Along with his friend, drummer Beau Buxton of Wyalkatchem, the pair has established a successful alternative rock band called AnivA, which is busy doing the pub circuit in Perth.

The band is making its way onto the music scene with a range of original songs, playing regular gigs at venues such as the Swan Basement, Newport Hotel, Hyde Park Hotel, and is drawing closer to recording its first album.

Their gritty, grungy metal sound draws influences from fellow Perth band Karnivool, as well as American rockers such as Linkin Park, Korn, Deftones, Limp Bizkit and more.

Rob grew up in Trayning and attended Trayning Primary School and Wyalkatchem District High School where he met Beau and the duo began jamming after school.

With limited access to music teachers, the pair taught themselves by imitating their favourite musicians on television.

“I never did music at school and I didn’t have the internet so I couldn’t look up lessons or music online, so I just stayed at home and taught myself bass by watching videos of my favorite bands,” Rob said.

“Beau and I wrote a few songs but unfortunately we couldn’t find any guitarists to jam with us in Wylie,” he said.

Their luck improved midway through 2009 when they met guitarist Danny Hyde from Rockingham and they started travelling to Perth regularly to jam.

Finally they met their second guitarist Ciaran Lonie, also from Rockingham, whose father Chris had worked extensively in the music industry.

He offered to help them break into the Perth music scene.

Having just returned from managing another Perth band called the Monicans during a tour of Europe, he instantly recognised the boys’ potential and offered to be their manager, immediately lining up gigs.

“It was uplifting that he was interested in our band and seemed confident in our ability to go far, because he has been in the industry and knows what he’s talking about,” Rob said.