The Milford Pink Band Releases 'Disrespecting Your Gift' and 'Kelly's Song'
Led by Rhode Island songwriter Robert Shirley, The Milford Pink Band has unveiled two new singles, "Disrespecting Your Gift" and "Kelly's Song," which fuse Americana and country with rock-infused guitar elements. These tracks were recorded in Nashville with experienced studio musicians and reflect Shirley's keen observational writing, influenced by his 36 years in real estate and his education at Berklee College of Music. The inspiration for "Disrespecting Your Gift" came from a Lyft passenger, a plumber who had recently relapsed; Shirley urged him to "Turn this ship around. You're disrespecting your gift." The next day, a drug counselor's story about a photograph of deceased men provided the second verse's line. "Kelly's Song" playfully depicts a confident woman from Shirley's past who dares him to compose a song on a napkin using horoscopes for traits. The project seeks to challenge the clichés of commercial country music by emphasizing narrative and character. Follow Robert Shirley and The Milford Pink Band on Instagram @robertcshirley and Spotify.
Key facts
- The Milford Pink Band is led by Rhode Island songwriter Robert Shirley.
- Shirley spent 36 years as a real estate professional before studying at Berklee College of Music.
- The tracks were recorded in Nashville with seasoned studio musicians.
- "Disrespecting Your Gift" was inspired by a Lyft passenger, a plumber who relapsed after two years of sobriety.
- Shirley wrote the song the night of the encounter and found a second-verse line the next day after a drug counsellor passenger shared a story.
- "Kelly's Song" is a fictional scenario about a confident woman who challenges Shirley to write a song on the spot with a pen and a napkin.
- Shirley used horoscopes to develop personality traits for the character in "Kelly's Song."
- The project aims to counter country music's commercial radio stereotypes by emphasizing storytelling and character.
Entities
Artists
- Robert Shirley
Institutions
- The Milford Pink Band
- Berklee College of Music
- Lyft
- Spotify
Locations
- Rhode Island
- United States
- Nashville
- Tennessee