About Robin Lane

Once acclaimed by The Washington Post as “the most talented female artist to come out of New Wave Rock,” Robin Lane brings a fascinating, multi-genre history to her emergence as a contemporary force in Americana music with the release of Dirt Road to Heaven, her first album on Red on Red Records. Chances are, whether you dip into a few tunes or immerse in the full experience, you’ll quickly agree with longtime super fan Peter Felcknor, who wrote, “No one forgets the first time they heard Robin Lane. It’s like losing your virginity.”

While perhaps best known for her late 70s-early 80s Warner Bros-signed band Robin Lane and The Chartbusters – whose hit single “When Things Go Wrong” became the 11th music video played by MTV on its first broadcast day in 1981 – the Boston based singer/songwriter was previously part of the L.A. Laurel Canyon music community in the late 60’s, where she collaborated with members of Crazy Horse and sang with Neil Young on “Round and Round (It Won’t Be Long)” from his 1969 album Everybody Knows This is Nowhere. She moved back East after her several-year marriage to future Police guitarist Andy Summers broke up.

“Even after my band left Warner Bros., I never stopped writing. I’ve found that as you write, your songs change as you change,” says Robin, whose later discography includes the 2002 Chartbusters reunion Piece of Mind and solo albums Out of the Ashes, The Sweet Candy Collection, A Woman’s Voice and Instant Album,. What you hear on Dirt Road to Heaven reflects who I am as an artist and human right now. I never did hold back but I’m really not holding back now. These songs come from being at a point where I’m not trying to please anyone. They’re just the tunes I happened to write at this time and they’re not folk songs or rockin’ out. I’m glad people are liking them.”   

The tracks on the EP take us on a spirited and soulful, wide-ranging journey which prompted The Boston Herald’s Brett Milano to write that Robin is “still the musical friend who’ll join you on that dirt road.” The reflective, symbol-rich ballad “Dirt Road to Heaven'' offers spiritual insight into Lane’s unique experiences and her belief that when you have a hard life, you have a good life, especially when you’re “walkin’ in my own direction.” “

In 2010, Robin founded Songbird Sings, an organization dedicated to helping people work through and recover from traumatic experiences by writing and recording their own songs. Through songwriting and creative collaboration, participants develop inner strength and resilience while building support systems among those with a shared history of trauma. Robin says, “Working with different populations of trauma survivors, I have come to a deeper understanding of what had happened to me along the way, thus giving me inspiration for new songs and good survival instincts.”

A Note from Robin

Welcome,

I'm Robin Lane, and  I'm a survivor of violence in my childhood and as an adult.  I suppressed those memories for years and started a band - Robin Lane and the Chartbusters. We recorded for Warner Brothers and had the 11th video on MTV with our song "When Things Go Wrong," but I continued to be haunted by my past.

Needing to come to a deeper understanding of what had happened to me, I began to work with women who had survived sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and trafficking, helping them put their stories into song. I experienced first hand the profound healing transformation brought about through the process, and after many successful workshops and over 200 songs, I founded Songbird Sings.

Songwriting is a key to joy and healing. Childhood abuse, domestic violence, wartime horrors and other traumas often serve to shut people down, isolate them, keep them silent for fear no one will believe them or they will become estranged from their families or ridiculed and punished for speaking their truth. Victims live in pain and fear, without the means of soothing their wounds. We must help end this suffering. The songs written in our workshops help survivors find their voices, bringing their stories to light so that healing can occur. This opportunity to tell their stories to witnesses with similar experiences becomes a cathartic jumping-off point; a validating first step in the transformation of many lives. Songbird Sings exists to help break the silence so that one day we can live in a world free of violence.

No one ever has to pay for the workshops, which is why we need your help. Please explore the materials on our website. Read the workshop descriptions. Listen to the songs. Watch the videos. Dig deep in your heart and see if you can help us with a donation or by hosting a house concert, or simply by spreading the word. Music saved me a long time ago and I believe it can save others as well. Let’s heal the world from trauma, one song at a time.