Robbie has recently released his latest album 'Pumpkins'... which can be purchased here:  http://robbieellis.bandcamp.com/ – we wanted to find out about his latest work!

You just released your latest album ‘Pumpkins’, can you give us an idea of what to expect from this album?
This album contains my greatest comedy song hits from 2012 to 2017. Pumpkins covers a bunch of styles from classical to show tunes to An Icelandic Psychedelic Rock Song About Poland. It's an entertaining journey of some personal thoughts (about coffee in the United States, being asked "where are you from", and ukulele comedy songs), as well as other subjects (root vegetables, circuses, the perspective of a cat, and a grand Belgian waltz about not drinking).

How much goes in to producing an album like this… how long has this been a project in the making?
The songs were written over a five-year period, but as for album production: from first serious planning to release was about 15 months. A majority of the 15 songs needed click tracks and notated arrangements - I prepared the most complex arrangements first while stuck working on a cruise ship. The most rewarding time was the five straight days of tracking in October 2017: 14- to 18-hour days with a studio at my disposal and fantastic guest players. The most difficult time was crowdfunding: continuously hustling and constantly asking friends for money is emotionally draining. I did reach my target, but it's not something I want to do again any time soon.

You were back in NZ for the recording, what was it like being back on our shores, and why did you decide to record here?
My 2017 trip was monstrously long - 7 weeks out of a suitcase. It had been 2.5 years since my last visit, so I packed everything in: family time in Auckland and Brisbane, the New Zealand Improv Festival in Wellington, album recording, and three weeks of playing tour guide for my American girlfriend on her first ever visit to New Zealand. I chose to record Pumpkins in New Zealand because I knew more musicians who were right for this project. Additionally, both the owner and the studio manager at Christchurch's Orange Studios are musicians who play for improv theatre and knew my sensibility. I knew that they'd get what I was trying to do.

While you were back we were very lucky to have you perform at the 2017 AIMES Awards Gala Dinner, how was that experience to return to that stage and reconnect with some of the other past and current winners?
It was so nice to be back at an AIMES dinner. I'll let you know that my previous performance in 2012 featured two songs from the album, and the arrangements I made for that gig substantially formed the basis for the arrangements on the album five years later. It was great to see former Radio New Zealand colleague Clarissa Dunn, and I was especially pleased to see the North Harbour Club had honoured Melanie Bracewell! Comedy is not often recognised among "the arts" (in quote marks), but the craft of comedy is easily the equal of dance or music or sculpture or photography. Anyway, I'm always open to getting flown back to do another dinner!

What else are you working on, what does the future hold for you?
I'm set to do small tours in the United States off the back of Pumpkins: in many towns I can both teach an improvtheatre workshop and perform songs at the same venue, which is a double stream of income and promotion. I will be back in New Zealand in February 2019 for a short visit and I'll likely perform in Auckland then. Otherwise, I'm hunkering down in Chicago, working in radio and comedy, and trying to replenish my savings to where they were before. No plans to record another album any time soon - if I do more recording, it should be a smaller-scale project.

Robbie has an upcoming tour of the States, check out his East Coast gigs here: https://www.facebook.com/events/236264336927759/

Listen to Robbie's interview on Radio New Zealand from the 29th April:

Robbie performing 'Flat White'