Robert Secret has delighted people with his soft brand of rock for several years. The son of a painter and fine artist, Secret earned a classical music degree in Scotland before moving to New York in the '90s. Much of his back catalog was co-published by Famous Music/Paramount. His straight composing gigs range from a full-length piece for Scottish Ballet to film scores for the PBS series Frontline and NOVA.In 1995, Secret found the Robert Secret Group with bandmates Jon Herrington, Robin Gould and Paul Ossala. Their collective playing credits range from performances with Dan Zanes, Steely Dan, Lucy Kaplansky, The Roches, Willie Nile, Roseanne Cash, and Peter Wolf. Relatively Blues is the band's second indie release, a latter-day song cycle showcasing idiosyncratic tributes to the blues in an extended mediation on life and love.

Secret performs at the Writer's Hang, Scott E. Moore's singer/songwriter series, at The Goldhawk in Hoboken on Jan. 8 at 8 p.m.

We recently caught up with Secret.

EM - Where are you from?

RS - I was born in Oxford, Ohio and grew up in Oxford, England.

EM - Who are your influences?

RS - The Beatles, Iris Murdoch, Jane Austen, Robertson Davies, Charles Dickens, and my family.

EM - Why did you become a musician?

RS - My father is a fine artist and I always knew I would do something creative. I fell in love with music in my early teens and never looked back.

EM - Where have you performed?

RS - I've toured nationally as a sideman on keyboards and play locally in New York City clubs like The Fez, The Cutting Room, The Mercury Lounge, and The Bottom Line.

EM - What are the last three CDs you bought?

RS - I don't buy CDs often, but I've been listening to string quartets by James MacMillan.

EM - How would you describe your music?

RS - Quirky pop songwriting that views the world through an unusual lens.

EM - Are you looking for mainstream exposure?

RS - Sure. I've had a lot of scores air on national TV, but that's a different career.

EM - What professional plans do you have for the near future?

RS - I'll be continuing my filmscoring work and have tentative plans to record a third CD with my wonderful band in the spring.

Secret performs at the Writer's Hang at The Goldhawk at 936 Park Ave. in Hoboken on Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7. For information visit www.thegoldhawk.com or call (201) 420-7989. q

Pullout:

"I fell in love with music in my early teens and never looked back." - Robert Secret


Caption:

THE BIG SECRET - Robert Secret performs at the Writer's Hang at The Goldhawk at 936 Park Ave. in Hoboken on Jan. 8 at 8 p.m.