Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanner Robinson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Ever since I was young, I’ve been driven to create. Some of my earliest memories are building forts out of cardboard boxes, writing short stories, and filling sketchbooks with drawings.
I grew up in a split home, and creating quickly became a form of escape—something that allowed me to forget about time and step away from the chaos of the world.
Music was always present in my life. My mom is an incredible vocalist, and my dad plays piano. I remember being fascinated by music from an early age, especially during car rides with my dad, who listened to a wide variety of artists and genres. I fell in love with Zac Brown Band for their musicianship and John Mayer for his songwriting and melodic guitar work. Both of my parents deeply influenced my love for music, and I owe so much of who I am to them.
In fifth grade, my school started a guitar club. The first song I ever learned was *“Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty. The moment I picked up the guitar, it felt like an entirely new world opened up—and I never really put it down after that.
High school was a quieter season for me. I didn’t have many friends, and I often spent lunch periods alone, drawing in a sketchbook and daydreaming about what life might look like as a musician. Outside of school, I was deeply involved in church. I interned there, led the youth worship team, and eventually led worship on Sundays. Through praise music, my love for music grew tremendously. Music was no longer something I kept to myself in my bedroom—it became something I shared with others.
Songwriting didn’t come naturally at first. When I began writing around the age of 13, I focused on comedy and parody songs. I didn’t think I had a good singing voice, and I figured if I was being funny, I didn’t have to sound good. As I matured and began taking vocal lessons, I fell in love with the creative process of songwriting itself. My phone is filled with years of voice memos, guitar parts, melodies, hooks, and half-formed ideas. Through every phase of life, songwriting has been the one constant. When I sit down to write, that’s when I feel most like myself.
Late last year, I felt led to leave my full-time job and focus on music for a season. Since the age of 19, I had worked full time in the corporate world—PTO, benefits, and a consistent income, but ultimately unfulfilling. After saving enough to step away for a while, I chose to take a leap and search for direction. Since then, I’ve written songs I’m deeply proud of and have begun recording and releasing fully produced music for the first time.
My faith in God is my greatest fuel. Through every trial, He has provided a way. I’ve been incredibly blessed with the opportunity to pursue this dream and to create the music I’m creating today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My home life never felt consistent growing up. Because of multiple divorces, my world was always changing. If I had something in one moment, I never knew if it would still be there in the next. That instability filled me with insecurity and fear, and it left me desperate for connection.
Many of my challenges were self-inflicted. I rushed into relationships and trusted people with my heart in an attempt to heal what was broken inside me—often without slowing down to truly assess whether those relationships were healthy or right for me. That pattern led to a lot of heartbreak. Painful as it was, it later became powerful songwriting fuel.
Another major challenge was my job. I spent five years working at a call center and eventually worked my way into a position where I rarely had to be on the phones. I traveled, was paid well, and held a role that was safe and respected. From the outside, it looked like success. On the inside, I felt empty.
Days in a cubicle, moving from meeting to meeting about things I didn’t care deeply about, left me drained. I wasn’t creating—I was fixing. My dreams of pursuing music felt distant and unrealistic. Until one day, I realized the truth: I was the only one stopping myself. I was the one keeping myself in that cubicle.
Leaving my 9–5 corporate job was one of the most “reckless” decisions I’ve ever made—and it absolutely changed my life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently work part-time at a coffee shop in Garden City, Missouri, and spend the rest of my time pursuing my music career. I perform at small venues such as coffee shops, wineries, and event spaces, and I am working toward expanding into weddings in the near future.
Much of my time is spent writing and producing original music from my home, where I have a recording setup that allows me to create and release music independently. I also intern at a music studio in Blue Springs, where I continue to learn more about the craft of recording and music production.
I am known for writing heartfelt singer-songwriter songs centered around love and personal trials I’ve experienced. My music leans heavily into hope, even when exploring heavier subjects, I aim to leave listeners with a sense of optimism and encouragement.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My relationships with the Lord, my family, and my friends are at the core of who I am. God has been my strength and my guide, and my family’s love and support have continually fueled my journey. Much of my creativity is inspired by meaningful conversations and time spent with the people I love.
I am deeply grateful for the many people who have championed me along the way. Loving others well, through grace, patience, and authenticity, is important to me, and I strive to extend the same grace that the Lord has shown me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/tanner.robinson_music
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanner_robinson.music
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tannerjr.music
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-robinson-a7647a3a3/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCynZKP43GyiD2RIJILTT0iA
