Atlanta‑born singer‑songwriter John Robinson, now 42, is back on the local music scene with a fresh rock project. After a pandemic‑forced pause that saw him juggling fatherhood, a restaurant job, and a stint in jujitsu and biohacking, Robinson rediscovered his love for guitar‑driven music and formed the band Ultra Lights.
From stay‑at‑home dad to new frontman
Robinson had planned to keep writing with his previous group, Illegal Drugs, when his longtime collaborator Tom O’Neill moved to Colorado. “We were about to have a kid and move to Athens, Georgia,” Robinson recalled in a phone interview from his Atlanta home. “When he left, I wasn’t sure I’d ever play music again.” The uncertainty led him to explore other outlets, but the isolation of COVID‑19 lockdowns eventually steered him back to his first love.
During months of staying home with his infant son and unable to work his restaurant job, Robinson dove into classic post‑punk records by Wire and Public Image Ltd., as well as newer acts like Parquet Courts and Iceage. “I thought, I want to do rock ’n’ roll again,” he said, prompting him to write demos that became Ultra Lights.
Ultra Lights debut and local show
The band’s debut full‑length, Pleasure’s All Yours, arrived in July on the independent label Chunklet. Joined by guitarist Leela Hoehn, bassist Alex Wharton, and drummer Gus Fernandez, Robinson delivers garage‑rock songs that feel at home in the spirit of the now‑closed CBGB club of the early 2000s.
Ultra Lights will perform at Atlanta’s Rumba Café on Saturday, Nov. 7, with opening acts Paper Airplane and Killdeer. The show offers fans a chance to hear the new material live, including the reflective track “Wild on the Outside,” which laments the swift passage of time.
Songwriting amid uncertainty
While the music is energetic, Robinson admits the lyrics carry an undercurrent of existential dread. He says the current social and political climate, combined with the responsibilities of parenthood, fuels his songwriting. “We’re living in a time where you’re either laser‑focused on politics or trying to avoid it,” he explained. “Having a kid makes you feel a little guilt and a lot of concern for the future.”
Robinson also reflects on aging in songs like “Scene of the Crime” from the band’s 2025 self‑titled EP, noting how youth can grant freedom while time slips away.
Balancing music and everyday life
Despite the buzz from outlets such as Stereogum and Pitchfork, Robinson’s daily routine remains grounded. He continues to work a restaurant gig, emphasizing that music is a calling rather than a career switch. “I’ve been doing this since I was 15, and there are only a few small gaps where I wasn’t playing in a band,” he said. “I don’t have the drive to figure something else out.”
Robinson’s experience as a parent has also reshaped his perspective. He notes that conversations with fellow parents at school drop‑offs have deepened his understanding of the shared struggles families face. “We’re all just trying to figure it out, and I’m okay with that,” he added.
Local impact
Ultra Lights adds a fresh voice to Atlanta’s vibrant music community, offering both longtime fans and new listeners a chance to connect through authentic rock sounds. The upcoming Rumba Café concert underscores the city’s ongoing support for home‑grown talent, reinforcing Atlanta’s reputation as a hub for independent music.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
