Getting to Know. . . ROBBIE SCHAEFER
 by Kathy S-B  ·  16 July 2007

Robbie Schaefer is probably best known among folkies as the affable front man in the Virginia-based band, Eddie from Ohio. Did you know that he also has a career as a children’s songwriter and performer? Read all about Robbie’s solo career (for kids and adults) at his website.

So many music fans know you as one of the members of Eddie from Ohio so it may come as a surprise to them that you also write and perform children’s music. Was being a dad a major impetus for you to try your hand at writing for kids? Did you field test the songs at home before playing them in public?

I actually started playing children’s music quite unexpectedly about 7 years ago when my middle son was entering preschool. The Director said she’d heard I was a musician and did I know of anyone who might be willing to be the music director of the school? Not knowing any better, I said, “well, I guess I could do that”. One thing led to another and before long I was playing other kid’s shows at area preschools and then started writing my own songs. When Eddie From Ohio’s singer, Julie Wells, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and the band took a bunch of time off from touring (she’s doing wonderfully, by the way), I used the opportunity to record my kid’s cd. It’s led me to all sorts of wonderful things. And, by the way, yes, I do ‘field test’ many of my songs with my kids. My sons Ethan and Owen often perform with me.

“Songs For Kids Like Us” is your first children’s recording. Did you find that writing songs for children was more difficult than writing songs for big kids like us?

I think that writing songs for grown-ups is a more organic and natural process for me. It’s more a result of inspiration — tapping into some mysterious energy. It may sound pretentious, but the songs really do feel as though they already exist and all I have to do is uncover them. Writing kid’s songs is more of a thought process. It’s important to me to craft kid’s songs that don’t patronize kids and don’t pander to adults. And that can take real work. But it’s a heck of a lot of fun too. Many ideas come from my own kids or my own experiences as a dad. Nothing beats real life.

A young friend of mine surprised me once and sang me the entirety of “Horse” from “This is Me” soon after it came out. I guess I have to say that I wasn’t surprised when I found out that you were devoting some time to this new venture. It must be a real change of pace playing to small kids. Do you have somewhat of a built-in audience of Ed-head children?

Actually, yes there is somewhat of a built-in audience around kids of EFO fans. I guess that’s one of the benefits of sticking around for as long as we have. As far as it being a change of pace, well yeah. Kid’s audiences are completely honest. If you stink, you’ll know it. They can’t feign interest. On the other hand, if they like you, there are no inhibitions. It’s the best thing in the world. And after the show, instead of someone offering to buy you a beer, you get invited to a birthday party. Can’t beat that. Regarding your friend who sang all of ‘Horse’, I think that kids essentially want the same things out of their music that adults do. A good melody, a good beat, and words that pluck your imagination. You know, most kids love the The Beatles. That’s no accident. Their songs are full of irresistible melodies.

Is there another kids’ recording in the works?

Not yet. In fact, when I recorded this cd, I fully intended it to be a one time thing. What is it they say? Life is what happens when you’re making plans? I’m sure we’ll record another one. Just not sure how soon. In fact, I have a full album of grown-up songs I’ve been wanting to record for a solo album for quite some time now. Will probably try and do that first. But the next kid’s cd won’t be far behind.

Have you discovered that parents of kids are now discovering Eddie from Ohio? If so, that must be a real cool discovery for them! I’ll be that many never even knew this whole “genre” of folk music and festivals even existed…

It is a cool thing. I love how all these aspects of my musical career can intersect with one another. And, of course, there are so many people out there looking for good music — real music, and don’t know where to look. When they finally discover the festival scene, the coffeehouse scene … it’s as though they’re alive again. It’s a wonderful thing to see happen.

How’s the XM Radio radio show going? Is that a lot of fun for you? It sounds like you’re busier than ever!

Having a show on XMKiDS is just fantastic. It’s such a different creative outlet for me. I have complete creative freedom with my show, I work with fun, wonderful people, and I get to spread good,independent music to kids all over the country (not to mention I get to talk to kids all over the North America — I take a lot of live requests). Can’t beat that with a stick. It is also, of course, a great opportunity to spread my own kid’s music (which was being played on XMKiDS before I got there — I’m just sayin’) as well as that of lots of folk artists that have made kid’s albums over the years: Terri Hendrix, Billy Jonas, etc. Ellis Paul even has one in the works! Yes, I am definitely busier than ever. I am still learning to manage my time better. But, it’s all great stuff. I do the radio show live 5 days a week, go on tour with Eddie From Ohio for about 3 days every month, and squeeze in a couple of kids shows or solo shows a month as well. I love the variety.

We hope that you’ll come back to the me&thee one of these days, either with EFO or for a children’s show. We’ll never forget the last time EFO played in Marblehead and it was an overflow crowd and there were people sitting in the trees out front trying to see inside the windows until you requested that we let them in to sit on the floor. That was quite a night!

I would love to come back in any format! I remember that night very well. I think our set-up was a little too big for the stage, and we were squeezing in a sound check, and then there were those ‘treepeople’ . . . and it ended up being one of those special nights that leave you feeling a little better about the Universe. Know what I mean? Good stuff.