If you’re a fan of the Twilight series then you’ll recognize the name Robert Pattinson. The actor, who plays Edward Cullen in the films, is also well known for his musical talents. It was originally reported in May 2013 that Pattinson had become a full-time musician and was writing and recording songs for an upcoming album. Since then, there’s been some question as to whether or not Pattinson actually played the piano. Some believe he may have faked his way through some of the scenes while others think he may have had some help from a talented pianist. We’ve compiled a list of everything we know about Robert Pattinson and his music so far.
Pattinson’s Early Life
The future actor was born in London, England on October 6, 1986. He is the eldest child of photographer Chris Pattinson and model Kate Bosworth. Pattinson’s mother was previously married to film director John Boorman. The family soon relocated to Los Angeles, California where Pattinson grew up. He attended Santa Monica High School and later studied film at the University of Southern California. Although he majored in film, Pattinson has stated that he never intended to become an actor.
Pattinson’s Musical Career
Pattinson’s elder sister Liza described their brother as a “musical genius” who could play the piano and guitar from an early age. His parents supported his musical ambitions and bought him a piano as a gift when he was 15 years old. He took lessons from renowned British pianist Michael Holliman and was later invited to join the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. In 2007, he was also given a guitar as part of a national youth music initiative. Since then, he has collaborated with several high profile musicians on tracks for his music blog and released a string of EPs. In 2013, he became a full-time musician and released his debut album, Pedestrian Verse. The album features collaborations with M.I.A., Goldfrapp, and others. Rolling Stone magazine placed Pedestrian Verse at number 31 on their list of the top 50 albums of the year. To fans of the Twilight series, this album will be introduced to a whole new audience as it’s track list features songs from the franchise.
Pattinson’s Film Career
After graduating from university, Pattinson decided to pursue a career in acting. He got his first break in 2008 when he was cast in the role of Gaston in the movie adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. He later went on to star in the 2011 film The Boat in the water, which opened in theaters in the U.S.A. on October 20, 2011 and was distributed by Lionsgate. The next year, he appeared in the movie adaptation of Francesca Haemmerle’s best-selling novels, The Perfume Prince and The Truth About Love. Most recently, he was seen in the 2013 film, Now You See Me. In addition to acting, Pattinson has also been writing music for film and television. Some of the songs on his album were inspired by characters and situations he encountered while playing the part of Edward Cullen in Twilight. He also co-wrote the song “Shelter” with musician and producer Jack Antonoff. Antonoff and Pattinson previously collaborated on the track “Sober.”
The Piano
The only certain piece of information about the upcoming album is that it will be called Pedestrian Verse. In an interview with the New York Times in July 2013, Pattinson discussed his decision to tackle serious issues with a humorous outlook. He said, “[I]t’s important to not take yourself too seriously. Especially as an actor, so you can play all kinds of characters. But in terms of music, I think it’s important to focus on what you’re good at.” The newspaper reported that the singer-songwriter will team up with guitarist and producer Brian Burton for the album. Burton has previously worked with Adele, Pink, and others. He has also collaborated with John Legend on songs for the film, Selma. It was also revealed that members of the group Florence and the Machine contributed to the new album.
Music and Movies
Pattinson is definitely not the first Hollywood celebrity to dabble in music. Many famous actors and actresses have recorded a song or two for their films. Some of them include: Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, and Olivia de Havilland. One of the best-selling singer-songwriters of all time, Bassey went on to record a few solo albums and won a Grammy Award for her track “I Don’t Want to Lose You.” Liza Minnelli recorded the track “Funny Honey” for the 1963 movie Honeymoon Hotel. In 1978, Barbra Streisand released the album, Streisand and released the single “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” Streisand went on to become one of the most commercially successful recording artists of all time and is still active in music today. Olivia De Havilland recorded the song “My Own Best Friend” for the 1941 film, Dark Victory and also appeared on the soundtrack album. Although she didn’t write or produce the song, it was originally performed by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. One of the most notable exceptions to the rule is the late Leonard Cohen. The Jewish Canadian singer-songwriter collaborated with composer Andre Previn on the song, “So Long, Marianne” for the film, Husbands, Wives and Lovers. Cohen died before he could release an official CD of the song. He was 74.
It seems like the perfect fit for Pattinson, who is both famous for his acting and musical careers, to team up with Burton for the new album. The British musician and his band, One Night Only, have previously collaborated with the Twilight singer on the track, “One-Time Lover.” The song is part of the soundtrack for the upcoming film, Now You See Me, and also appears in the 2015 live-action Disney film, Maleficent. The band is one of the top rated on the iTunes rock charts, so it’s safe to say their musical talents go beyond just working with celebrities.’
As for the release date, the New York Times reported that the album will be out this fall. Although no specific dates have been announced, fans can look forward to hearing new music from the talented singer in the near future.