No way you can classify Robster Evangelista as a rocker. In fact, his debut single “Sino Ba Sa Atin,” dropped in digital stores last summer, is described as easy listening.
But looking deep into his track record, one can quickly say he simply rocks and his versatility solidified his foundation in the music scene. He has long figured out the way to handle his diverse creativity which led to people describing him as a radio personality, songwriter, author, speaker, singer, or all of the above.
Robster explained, “It takes discipline and time management. Thus, my principle is one thing at a time or when I set out to do one thing, I focus on it entirely.”
The man knows how and when to channel himself to address a challenge.
Primarily known as a radio guy, he was asked by RJA Productions that hired him for his songwriting services to actually record the song “Sino Ba Sa Atin” which he wrote himself. He did too good a job on the demo for it to be handed it to another singer.
Robster shared, “I think most, if not some, go to a phase when you doubt the relationship. But personally, I learned that love is not just a romantic feeling but also a commitment. That is why love takes action and constant nourishment for it to grow and last.”
He added, “It is always an achievement if you are to sing your own song because you know the emotion so well you can put justice to its creation.”
It helped that he was mentored by his idol Rey Valera. He recalled being led to a level where he can come up with a song when asked to and get paid for it. He related, “When I'm asked to write a jingle or a theme song, I just scribble all the important messages the client wants to convey. If it is a song for an artist, I ask for the artist's profile, target audience, style, and repertoire.”
Robster was a vocalist and guitarist for the Haranya band and the voice behind the theme tune of a movie starring then-screen couple Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. He wrote for Parokya ni Edgar (“Amats") and dancer-novelty singer Vhong Navarro (“Mr. Papabol") and eventually won at the PMPC Star Awards for Music in 2012 for his novelty song “Blind Item.”
Last year’s RJA releases “Stuck” and “Patawad Sinta” were both his compositions sung by the fast-rising Myko Mañago.
A PBA barker since 2006, Robster spent seven years as DJ for iFM and became station manager by 2010. He created and produced Mga Kuwento ni Lolo Barbers and handled interviews of big-name local and international acts.
He authored How to Tame the Butterflies in your Stomach and How to Talk to Anyone Easily.
Asked to pick a word to best describe himself, Robster noted, “I consider myself more as a storyteller and I do it either through my music or words of encouragement.”
