Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Robin.
Hi Janet , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got my start in music growing up in Los Angeles, where I had the incredible opportunity to study guitar with the legendary Randy Rhoads. While I was still in high school, I landed my first major touring and recording gig as the lead guitarist for the all-female rock band Precious Metal, which opened the door to a career of performing, recording, and traveling the world. Later, I was fortunate to be chosen by Lindsey Buckingham to join his solo touring band, an experience that had a huge impact on me as both a guitarist and songwriter.
Today, I’m a GRAMMY® Award-winning guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, and a founding member of The String Revolution. In 2024, we were honored to win the GRAMMY® for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for our version of “Folsom Prison Blues” featuring Tommy Emmanuel. These days, I continue to perform and record while also composing music for film, television, and video games, producing records, and collaborating with incredible artists. After more than three decades in music, I still love finding new ways to tell stories through the guitar.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most musicians, I’ve had my share of struggles. Success in this business rarely happens overnight, and there were plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was on the right path. I spent years driving to gigs that barely paid, sleeping on floors, hauling gear, and taking whatever opportunities I could just to keep playing. There were highs that made me feel unstoppable, followed by quiet periods where I had to reinvent myself all over again.
Being a female guitarist brought its own set of challenges. When I started, there simply weren’t many women playing lead guitar professionally, and I often felt like I had to prove I belonged before I even played a note. I was sometimes underestimated or viewed as a novelty instead of being recognized simply as a musician. Rather than letting that discourage me, it motivated me to work harder, practice longer, and let my playing do the talking.
Over time, I realized that the obstacles I faced also became some of my greatest strengths. They taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of staying true to my own musical voice instead of trying to fit someone else’s expectations. Winning a GRAMMY® with The String Revolution was an incredible milestone, but in many ways it wasn’t the destination—it was validation that years of persistence, growth, and believing in myself had been worth it.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that talent is only part of the equation. Longevity comes from showing up, continuing to learn, treating people well, and never losing the passion that made you pick up the guitar in the first place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets me apart isn’t just that I’ve been a professional guitarist for more than 35 years, it’s that I’ve experienced the music business from nearly every angle imaginable.
I’ve been the young musician chasing a record deal. I’ve been signed to a major label, toured the world, and played clubs where hardly anyone knew my name. I’ve been a side musician, a bandleader, a songwriter, an arranger, a producer, a composer, a session guitarist, an educator, and now an independent artist building a career on my own terms.
I’ve watched the music industry transform from cassette tapes and CDs to downloads, streaming, social media, and now AI. Every new chapter demanded that I evolve…not just as a guitarist, but as an entrepreneur, producer, and creative thinker. Reinvention has become one of the most valuable skills I’ve learned.
As a guitarist, I’ve always been more interested in creating something unique than simply playing fast or fitting into one genre. I love taking familiar songs apart and rebuilding them into something people never expected to hear. That’s ultimately what led The String Revolution to win a GRAMMY® for Best Arrangement. To me, arranging is storytelling…finding a new emotional perspective inside music that people already know.
I’ve also learned that a successful career isn’t built on talent alone. It’s built on relationships, curiosity, professionalism, and the willingness to keep learning. I’ve worked with legendary artists, producers, engineers, labels, managers, attorneys, publishers, music supervisors, and now composers and developers in the film, television, and video game worlds. Every experience has given me another piece of the puzzle and shaped the way I approach music today.
As one of the relatively few women playing lead guitar professionally when I began my career, I often felt I had to earn my place before anyone even heard me play. Rather than seeing that as a disadvantage, it became fuel. I focused on being prepared, dependable, collaborative, and always bringing something musical to the table.
People sometimes ask what accomplishment I’m most proud of. While winning a GRAMMY® is certainly one of the highlights of my career, the answer is actually much simpler.
I’m most proud that, after all these years, I’ve been able to make a living doing what I love.
Every chapter of my life has been built around creating, performing, teaching, producing, arranging, recording, and composing. It hasn’t always been easy, and there have been plenty of uncertain moments, but I’ve been fortunate to wake up every day knowing that music isn’t just my career, it’s my life.
To me, that’s the greatest success of all.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
One of the greatest gifts in my career has been the incredible mentors I’ve had along the way. I was fortunate to study with the legendary Randy Rhoads, who instilled in me the importance of discipline, preparation, and always striving to be better. Lindsey Buckingham taught me the value of finding my own artistic voice rather than following trends, and Nancy Wilson showed me what was possible as a woman guitarist with a unique creative vision. But some of the most meaningful lessons came from people whose names aren’t widely known, producers, engineers, fellow musicians, teachers, students, and friends who generously shared their wisdom and helped shape both my musicianship and my career. Looking back, I realize that every one of those mentors left a lasting imprint on me. Today, one of the most rewarding parts of my journey is having the opportunity to give that back. Whether I’m teaching, producing, collaborating, or simply encouraging another musician for example at Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp, I hope to be the kind of mentor who inspires others the way so many remarkable people inspired me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thestringrevolution.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetrobinmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetrobinmusic/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetrobinmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsPGFTAlSWZA8S7k-fRwfdA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/janet-robin-guitar-lessons-los-angeles-8
- Other: https://www.janetrobin.com/
