‘Open Wide’ which was released on AOR Heaven in June 2019.
What made you go into music?
Music has been a massive part of my life since I was a little kid. I got a guitar for my ninth birthday and started taking lessons. I then wrote my first song at eleven and taught myself how to play drums and sing alongside bass and keyboards. I always knew that I wanted to play music for a living and that notion was cemented when my mum took me to see my first concert in 1989 when I was eleven years old to see the band Europe. That night changed my life forever and I have never looked back since. I had a dream that I wanted to achieve and no-one and nothing was going to stop be getting there.
Are you a signed?
Yeah Midnite City are signed to the German label AOR Heaven.
You released your new single ‘Give Me Love’, tell us more about the single? ‘I knew the day that I finished writing ‘Give Me Love’ that it would be a single. I’ve been doing this long enough to just know, and that’s exactly what happened. There are easily another 7 or 8 possible singles on ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ but this one just screamed louder than the others to be chosen, and chosen first. I think the first single released off any album is vitally important for any band and should really sell your album and let the world know what it is all about. ‘Give Me Love’ does exactly that.
What is the meaning behind the single?
‘The song was written about love and commitment, about having undying trust and faith in someone, chasing your dreams and never giving up or changing who you are or what you believe in. You can buy the single here;
AMAZON;
iTUNES;
SPOTIFY;
There Goes the Neighbourhood
Midnite City – unhide
Describe the track in two words.
Dream. Big.
What was the writing process like?
The writing process literally hasn’t changed since I started writing songs at the age of eleven. I always write everything on an acoustic guitar as I feel that’s always a good gauge as to whether you have a strong song or not. If a song works with just one guy singing and playing acoustically alone, then it will work when it’s took into the studio and built upon. The foundation always has to be strong before anything else is added.
What was the recording process like?
The recording process is always a lot of fun but a hell of a lot of hard work at the same time. Midnite City’s drummer Pete Newdeck produces, engineers and mixes our albums in his home studio and the two of us work very closely in the studio together to get the best results possible. Pete will keep pushing and pushing until he gets the out of someone as all good producers do and isn’t happy until the song just cannot be bettered. Sometimes we will work on one song in the studio for weeks.
Will we see a music video for the track?
Yeah we shot a really fun music video for ‘Give Me Love’ a while ago and you can view it here;
Will we see an EP or album? If so what can we expect?
‘Give Me Love’ is taken from Midnite City’s second album ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ which was released late last year. You can buy the album here;
https://www.aorheaven.com/index.php/englisch_b/unsere-cd-s/midnite-city-there-goes-the-neighbourhood.html
https://www.amazon.co.uk/There-Goes-Neighbourhood-Midnite-City/dp/B07GW4FD45/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=midnite+city&qid=1569490667&s=gateway&sr=8-1
https://music.apple.com/us/album/there-goes-the-neighbourhood/1438117458
Do you have any shows coming up?
We certainly do!
If so where will you be heading?
We head to Japan in a few weeks time to play two shows in Tokyo and Osaka as part of our ‘Tearin’ Up Japan 2019 tour’ which we are very much looking forward to. A real dream come true, once in a lifetime thing to do! Then we finish out the year with a seven date headlining tour of the UK billed the ‘Here Comes The Party tour’ which will take us everywhere from London to Edinburgh.
What else can we expect in 2019?
For the ‘Here Comes The Party tour’ in November we have recorded a special limited edition five track acoustic CD titled ‘Open Invite’ which will only be available to buy at our shows in November. It features specially reworked acoustic versions of songs from both albums and won’t be available to buy online or anywhere else. It’s basically a thank you to our fans for being so awesome! ‘Open Invite’ will be released as part of a very limited run and each CD will be hand numbered. When these sell out they won’t be repressed which will make this a real collectors item in years to come that only the real die hard Midnite City fans will own.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
I recently co-wrote, produced and performed on 2 albums by the band Nitrate. ‘Real World’ was released in 2018 on the Australian label Melodic Rock Records and ‘Open Wide’ was released earlier this year on AOR Heaven. Both albums came out sounding great. I also wrote three songs and sang on the last Tigertailz album ‘Blast’ a few years ago.
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Yeah that’s something I would be very interested in doing in the future, especially writing and producing for other artists. I’m obviously known for rock music, but I also have a massive foot in pop music too. I have well over 20 years experience and a proven track record to match. Anyone interested in working with me should shoot me an email at robwylde@rocketmail.com and we can talk.
Do you play any instruments?
As well as singing I play guitar, bass, drums and keyboards.
Who are your influences?
KISS, Def Leppard, Danger Danger and too many more to mention…
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
I get inspired by life in general. There’s always something going on, good or bad that will inspire me to write. Like I said earlier I write everything on an acoustic guitar and it will usually start with a nice chord progression which will usually be followed by a rough melody idea and from there I just build on it. How the song feels musically will then dictate where I’m gonna to go lyrically and what I’m gonna talk about. I see myself still very much in Midnite City, a couple more albums down the track, only playing bigger venues and selling a lot more albums.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Not a whole lot! Alongside the musical side of Midnite City, the general running and day to day organisation aspect of everything makes it a 24/7 job so there is very little free time outside of the band, if any.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
There are honestly too many to name but early on it would’ve been songs from the likes of Europe, Heart, Duran Duran and Kiss I guess.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Anything that’s worth anything in life, you have to work and fight for. Nothing will ever be handed to you on a plate. If you want something, you’ve gotta go out there and grab it!
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Always stay true to who you are and don’t go following trends or what you think people think you should do. If you’re 100% honest and true to yourself, people will connect with that. Fans see through fakeness very quickly.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Living to win means you pursue your goals, challenges and dreams in life without regard for anyone else’s opinions, failures or the obstacles in your way. I may not always succeed, but as long as I fail on my own terms I’ve won.
– Paul Stanley
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
Sherwood Forest I guess.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first? – My local pub!
2/ Who do you see first? – My girlfriend Amy.
3/What do you eat first? – Pizza!
When you are at gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Hair straighteners (gotta get your priorities right!).
Batteries for my wireless microphone.
Stage clothes/ eyeliner.
Hair dryer (for after the show!)
My high powered fan which sits right in front of me onstage.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans?
Follow Midnite City here;
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
and Rob Wylde here;
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
