Closing the chapter to stories from your past can be hard. Yet, being able to move onto the next page is integral to our growth and development as humans. Rich Robbins’ new single “Good Goodbyes” perfectly captures this theme as he reflects on the lessons learned from different people in his life. Rich floats on the smooth, guitar-sampled production while speaking with a level of clarity that can only come from being able to take that leap in the next stage of life. Rich reminds listeners that it’s okay to remember the past, but we must continue to move forward. It’s even more important to take those learning experiences, no matter how difficult they may be, and apply them to building-block of our future. So as you press play on the song, check out our Q&A with Rich below to learn about the inspiration behind it and to see what he has in store for 2020

The theme of this song is about learning to let go of the past, while still being able embrace the memories and lessons learned. Were there any life events that directly inspired this song?

The short answer is, yes. The long answer is that a series of events had to happen for this song to be made. Lately I’ve been challenging myself to write songs in which each line of the verse is inspired by a different person, time, and event. So if I’m writing a song like “Good Goodbyes”, I’m tapping in to different times in which I latched on to the past and, with hindsight, learned that I had to move beyond those things in order to heal. Some of the song is about a breakup, some of it is about apologizing to family for times I was out of control, some of it is about a person who’s passed -- but it’s all about moving forward. 

We’re still very early into 2020. How do you plan to use the lessons learned from the past to accomplish your goals for this year?

I’ve been having conversations with the past since I started writing music. I had to learn to stop being frustrated with it and understand that what it should do is inform who I choose to be today. With that, I’ve learned that being unapologetically myself has gotten me the most success in life. Whether that’s at work, or in the studio, or out at a bar in Wicker Park, I’m tapping in to all of the facets of myself at the same time and not hiding any of me. We’re taught to put different parts of ourselves into subcategories -- to separate pieces of who we are depending on the circumstance. But that’s exhausting after a while and really keeps people from being able to communicate well. 2020 is young, but it’s been one of the most liberating years of my life already because I’m carrying the past with me, and allowing it to help shape who I am in the present. I think the new music really reflects that. 

Are there any projects that listeners should be expecting from you in the near future?

Without going in to too much detail, people can expect some very well-crafted singles, music projects, visual projects, and maybe even some poetry. I’m a big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I’m taking a lot of notes on how to slowly build a world with each release. If you’re patient with me, you’ll be really rewarded as a listener. 

Other than music, you take a lot of pride in working at Oak Park-River Forest and are currently getting ready for this year’s Louder Than A Bomb. How important is it for you to teach young people to harness their creative abilities?

Honestly man, the kids I work with are the most important thing to me right now. I’m trying to use what I know in the present to make better people for our future. If I can equip a 16 year-old with the ability to silence the noise around them and use writing to climb their way out of the holes they find themselves in, then I’ve done my job in this lifetime. I’m lucky I get to use music to communicate with them (and that they like the music!). They’re going to give me my first grey hairs, but they also are giving me life every day.