With one note, Eric Roberson’s melodic voice can be identified; he is definitely in a class of his own. That talent and his ability to connect with listeners through the universal language of love have allowed him to sell tens of thousands of CDs and to perform to sold-out audiences nationally and internationally.
In November of 2011, Roberson released his new project, Mister Nice Guy, to rave reviews.
Rolling out caught up with Roberson before his performance on Jan. 24 at The Shrine in Chicago to talk about love and his new CD. –nekia nichelle
Why are you fearless about sharing your vulnerabilities?
I’ve [run] into many great walls in regards to love. I made the decision a long time ago not to hide what I discovered. If I felt or discovered something I would just write about it and that was one of the best business and musical decisions that I ever made. If I fell in love with a girl, I wasn’t going to be afraid to write about it, and if she broke my heart I wasn’t going to be afraid to write about it. So really everything became an open book, a subject.
Why does your music appeal to men and women?
I don’t believe there is a difference between a male song and a female song. I think at the end of the day we all want the same thing. Guys may try to disguise it or hide it more, but at the end of the day we are all speaking the same things. When I write a song about being hurt, I hurt just as bad as any woman or man has ever hurt. We all can find something that can be relatable. I do not think that I write any differently than anyone else. I am very open to share exactly how I feel, or felt, at the time.