Rob Tirea has a habit of cutting through the noise. With “Give Me Love Give Me Light,” the LA-based artist kicks off his Universal Jest EP campaign with a record that feels equal parts vulnerable and clear-headed—an intentional step forward in both songwriting and personal accountability.
The new single arrives alongside a hybrid live video session, pairing Rob’s vocals with a haunting string duet from Nicole Garcia and Michelle Rearick, shot by Jackie Catechis in downtown Los Angeles. This interview unpacks the tension behind that shift.
Instead of focusing on gear or plugins, we got into the mental and creative systems that keep him moving. Rob shares how he separates direction from discipline, how burnout shows up when you push past purpose, and why systems—not motivation—are what actually save you on the hard days. His answers read like a personal journal entry you weren’t supposed to see, which makes sense for someone in the middle of turning raw thoughts into polished records.
“Give Me Love Give Me Light” may be the first single off Universal Jest. Still, it already hints at the EP’s broader intent: explore contradiction without flinching, blend genres without overthinking, and say what needs to be said without waiting for permission. That same attitude runs through this interview; an honest look at what it takes to keep going when the dopamine wears off.
When has willpower helped you push through — and when has it failed you?
Willpower is like that friend who says, “I’ll totally help you move!” but then you’re left carrying boxes alone. It’s worked wonders when I’ve had to finish trying another chord progression or finding another kick drum that people won’t even notice in the song.
But when it fails? Oh, it fails. Like when I plan to wake up at 6 a.m. to work out and instead snooze my alarm until my willpower throws up its hands and goes, “I tried, okay?”
What role does having a clear reason or purpose play in staying consistent?
Purpose is like your phone’s battery life indicator—without it, you’re just running on fumes. But if you can see it, you’re like, “Alright, just a few more hours.”
A clear reason helps you not spiral into “What am I even doing with my life?” territory every five minutes. But let’s be real—sometimes you still find yourself asking that while staring at the same project file for five hours with zero progress.
That’s when purpose gives you a little wink and says, “You’re doing great, man. Probably.”
How do you stay motivated when energy is low but the work still matters?
When energy is low and the work still matters, motivation becomes an art form. You’ve got to dig deep, pretend you’re not absolutely exhausted, and get to it.
It’s like when you’ve got one last slice of pizza, but you have to decide if you really want it or if it’s going to haunt you forever. You grab that slice of work anyway—even if you’re basically running on fumes and caffeine at this point.
The other option is admitting defeat and watching YouTube videos of AI cats pretending to play the clarinet. And nobody wants to be that guy.
What systems have you built to take pressure off your creative willpower?
I’ve built systems like I’m prepping for an apocalypse—if the apocalypse involved a lot of lists and calendar reminders.
I’ve got a to-do list that’s probably longer than the plot of Inception, and a timer that tells me when to stop pretending I’m working and actually take a break.
It’s all about lowering expectations so that when you do finish something, it feels like a win. “Oh look, I checked off three things today. I might be on top of my game after all. Or maybe not. Who knows.”
Have you ever burned out from forcing progress without understanding why it mattered?
Oh, absolutely. I’ve done the “let’s power through no matter what” thing, and it usually ends with me staring blankly at the screen, asking myself, “Why am I doing this?”
That’s the burnout moment. Turns out, trying to sprint while blindfolded doesn’t really get you anywhere—especially when you don’t even know why you’re running.
How do you reconnect with your bigger “why” when the daily work feels heavy?
When it starts to feel too heavy, I take a step back and try to picture the bigger vision. Like—what’s the actual end goal?
I’ll channel my inner superhero and ask, “Is this part of saving the world?” (Okay, maybe not saving the world, but still.)
Reminding myself of the bigger mission helps shift perspective… even if the mission is just figuring out if a bassline works at 2am.
What advice would you give someone who’s relying too much on discipline and not enough on direction?
Oh no, you’re running a race with no finish line.
Discipline is great for staying in the game, but without direction, you’re just running in circles and getting really good at going nowhere.
You need both: the discipline to get up and do the work, and the direction to make sure it’s actually leading somewhere. Otherwise, you’ll end up with tired legs and a very confused brain.
For more information about Rob Tirea, please visit: Instagram | Spotify | SoundCloud | Website
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