Publication Date: November 2026
No Filter: An Interview with Rob Forman
By Lisa Irwin
Rob Forman brings his own energy and personality to every show. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Rob for the past few years and have gotten to know him as someone who clearly loves what he does. I recently had the chance to interview him about his music, his approach to performing, his talented wife, and what keeps him excited about the next gig.
RRX: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, Rob! We have worked together for a few years now. Let’s have our readers get to know you a bit more. If you had to create a musical recipe for the Rob Forman sound, what ingredients would you put in it?
RF: Hi Lisa! Although I sing, I still view myself as a guitarist above all else, so the first item in the mix is a good acoustic guitar. If it feels good in my hands and sounds good to my ear, the show is going to be a good one. An audience and an environment complete the recipe. Folks who are ready for a good time, in a place where we’re all having fun: a lively pub on a Saturday night, a winery on a sunny afternoon, a brewery crowded with families on football Sunday. It’s what keeps me coming back for more, and hopefully folks who see me feel the same way.
RRX: While preparing for this interview, I discovered that your wife is a trained singer. Have you ever performed as a duo together?
RF: You’re going to get me in trouble here! This comes up from time to time, and my answer to her about performing together has been “no.” I’ve always been hesitant to collaborate; it’s scary to me! But it’s true, she is an amazing singer, and I will have to overcome those fears sooner rather than later. Plus, now that it’s in print, I’ll have to hold myself to it.
RRX: Yay! I look forward to that!! Now, let’s talk about covers. Do you ever take a song that people know and completely make it your own? Is there a particular cover where you feel like you’ve really put your stamp on it?
RF: Sometimes, but not too often. I’ve always liked to play songs and make it sound as close to the original recordings or the version that I first discovered. Some exceptions that can be found in my catalog of covers include “All Star”, “Dancing in the Dark” and “Piano Man.”
RRX: You have been playing for a while. After all the years of playing live, what still makes you look forward to the next gig?
RF: The unknown about the next gig always keeps the excitement up. I might be walking into a place to play for the first time, and it may turn into a regular stop for years to come. I’m fortunate to have family and friends who like to surprise me at shows, so that also keeps things fun!
RRX: I like to end my interviews with this question because it gives you a chance to share anything you’d like with me and our readers. Do you have any upcoming projects or exciting things in the works that you’d like to share?
RF: No stadium tours to announce yet! I’m happy to just keep playing and enjoying the journey. If there’s music being played anywhere in the Capital Region, that’s where I want to be. I can’t miss the opportunity to say thank you to everyone who supports live music and makes it possible for me to have this really fun job.
With plenty of music still ahead, I’m sure we’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more from Rob. To learn more about Rob, you can follow him on Facebook at RobFormanMusic.
(Photo Credit: Publicity photo 1 is courtesy of Frankie Cavone at Mirth Films)
