The Fiddler in the Caribbean: Gary Hector Talks with Robin Solomon

Rugged Revival Q&A • Independent Music • Trinidad & Tobago

Gary Hector - singer-songwriter and Rugged Revival Crew member from Trinidad & Tobago sits down with fiddle player Robin Solomon, his bandmate and a rare voice on the island’s roots scene, to talk violins vs. fiddle, Dolly Parton Sundays, and why country music in the Caribbean might be the most unexpected (and beautiful) rebellion yet.

Q&A

GARY:

Robin, thanks for doing this. For those who don’t know you yet, give us the lowdown. Where are you from and what’s the music scene like where you are?

ROBIN: Trinidad and Tobago - born and bred! And honestly, the music scene has been shifting in a really cool way. We’ve got our traditional sounds, obviously - calypso, soca, chutney - but lately you’re seeing a real mix. Local artists are experimenting with country, pop, even punk and grunge. It’s not mainstream yet, but it’s growing, and I love being part of that evolution.

GARY:

You’re classically trained in violin, but now you're playing fiddle in a roots and country setting. How different are the two?

ROBIN: Night and day! In the classical world it’s all about precision - technique, posture, perfection. There’s not much room to breathe. When you’re fiddling, you still need the chops, but there’s a looseness, a soul to it. You can improvise, move, feel the groove a bit more. It’s like classical is reading poetry from a book, and fiddling is writing it live on stage.

GARY:

We’ve been performing together for a while now, but tell the people how we actually linked up.

ROBIN: Through Rosa’s brother! Sebastian reached out and said, “Hey, there’s this local country artist looking for a fiddle player - I think you’d be a great fit.” I was nervous at first, because country fiddling wasn’t something I had done publicly. But I said yes, and I’m so glad I did. You and Rosa have been so easy to vibe with. It’s been a blast!

GARY:

What were your first impressions when you heard the music I wanted to play?

ROBIN: Honestly? Shocked - in a good way! I didn’t know anyone in Trinidad was doing country music seriously. I grew up listening to it on Sundays with my grandma. It was our thing. So to not only hear it but be invited to play it? That was special.

GARY:

Had you followed country music before we met?

ROBIN: Internationally, yes. Dolly Parton was always a favourite in our house. But locally? I hadn’t heard of any artists doing it before I met you. It felt like finding a hidden room in a house you thought you knew.

GARY:

Let’s talk songs. What are some of your favourites to perform - originals and covers?

ROBIN: For originals, I love playing “Waitin’ Around to Go Viral.” It’s got this soft, ballad feel that really lets the emotion breathe. My favourite cover we do is Sierra Ferrell’s “Lighthouse.” And if I had to pick one Gary Hector original overall, “Time Flies, Time Lies” is my top choice. That one hits.

GARY:

You were away from the live scene for a bit before joining us. Any other collaborations on the horizon?

ROBIN: Not at the moment. I was on a performance hiatus after years in orchestral work - operas and shows backing local talents like Natalia Dopwell. Stepping into the roots scene has been refreshing. Right now, I’m soaking it in and focusing on making this as good as it can be.

GARY:

If you could see any country or roots artist live tomorrow - money and travel sorted - who’s at the top of your list?

ROBIN: Dolly. Always Dolly. It’s a dream I shared with my grandma before she passed, so that would be a full-circle moment.

GARY:

Final one - what’s it like being a country fiddler in a place where that’s not exactly the norm?

ROBIN: It’s unexpected, for sure - and that’s what makes it powerful. Country music, at its core, is storytelling. Whether you’re in Kentucky or Port of Spain, stories bring people together. I’m grateful I get to play a part in that.

Credits: Interview by Gary Hector for The Rugged Revival Network. With thanks to Robin Solomon. Photos by: Ejaaz Ramdhanie.

By the People. For the Music.