Meriden Teacher Discovers Solace, Perspective During Pandemic

HAMDEN, CT — Like many songwriters, Robert Daniel Irwin’s lyrical ideas tend to come from real-life experiences that combine memories of the past that are then peppered with a dash of imaginative storytelling. But as a 47-year-old high school English teacher who is known as Rob to his friends spent time at Ace Tone Productions in Bethany recording and producing his debut album, he never envisioned how life-altering changes that have been brought on by the spread of the new coronavirus may impact his perspective down the road.

More than a month has passed since Irwin has been able to visit his classroom at Platt High School in Meriden. Since then, the Hamden resident has had more time to create new ideas as he splits his time between daily remote teaching responsibilities and spending time with his family. Yet, following the recent release of his record, “Nature Vs. Nurture”, many of the ideas that made up the playlist of 10 original songs have caused Irwin to notice how the daily routine he experienced until recently now collides with a new reality.

When Irwin began planning his debut album seven months ago, he did with the expectation that it would serve as nothing more than posterity’s sake and that the songs that his two daughters routinely hear around the house could be captured formally. But as he spent time recording the songs in a studio a couple of hours at a time at the end of his school day, Irwin realized how the 10 songs actually fit together into a puzzle of a day in the life of an ordinary musician.

Much of Irwin’s music centers on themes of relationships, growing up and older and life's complexities, set to stylings built around a blend of folk, country and blues influences. The lyrics represent memories, both good and bad and of life and death, which Irwin believes have been shaped over time. As the 10 songs fit into what is a loose chronology of the life Irwin and other friends and acquaintances have experienced over the years, certain tracks – like the song, ‘Get Up’, - written based on hardships experienced by one of Irwin's close friends - have taken on a new relevance considering the time Americans find themselves living in these days.

“I don’t think when I was younger, I had the capacity of living life to write some of the stuff I’ve written now,” Irwin said in a telephone interview on Tuesday, adding, “I guess it’s all about your perspective and now that we’re all going through this shared experience, things start having new meaning.”

The album, which was released last month, can be found on iTunes, Spotify and on CD by visiting Irwin’s website.

If there is a common thread that runs through the album’s 10 tracks, it is that life’s smallest details end up meaning the most. Irwin’s daughter, Indigo, who provides the album’s female voice talent and harmonies, uses the phrase, "find your wabi-sabi”, which in Japanese culture is a world view that focuses on accepting and appreciating life’s imperfections. Even now, as the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus and deaths continue to climb across Connecticut and the United States, Irwin says that finding the “small beauties” in everyday life can often make a huge difference in coping.

Since last being face-to-face with his students on March 12, Irwin now relies on Google classroom to interact with those he is used to seeing on a daily basis. But not having to commute from Hamden to Meriden has provided Irwin with more time to write, especially in the mornings, when music has proven to be a bit of a release from the news that dominates the daily news cycle.

He currently has enough songs in rough form to construct the makings of his next album. While the new lyrics won’t necessarily include reflections of the pandemic, Irwin acknowledges that his current reality may end up shaping the music that is yet to come. While musicians may be limited in the venues where their music can be shared, Irwin – even as he released a new album on online platforms – appreciates the way that his fellow musicians and songwriters are finding ways to get their messages across.

“It’s like the (music) community has moved to a different place which is pretty cool,” he said. “We’re still making music, still making songs.”