Robert Lucente

"Robert Lucente combines pop sensibility with a wide range of world music influences into a satisfying mix of hands in the air exasperation and deep warm inspiration."

 

Robert Lucente has been creating original music and art since 1990, incorporating themes of transformation with a range of cultural, apocalyptic, and cosmic ideas. 

 

Growing up a drummer, Robert ultimately traded his drumsticks for an acoustic guitar and began songwriting. He has recorded and performed his neo-psychedelic folk-pop-rock music, both solo and with songwriting partner, Len Tafro  - as Tinsel Tilde.  The duo released “Tinsel Tilde – A Day of Reckoning” in 2007, and Lucente released his first solo recording, “Okina Nami” in 2016.

 

Lucente has performed at many notable venues both West and East, including the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ with Tinsel Tilde. The duo also shared the stage with the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh (with Lost at Last) in San Francisco. Most recently Robert has been performing in New York City with the Singer-Songwriters Unite series – both solo and with his supporting band.

 

In addition to his songwriting, Robert has produced several concert events featuring national headliner talent. He also co-founded 2012 Productions, whichcreated the wildly popular, award-winning music fan Web site and community PhilZone.com. From there, the 2012 Prod team began collaborating with the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh– helping Lesh develop marketing concepts and assisting with major concert productions and promotions. 

 

The 2012 Prod crew also produced the sold-out “Countdown to 2012” concert event in San Francisco in 2000 - a memorial for the late Terence McKenna. The event featured a guest performance by Phil Lesh, and a performance by Lucente’s band, Tinsel Tilde. Lucente also produced the follow up “Countdown to 2012” at NYC’s Canal Room in 2011 with his new production company 13:28 Productions.

 

In 2016, Lucente released “Okina Nami” – his first solo studio recording. This 7-song album features all original material, demonstrating Robert’s wide range of styles and arrangements. With tracks like the americana-infused “All Angels” an emotional ballad showcasing haunting pedal steel and piano, to “How Long?” with it’s hard hitting, jam-rock sound - asking listeners ‘How long can we survive, in this cold world where greed and lies thrive?’, or “Activation” the blissful rave-rock anthem declaring ‘Activate your Mind – Awaken to New Time’, or the meditative mystical acoustic raga “It’s All Right”.

 

Working closely with engineer James Dellatacoma at Orange Music Sound Studio in West Orange New Jersey, Robert performed all drums, vox, and rhythm guitar, and further expanded his vision to include an eclectic array of instruments including tabla, pedal steel, piano, violin, drone, samples, and electric guitars.

 

With Okina Nami, Lucente tapped the local music scene pulling in a talented roster of musicians – delivering a recording that is fresh, energized, and soulful with a crisp and clear message. He also flew to California to work with close friend and collaborator Jody Salino to produce the track “Activation”, featuring Salino’s masterful arrangements and production.

 

Okina Nami means “big wave”, and symbolizes Lucente’s personal struggles and perspectives, as well as the cosmic human journey of evolution and transformation.