By Dalila Bevab
Louisville-born, Bardstown-raised communication major Robby Zurkuhlen, known as “Dr. Robert,” has been making electronic music since 2015 and hopes to pursue music full-time after his May graduation.
Zurkuhlen said “Dr. Robert” is a new project he started taking seriously at the beginning of 2022.
He said he’s been producing electronic music since he was a senior in high school because he enjoys working with software and computers. He said, “It's always been interesting to me ever since I was a kid.”
“When you’re in high school, nothing feels real to you at the time, so I didn’t really care about high school,” he said. “Instead of paying attention in class, I would have my laptop out and I'd be, like, looking up stuff and to learn about this (electronic music), so that's really when everything started.”
He said he enjoys working with electronic music because he loves bass music and low frequencies. He said, “It’s a little bit weird.”
“Part of the reason why I feel like I’m so attracted to that (electronic music) is because it’s full of like, ‘Whoa, I’ve never heard this sound before,’” he said. “It’s very unique and interesting to me.”
He said when he listens to music, he likes to sit down and listen to a whole album because “it just gives you a nice feeling with every song, and I really love that.”
He said, “When I first started to get into playing music, I thought the more music I listened to and if I listened to it all the time, it would make me better. So, I would just tear through albums, like all of the classics. Like, all of Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and just all of it from anybody you would say was good.”
Zurkuhlen said he began using a software called Ableton Live in 2021 to produce his electronic beats. He said he wishes he got the software earlier, but it was expensive. “Once I got Ableton, everything changed. It’s such a fun software to play around with and the possibilities are limitless with what you can do,” he said. “I love how it all works and flows and operates.”
He said he started “going crazy with it (Ableton).” He said he worked on some electronic music before, but he said he feels like this is the year where music has started to pick up for him.
Zurkuhlen said he enrolled in the music tech program in his first semester and he liked the classes, but he said he was already familiar with the content he was learning about.
“I felt a little discouraged and I started going down this thought process of ‘Why do I need to get a degree in music?’” he said. “That whole situation is probably part of the reason why I took a break and stuff, because nothing was really happening with music and I didn't feel like anything was happening here.”
Zurkuhlen said he then joined a band, Bruin Pines, with some friends. He said he was with the band for a few years and played multiple shows, but the band did not record much music. He said, “It was kind of just like a fun thing, you know, so we'd all hang out and just drink beers and play guitars and have a good time.”
He said his experience with Bruin Pines led him to meet cool people around the Louisville music scene. He also said playing shows with the band allowed him to become comfortable performing on stage.
Now, Zurkuhlen is a member of the seven-piece psychedelic band Dinero Romero, which he said was meant to be “supergroup.” He said the group searched for people around Louisville who were interested in playing in a band of other people who’ve played in bands before.
He said he plays bass guitar, the first instrument he decided to stick with, in Dinero Romero.
Kenny Ray Trace is one of two drummers in Dinero Romero and he said working with Zurkuhlen “has been an absolute blast.”
He said Zurkuhlen is an amazing bass player who brings positive energy to the group and that is hard to find. He said, “His unique personality pops out when you talk to him and it comes to life in his bass playing.”
Trace said watching Zurkuhlen write and record music is a “surreal” experience. He said, “He starts with drums and synth sounds and then puts his own twist on the sounds with effects and dials each one into the desired sound in his head.”
William Joiner plays the keyboard and trumpet in Dinero Romero and said Zurkuhlen “is the definition of passion, diligence and good times.”
Joiner said, “A big strength Robby has is he’s constantly listening and constantly creating. He seems to always have something new cooking up.”
Although Zurkuhlen said he likes playing with Dinero Romero, he said the thing he likes about working with electronic music is that he can do it all by himself.
“One of the hardest parts about playing in bands for me, up until Dinero Romero, was having to ‘deal’ with other people. Like, some people couldn’t come to band practice one day or somebody couldn’t play their part or you’re trying to write something, and someone has an idea that kind of clashes with what you’re wanting,” he said.
“It’s much easier and I can take myself further if I’m the only one I’m relying on. That’s what’s so liberating for me about making electronic music because it’s like, my success is only limited by me and me alone, and that was freeing,” he said.
He said, “I say it as a joke, but I just play bass, man. I do contribute to lots of writing and stuff like that, but I’m not necessarily responsible for the success of that band (Dinero Romero) whereas I’m the only one responsible for the success of my own music.”
Along with his solo and band projects, Zurkuhlen said he also DJ’s. He said, “That’s how producers play their music live, and that’s what I really like about that.”
Zurkuhlen said his favorite song he’s produced is a song from his EP called, “Roots.”
He said, “From my own technical mindset, I feel like, ‘Ooh, that one’s mixed the nicest and the sounds in that all work really well together,’ but without that mindset, it’s just a really nice song.”
Joiner said Zurkuhlen is meticulous and focuses on creating high quality sounds. “Everything is intentional in his music,” he said.
Zurkuhlen said he hopes to pursue music full time. “It’s (music) a skill that I have, so it’ll be a side hustle forever. It’s something I really enjoy doing but the ultimate goal, which is the hardest part, is to live the life,” he said. “Three shows a week, fly out to a city and play, come back home, hang out in my house, write music and have that be my life.”
He said, “I like to travel, I like seeing stuff and at this point, I’ve been doing music for so long that music is something that’s necessary to my existence. There’s a million things I could do if I didn’t do music, but it just feels like music is the only thing I really truly want to do.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the words, ‘Robbie, everybody wants to be a rockstar,” but I don’t even want to be a rockstar. I just want that to be my life. I’m not trying to get rich or famous or any of that. I really just want my life to be two or three shows every week, come home, write music and hang out with friends the rest of the week.”
He said his dream festival to perform at is Tipper and Friends in Florida, a festival produced by electronic producer, Dave Tipper, who Zurkuhlen says is one of his “favorites of all time.” He said, “If I can play that festival, it’s like, ‘Wow, I made it.’”
He said right now, the focus for Dinero Romero is live sets. He said, “We haven’t released a ton of music because we play a lot of our songs live and we kind of see it as like a reason to come see us live.”
His favorite song with Dinero Romero is an unreleased song called, “Roundabout,” which was featured in an episode with the Top Hill Recording podcast.
He said eventually the band will officially release their music on streaming platforms.
Trace said Zurkuhlen is an excellent musician with a drive and dedication for music that is inspiring to many. “If he isn’t working a job, playing in our band, or going to school, he is in the studio perfecting his craft. His dedication to music is the most inspiring thing to me,” Trace said.
“I’m sure he is going to accomplish great things with his music career and bring joy and love to anyone who gets the chance to listen to it. He has been one of my best friends for many years, and it has always been a great joy to create with him,” he said.
Joiner said Zurkuhlen puts in his time to do well in music. He said, “The sky is the limit with that guy.”
Keep up with Zurkuhlen on Instagram and Soundcloud and Dinero Romero on Instagram and Spotify.
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