Rob Wheeler Talks New Album, Songwriting And More

Jun 6, 2025 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By Measure PR

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Rob Wheeler has released his latest album ‘Leave Tomorrow’. We sat down with him to talk about the album:

When did you begin songwriting?

At an early age I was lucky enough to be around a musical family – the concept of writing your own music was something I was introduced to by them and I started composing rough ideas when I was just 5 years old. The main thing was I was encouraged to do it – my professional songwriting career really started around 2015 when I made the decision to pursue my dream of being an artist.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Listening to my mum’s records with my headphones on, she was and still is a self described “rock chick” so it was Led Zep, Richard Marx, Thin Lizzy, stuff like that.. I think it had an influence on me.

You have released your new album ‘Leave Tomorrow’. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

I wanted to finally fully embrace my love of country music and its sonic landscape. My previous two albums had been, I guess what most people would call Americana, with my influences clearly there, but they had a traditional singer songwriter vibe. With this record I knew I wanted to not only sound Nashville, I wanted to experience Nashville – be in the city, taste it, drink it, write in it, record in it – be immersed. So the four months I was there really permeates the songs, but it’s interesting to me that my UK roots are dominant, and it makes for a really interesting blend. How a UK artist perceives the mystical land of Nashville and vice versa.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

The majority of the album was recorded in Nashville, and then I brought it all back home to my personal studio in Cheshire to sort through and bring it all together, which wasn’t hard because I did have a very clear vision of what this album would be. It was fun to co-produce as well with a few great guys, Steve Dorff and Jeff Trott both co-produced the songs we co-wrote together and I loved having that collaboration. I was surprised how generous they were with my decisions seeing as they’re the veterans and I’m the newbie!

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the album recording sessions?

Well, I did accidentally break into Steve Dorff’s house – which is funny now but at the time was pretty scary for Steve – he was not expecting me due to a mix up with his PA and I had been given the means to get access and Steve wasn’t even there, I waited 45 minutes for him and he walked in to some random British guy sat in his house… at one point his dog came down and you can imagine what I thought – luckily Nash is a good boy!!
As it turned out in the end, Steve and I have become good friends and we can laugh about it now, but not the ideal first encounter!

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

I’m a huge fan of Aston Mics and I use them on my recordings, vocals and acoustics particularly. I use a crafter twin birds guitar which is one of their anniversary editions and I have a battered old matte blue American Fender Telecaster. One major thing I had on this record was a real old piano whereas in the past I’d used electric – I got an Edwardian German walnut piano from a house clearance and it sounds so warm and cosy.

One of the tracks is the single ‘Why Whisky Why’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

I am a pretty happy drunk but I have terrible, terrible hangovers that last for days and I don’t have any idea why but I just do it to myself time and time again – talk about denial! So many country artists have whisky songs so I wanted to approach it with something fresh. The song is fun and breezy but the message is pretty self deprecating – as with most things that are self harming we seem to go back for more – I guess the joke is on me!

Was it a difficult album to write?

If I split the album up into two sections, we have half the album that I wrote by myself and half that was collaborations in Nashville – I had a really easy run of songs that I wrote alone cause I was full of ideas and was just going through a good patch of inspiration. Initially I was worried heading to Nashville as I had never been a big fan of co-writes… I always felt that vision is destroyed by committee. But the guys in Nashville just understood what I was trying to do and their input was nothing short of brilliant and beautiful – so in the end, the songwriting was by far the easiest part of the whole journey.

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

A – The opening track and title track Leave Tomorrow is so happy because it’s full of promise, the idea you can just go, explore, journey, adventure – it’s a song that encourages you (and me) to not be afraid of trying.

B – I don’t think there’s any anger in my songs but the track with the most darkness is Warning – it sounds from the outside like it’s a bitter song about a break up, and although there’s some merit to that theory, it’s actually about all toxic people and how they disguise themselves as kind and genuine. One of the hardest things in life is to face a person you thought you knew and respected, maybe even loved – and see their mask slip off before your very eyes.

C – The song that is most reflective is Mount Juliet; the album’s closing song. At the time I wrote the song I was so full of imposter syndrome and human frailty. Trying to succeed in music is a very difficult and sometimes incredibly depressing journey, but the creative side is always the happiest part. So with this song I think it has both the hope and expectation I was experiencing and then the honest reflection of accepting I may fail and if I do I’ll carry the fond memories with me, and the knowledge that I tried. That sounds sad and maybe even a little self pitying, but the weight of your own expectation is an enormous load to bear, it gets heavy and you have to be prepared to put it down.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

I only have one wish – that my music connects with people. It will probably be my only legacy so I hope it’s a worthy one.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Haslington in Cheshire – cosy, quiet, friendly, rural, sleepy…

How do you look after your voice?

Hmm… I don’t I’m afraid. I just blast it out and do all the wrong things too, like drink whisky on stage – I am a terrible role model, but it works for me. I just have faith in my voice and it’s always with me when I need it – even by the end of the tour.

Who designed the album artwork?

Myself – I am a cottage industry.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

I would love to do Confessions of an English Opium Eater by Thomas De Quincey.. It’s a fascinating historical journal and recently had a diagnosis of facial muscular dystrophy which Thomas also had so I feel a connection to him.. What’s crazy is I already loved the book before I had the diagnosis.. Kinda spooky.

Who is in your touring band and what do they play?

On my 2025 tour, my band which I collectively call the Hushtones, is Kathleen Ord on fiddle, Ben Hughes on guitar and Paul Adams on bass – this year we’re going acoustic band and we’re really excited for it

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

I love Hank Williams Sr, Tom Waits, Eagles, Nick Drake, Nickel Creek and I’m a bit of a Beatles fanatic – two songs which I feel are underrated and heartily recommend – “Just Like Autumn” by Jordy Searcy and “Apple Pie” by Lizzie McAlpine.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025?

My UK tour is kicking off June 11 2025 in London! June 12 – Crewe, June 14 – Coatbridge, June 15 – Liverpool, June 17 – Pendle and June 19 – Winchester.

What makes Rob Wheeler happy and what makes you unhappy?

Things that make me happy – my wife and my two rescue dogs, being in my studio, standing in the sea, listening to records, watching old movies, reading old books.

Things that make me unhappy – divisive politics, animal cruelty, destroying nature, the modern music industry, how fast life goes.