In the Country with Dave Woods:
Tim Albertson

Born and raised in the small town of Hurkett, Ontario, Tim Albertson is a “small town boy with stadium-like sound”! His powerful vocals and party-like nature create an event that continues to be talked about long after the lights go down. “My whole life has led up to these moments. I remember standing at my family home, on the big industrial gutters, dreaming of it as a stage, and the field as the crowd. When I hit that stage, and I see that crowd, it’s like electricity courses through me and I let the whole venue feel it.”

Welcome to the spotlight, Tim! Your next single, “Do What You Do,” drops on March 27th. Tell us about the song.
Thanks for having me, Dave! “Do What You Do” is one of those songs where you hear it and pinch yourself for getting the opportunity to record it. The song was written by Elias Edlund, and when he sent it to me, I knew I had to cut it. I instantly found myself travelling back in time to when my girlfriend, Jen, and I first met. The look on her face, the fact that I had to pick up my jaw, and then the Supermom she was with her children, whom I have come to love as my own, I still don’t quite know how I got so lucky, but I’ll take it.

We recorded the song back in May with Shawn Moore of Moore Music, as well as Stu Weinberg on guitars, Jr Riggan on Bass and mastered by Mike Monseur. I’ve held this song close to my heart until the perfect time to release it, and I’m so happy it’s coming soon!

The video for the new song is great! It was filmed in one continuous shot. Take us behind the scenes of the making of it.

First off, thank you so much. This is my first music video for a song I’ve ever done!

I have to give James Barker Band some credit on this one. I saw their music video for “Never Be The Same,” and it sparked my vision. The music video is 100% shot on one continuous shot, and I brought in my good friend Chad Kirvan to shoot the video. I had played a wedding a few months before at The Barn at Windy Lane, and instantly knew I wanted to shoot the video there. They were so incredible to work with, and we even had Ken and Sandy Stadey, along with their family, involved in the video!

The main stars of the show were Abigail Pedwysocki and Carter Pilot of Ignite Dance Studios here in Thunder Bay. They created something so incredible that it only took us 5 shots to get everything perfect. My first directing job took about 20 minutes, and they absolutely nailed it!

Your EP comes out on April 4th. Besides the new single, what can we expect from the release?
“Blink Town Tales: Volume One” is a 6-song collection of some of my most recent singles, as well as two brand-new songs. I grew up in a small community called Hurkett, Ontario, 1 hour east of Thunder Bay, in Northwestern Ontario, with a population of MAYBE 150 people. It was a place with no stop lights, acres from your neighbours, and yet, you knew everyone and waved at everyone. This EP tells the story of that community. The parties, the wild nights, the young love and even the heartbreak everyone who grew up outside the city lights remembers, and everyone else dreams of.

What inspired you to start writing songs, and what has made you a better writer?
Writing songs for me is therapy. I’m a softy at heart, and even when I first began to write, most of my songs were love songs for the girl I never told how I felt about her, or heartbreak songs ‘cause she liked someone else, and I still never told her how I felt. *smacks forehead*. In high school, the writing started to take storytelling to the heart. I wrote a song called “Yesterday” about a friend’s family who had lost everything one night after our local lumber yard burnt down. One day, life was paradise; next, they were moving out west looking for work. Happy to say that the song won Best Original Song in High School Idol and gave me the confidence to pursue a career.

What makes me a better writer?
The amazing songwriters I get to work with. Craig Brooks, Elias Edlund, Doug Folkins, Rich Cloke, Jesse Slack, and the list is growing every month. When more minds can come together, the better the story can become, and all of the above-mentioned are incredible storytellers.

Who would be your ultimate duet partners?
I have sat on this question for about 45 minutes now, and my head is still spinning on all the incredible duets and collabs I could envision, and all for different reasons – some because I am in such awe of them that I would be a sponge and absorb anything I could, or, mash different vocal ranges and music genres together to create something new, or honestly, because the fun we would have doing it.

My dream duet partner is anyone who would ever consider working with me. My career has been a dream come true already. I’ve done things that 7-year-old me never thought he’d be able to, and it would mean the world to me to work with anyone else doing the same.

What advice would you give to a new artist on the scene who wants to record, perform and aim for a music career?
If you want to record, find a producer as amazing as mine! Seriously, though, find a producer who can see your vision and bring it to life. Ontario has so many incredible producers alone, and Canada-wide, we seriously have the best!

If you want to play live shows, go do it! Sign up for those open mics. When a concert is coming to town, shoot the promoter a message and ask if they have a slot for an opener. CREATE YOUR OWN SHOWS! If you’re nervous, get a band behind you that’s as close to family as my crew, Back Forty Entertainment. Strength in numbers!

There are a few things in this world that I would compare to the feeling of playing a show in front of hundreds or even thousands of people because you believed in yourself so much you made it happen, and it’s because the friends and the team you have surrounding you are helping you every step of the way. Hard Work Beats Talent, When Talent Doesn’t Work Hard.

As you look ahead to the rest of 2025, what are you looking forward to most with your music career?
2025 is going to be an exciting year for me, first off….WE’RE RECORDING NEW MUSIC!!!! Crazy that we’re talking New EP and I’m getting ready to head back into the studio to begin Part Two, so get ready for even more singles this year!

Second, I’m going on a mini tour out to Manitoba, and playing DAUPHIN COUNTRYFEST!! This has been a dream of mine to play Canada’s longest-running Country Music Festival in a completely new province, with shows in between, and a few other shows still to be determined this summer and fall. I’m beyond excited to bring the small town party to everyone!

Great catching up with you, Tim! Thanks for joining me here in the spotlight.
Thank you again for having me, Dave!