Interview: Carter Elvis Robinson From New Rock Band The Certs

Published on: 13 Nov, 2026
Updated on: 13 Nov, 2026

The Certs: A new Surrey-based band with a single out next week

The Certs are a new, four-piece indie band with their roots in Guildford. They have big ambitions, but know just how hard it can be for musicians in a crowded marketplace, in an era when posts on social media can make or break reputations. As their lead singer and songwriter Carter Elvis Robinson says: “It‘s no longer just about the music anymore, it’s about how you are perceived.”

The band’s new single, “Another Tune”, is out on Monday, November 16, on streaming platforms.

We asked Carter to tell us more about the band. Interview by David Reading

First of all, people are bound to notice your middle name. Is that for real?

Yes, my dad was a huge Elvis fan as he was growing up, and he still claims Elvis had the greatest singing voice of all time. Looking at the fame Elvis still has to this day, I find it quite an honour that I was given the same name. But I’m also happy with Carter.

How would you describe your sound?

People who hear us say they notice influences of various bands, such as Royal Blood, Bad Nerves and Nothing But Thieves. We like all of those bands as well as established names like Radiohead and Foo Fighters. But we try to make The Certs sound as original as possible.

How did you decide on the name The Certs?

I was brainstorming ideas with my dad when he simply suggested that I use my own name. By taking the initials of my full name – Carter Elvis Robinson – we came up with “CER,” which naturally evolved into the name The Certs.

As a songwriter, what do you write about?

I write about personal things but I’m not really a fan of explaining what I was thinking about when a song was written. I don’t want people to relate to my situations, I want them to interpret them for themselves and maybe have their own meaning. Maybe even make them feel better after hearing them.

I believe there is an unspoken power in music when people listen to a certain song and have it mean so much to them, when maybe the original meaning could have been vastly different. There was a homeless man who believed all John Lennon’s songs were about him. John invited him into his house and explained that the songs were not about him, but about anyone in general.

Who are the other band members and how did you get together?

We have Amos Burton on guitar, Fin Chaney on bass and Lucas Carkeek-Blakley on drums.

Before we met, I wrote and recorded an EP by myself. My dad and I found a local studio, and I was able to play all the instruments as well as sing everything I had written. It was a great experience. When I started at ACM (the Academy of Contemporary Music) in Guildford, I was able to find other musicians who have the same goals as I do.

In such a crowded environment, does the band have a strategy for success?

I think I speak for all of the band when I say we want this as a full-time career. You hear the same from every successful band about how tough the early years are. But I think it’s even harder now. Unfortunately it’s not just about the music anymore, it’s also about social media, and how you are perceived. For us, though, it’s just about getting in front of as many new sets of ears as possible. So that means performing gigs at any opportunity possible.

Where have you played so far and want’s coming up?

We’ve played festivals, shows, pubs, clubs and even the BBC Live Lounge. We want to play even more next year. Our new single is out on November 16 but we are already finishing off the next song to follow up, hopefully in January.

The next big gig is on Friday, December 11, when we will be headlining for This Feeling (the UK promoter and artist-development platform) at the West Hampstead Arts Club.

Tickets are on This Feeling’s page