One of my favourite releases last year was an EP called Mystic Highway, courtesy of New Jersey-based rocker Robert Allen. Performing under the moniker DownTown Mystic, the six-track offering was a masterclass in classic American rock 'n' roll. Think Springsteen, Petty, and Buffalo Springfield.

Keen to learn more about the man behind the music, I was thrilled when Robert said he'd be down to have a chat!

Taking us through what it's like working with the rhythm section of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, the joys and challenges of being a musician, and which three albums he'd take with him to a deserted island, please welcome our new friend Robert Allen, AKA DownTown Mystic!

Robert, thank you so much for being here! I'm really stoked to reintroduce you to our ever-expanding audience!

Now, for those unfortunate souls who have yet to discover the power of DownTown Mystic, what would you say they’re missing out on? How would you describe your music?

Very cool to be here!

They’re missing out on something they’ve never heard before. My music is RnR that is vintage yet modern. It sounds familiar, but it’s not the kind of rock one would expect to hear in this day and age. I have a retro style that can sound timeless when done right. You might not be able to tell if it’s old or new. My music will get your feet tapping and have you singing along.

Let's chat about your brand new single, Hard Enough (On E Street Remix).

A track that features the literal rhythm section of Bruce Springsteen's famed E Street Band, Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent, I'm wondering how you balanced honouring their legacy while still keeping the track unmistakably yours?

Part of the reason I went back to remix the songs I recorded with them was to show my gratitude for what they did for me. I wanted to get a better sound to help showcase their brilliance. I’ll be releasing the On E Street Remix EP in April, and I think it will show why they might just be the best rhythm section in RnR history.

The songs have all been previously released, but they don’t sound as good as these remixes. I think the songs are some of my best work, and having The E Streeters on them just makes them more amazing! 😊

I fell in love with last year's genius EP, Mystic Highway. I believe I even labelled it as a "smashing six-track offering of classic American rock 'n' roll".

Listeners clearly resonated with the record too, and I'm wondering if the reaction to it matched how you felt about the songs while you were making them?

Yes, you did, and I truly appreciate it! 😊

The reaction to Mystic Highway caught me off guard. It was so gratifying to have that release get such epic critical praise, like yours. I think part of the reason I was caught off guard was that I was too close to the songs. You get used to hearing songs a certain way, and then they get released, and people react to them differently. You start to see and hear them in a different light, which is very cool.

I knew there was something about the order in which I put them in the song listing. The more I listened, the more I felt a vibe about them. The reaction more than matched what I felt about the songs.

As you're aware, I’ve really gotten into your music over the past months, so I’d love to know: who are some of your biggest musical influences - and if I peeked at your ‘Recently Played’ section right now, who would I find there?

The Beatles will always be my #1 influence because I learned to write songs from listening to them. I got into playing acoustic guitar from listening to Buffalo Springfield and then harmonies from CSNY. By the time I was recording with Max and Garry, new wave was in full bloom, and Rockpile, with Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe, were very influential. I think you can really hear that on Hard Enough.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake".

What would your life look like without music, and what fills your days when you’re not busy creating?

It would be extremely difficult to imagine my life without music. Music is magic. What a horrible place the world would be without it. My career takes up 24/7 of my time. Probably 80-90% of my time is spent on marketing & promotion of my releases.

Being a musician/artist today is a full-time job. The internet has made it possible to be DIY and have a music career, but the demands on time can make or break you.

What do you love most about being a musician? And on the flip side, what are some of the biggest challenges that you’ve faced so far?

The thing I love most about being a musician is creating and recording in the studio. It was always my goal to become a producer, and that’s what I love most about what I do.

As far as challenges go, my biggest challenges are in the past. Trying to get a record deal or get played on the radio occupied my time back then. The internet changed all that. I‘ve succeeded in ways I never thought possible. I run my own label, so I don’t need a deal. I have promotion people who do the things I used to do, and they get me radio play. I’ve had deals in Europe, so there’s an audience overseas that knows my music. My music has been sync-licensed to over 250 TV shows and movies, something I never would have dreamed of. The biggest challenge for me now is trying to keep on top of all that! 😊

Alright, Robert - desert island time!

You're only allowed to take three albums with you to a deserted island. Which do you choose, and what makes them essential for you?

That’s a very tough question. So many great albums to choose from and only 3!

There’s a Beatles album for sure, probably Abbey Road. It’s the epitome of the ultimate evolution of the band. I’m also thinking about Revolver. But I might have to go with The Beatles' Yesterday and Today album. Capitol Records used to hold back three songs off the British releases to create a new album for the US market every 5 or 6 months. Yesterday and Today was the album with the famous Butcher's cover. That album was my fave for a long time, so I’m changing my mind LOL!

The first Crosby, Stills & Nash album is essential. I never get tired of it, and that would be huge on a desert island!

For my third album, I’m going with one of my own, The Wish. I would have to have something of my own to listen to and remind me of who I am and the music I once made. That album has a little bit of everything for me. 😊

Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us Robert! It's been great getting to know you better!

Before we sign off, what’s next on your creative radar?

Same here!

Up next is the On E Street Remix EP in April, and I’m very happy with the way it turned out. Then I’m looking at releasing some songs I’ve been holding back. I’m exploring the production side a bit more and different styles of RnR song-wise. I think it’s going to be interesting to see what kind of reaction they receive. I plan on keeping the audience guessing. 😊

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DownTown Mystic: “You get used to hearing songs a certain way, then they get released, and people react to them differently. You start to see and hear them in a different light, which is very cool”

Fringe Frontier: “We'd prefer to be underproduced than overproduced, lean into imperfections, and draw from several different genres”