Being your own genre is no easy feat, but Robbie Gennet makes it look effortless. On Ghosts, his fifth full-length album of 2025(!!), the multi-instrumentalist and genre-hopping artist defies categorization once again—sliding from synth pop to art rock to funk-laced boogie with fearless abandon. But above all, Ghosts is a love letter to piano, Gennet’s chosen weapon of expression, and a showcase of his signature “Pianarchy” style.
“When I recorded ‘Need to Breathe’, I went off on both acoustic piano and my trusty vintage Clavinet,” says Gennet. “Turns out, both were destined to intertwine in this song full of funk chaos and frantic lyrics.” The track brims with layered energy, recalling Max Middleton’s pioneering work on Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow, where Rhodes and Clavinet riffs danced across the stereo field. For Gennet, the chaos is the point—and the fun.
Improvisation is a key ingredient throughout Ghosts. Robbie’s compositional skill meets spontaneous invention in moments that seem to come unglued—only to snap back with purpose. “Improvising makes for these wild moments of artful chaos,” Gennet says. “My own Pianarchy style is surely part of the mix.” He also cites Mike Garson’s famously unhinged piano solo on Bowie’s Aladdin Sane as a spiritual compass—proof that coloring outside the lines is sometimes the only way to reach the truth.
Lyrically, Ghosts pulls no punches. Tracks like “The Weapon” explore manipulation and mass fear, while the title track dives into themes of memory and spiritual echoes. Still, it’s not all heady terrain—songs like “The Thriller” bring the funk with deeply grooving basslines and Clavinet riffs that practically turn your speakers into a dancefloor. And just when you think the party’s over, Gennet closes the album with “Ready or Not”, an extended, unpredictable piano solo that swerves, soars, and ultimately lands somewhere deeply human.
With Ghosts, Robbie Gennet doesn’t just raise the bar—he rebuilds it entirely. By fusing composition with spontaneity, funk with finesse, and brainy lyricism with body-moving grooves, he offers listeners a ride that’s as cerebral as it is soulful.
Up next? More albums, more genre twists, and his first-ever live streaming concert—coming soon. If Ghosts is any indication, Robbie Gennet isn’t slowing down—he’s just getting started.
For more on Robbie Gennet, visit:
https://www.robbiegennet.com
https://www.instagram.com/robbieg.music
