Robin Lane, once hailed by The Washington Post as “the most talented female artist to come out of New Wave Rock,” has had a fascinating, multi-genre music career. She emerged as a contemporary force in Americana music with her first album on Red on Red Records, Dirt Road to Heaven. Lane was previously part of the L.A. Laurel Canyon music community in the late 60s, where she collaborated with members of Crazy Horse and sang with Neil Young. After her several-year marriage to future Police guitarist Andy Summers broke up, she moved back East and toured solo in the mid to late 80s while also opening for legendary artists like Warren Zevon, John Hiatt, Taj Mahal, Tim Finn, Dave Mason, Steve Earle, T-Bone Burnett, and Richard Thompson. 2023 has seen Lane release a brand new EP called Dirt Road to Heaven, and today we’re taking a look at the single Woman Like That.
Woman Like That describes the singer’s experiences with a wannabe-suitor relationship from a former friend, introducing the conflict in small doses: “Well I met her several years ago when I was still a kid / She seemed to like something that I did / She’d call me in the middle of the night and ask me for advice / What I didn’t realize then, that woman wasn’t nice.” As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal the depths of the stalker’s obsession, with the the source of the friction in the relationship emerging at the track’s apex: “She told me that she’d always been in love with me, my mind just went a blur / ‘Cause if I was ever gonna go gay, well it sure wouldn’t be with her.” The topic of an unwanted suitor is undoubtedly relatable, and Lane presents it with a hearty dose of twangy authenticity that resonates.
Lane has a smoky, cutting Americana vocal that absolutely sells her story, and the production on this track is a perfect complement. Raw acoustic guitars and deep, thrumming percussion leave the lyrics at the center of it all, with Lane’s signature gritty sound paired with the occasional rustic harmony throughout. The lack of any ornate showmanship is appropriate for the unsettling topic; it has balance and fullness without taking attention away from the troubling story that drives us along.
Woman Like That is the kind of track that makes you want to instantly dive into an artist’s entire discography. Lane’s extensive musical resume is on full display here, no doubt making this a standout track on the EP Dirt Road to Heaven. This single showcases Lane’s fresh, authentic path in Americana music and leaves the listener curious about what she has done before as well as eagerly anticipating what she’ll do next.
—
BELOW: Listen to Woman Like That and connect with her website and social media platforms. Please support Robin Lane by visiting her online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing her music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
Follow, stream, download & connect with ROBIN LANE online:
