SINGER ROBYN TROUP GETS PERSONAL WITH ‘RELAX’
Robyn Troup calls “Relax” her “anti-freak-out song.”
The song and video was written in the midst of an anxiety attack. It’s evident in the lyrics, which read like a mantra: “Why so serious? It’s not so serious. Don’t be so serious” “1, 2, 3, remember to breathe” The video premiered exclusively on the Houston Chronicle’s Preview site. See it at preview.houstonchronicle.com. “I was freaking out, and I turned on my computer and sang this song,” Troup says. “I know it’s so simple, but it’s really special to me. I feel a power from this song. It picks me up in those dark places.”
The Houston singer is releasing “Relax” under her Yung Kobra project, which features producer Simonne Jones. Troup might look familiar. She won the My Grammy Moment contest in 2007 and sang on stage with Justin Timberlake and T.I. The Yates High School graduate also recorded a cover of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” with Carlos Santana and Nas.
“Relax” could be interpreted as an anthem for the current state of the world as it deals with the coronavirus pandemic. The video has an even deeper meaning for Troup. It features her mother, Roxanne Lawson, who works for the Housing and Community Development Department for the city of Houston, relaxing after a day at work.
The video was filmed in Houston on Lawson’s 15-year sobriety birthday and features emotional clips of her and Troup speaking at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting celebrating the milestone.
“I watched her go through the ringer and occasionally drag my sister and I down with her,” Troup says. “But through it all, she managed to put the bull behind her and has become a beacon of hope for not only myself but everyone she meets.”
Troup is the granddaughter of the Rev. Dr. Bill Lawson and the late Audrey H. Lawson, who founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Her aunt is KTRK-TV anchor Melanie Lawson. Her grandfather and aunt also appear briefly in the video.
An EP featuring “Relax” should arrive later this year. Troup is creating new music for another project, Robyn the Bank, that boasts a harder dance/rap edge. She works with Riptide Music Group and has written several songs that have been licensed for TV and film.
And on top of all that, she’s married and has a 3-year-old son, who seems to have his own musical aspirations.
“He’s loud, and sometimes you can hear him in the background of my recordings,” Troup says with a laugh. “He’s inspiring but he’s also very tiring. I’m still trying to figure out how to balance that.”