Local artist celebrates national airplay breakthrough after unconventional creative journey

A Thornton-Cleveleys musician has reached a major milestone after his music was selected for national airplay, marking a breakthrough moment in an unconventional and deeply personal career.

Local artist Robert James Watson, who performs under the name EB’O’CB (English Born, Original Country Boy), is celebrating after his distinctive recordings were officially assigned for airplay by respected broadcaster Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2. The moment represents a significant step forward for the Lancashire-based artist, whose work is created entirely outside traditional studio environments.

Watson’s path to national recognition has been shaped by both creativity and resilience. Diagnosed with ADHD and currently living with chronic cluster headaches, he has developed a unique way of making music that turns limitation into innovation. Rather than recording in a studio, he produces tracks entirely on a mobile phone, capturing performances in single, unedited takes.

His approach centres on live layering, blending multiple genres in real time. Acoustic pop, lo-fi electronic textures and experimental elements are built together spontaneously, creating tracks that are intentionally raw and immediate.

“I don't follow a linear path because my brain doesn't work that way,” says Watson. “I build the tracks in a 'flow state' on my phone, swapping loops and genres in real-time. Seeing that my music is 'Assigned to Bob Harris' at the BBC was the best birthday gift I could have asked for.”

The national recognition follows several years of growing momentum for the artist, whose music has steadily gained attention since first being supported through BBC Music Introducing in 2021. That continued exposure has helped him develop an audience beyond the Fylde Coast, leading to this latest career highlight.

For Watson, the moment represents more than just airplay. It signals a transition from emerging local talent to an artist gaining recognition on a national stage, while remaining firmly rooted in his own creative methods.

EB’O’CB’s recent releases include tracks titled “to govern” and “Forever”, both of which are available across major streaming platforms. Despite the growing attention, Watson continues to work independently, using the same mobile-based process that first defined his sound.

As he looks ahead, the artist says he remains focused on authenticity rather than convention, proving that original ideas and determination can find an audience well beyond their point of origin.

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