In The Spotlight with Dave Woods: Thunder Bay’s Tim Albertson

My guest for this month’s column is Thunder Bay country artist Tim Albertson. Over the last few years, he’s won over new country fans with his energetic live shows and singles like “A Bar Like This”, “Spin That Bottle” and now, his latest release, “Did It For A Girl”. I first met Tim at the CMAOntario Awards weekend earlier this year. He made the long drive from Thunder Bay to Hamilton to experience the event and make new contacts. Enjoy my chat with Tim and be sure to follow him on his socials to keep up to date on his career.

Dave: Tim, who are the artists that have influenced you the most in your music career?

Tim: There have been numerous artists who have influenced me over the years, for what they do both on and off the stage. People such as Brett Kissel, Luke Combs, Lee Brice, James Barker Band and Aaron Goodvin have been a huge influence on my career. But it was one night in November of 2004 when I saw George Canyon, third row from the front, with my mom. There was a 9-year-old beside me and a 90-year-old beside my mom and they were both having the time of their lives. That was the night I decided I was going to be a Country Artist and work to become a generational one as well.

Dave: What is the best piece of advice you could pass on to a new country artist on the scene?

Tim: The best piece of advice I can give is to surround yourself with a team of people who are way smarter than you. Between my backing band and my studio family, I’ve been very lucky to work with some of the very best in the industry and they keep pushing me each day to be better than the next!

The stage is Tim’s second home

Dave: What is your favourite part about songwriting? 

Tim: This is gonna sound so cliché, but it’s the whole experience; from idea to mastered single, everything about it excites me. The excitement of a writing day, whether solo or collab, writing the music in studio, and hearing the final master each time, feels like Christmas to me.

Dave:  Written by Jesse Slack, Jude Toy and Marika Hallendy, “If You Only Knew” is a song you recorded in honour of your father, who passed away when you were 30. Tell us a bit about your Dad and why that song resonated with you.

Tim: I feel very lucky and fortunate to have the amazing parents I do. My Dad was a long-haul truck driver and bless his heart, when I said I wanted to be a singer, he told me to go for it. My Dad knew I had no backup plan and yet, he still told me to chase my dreams. When my Dad passed on my 30th birthday, I was a wreck, mainly because that I never got to thank him… I always thought there was more time and I’d be able to do that on stage… sadly, life had other plans. It was the third anniversary of my Dad’s passing when Jesse sent me this song. Honestly, I think he just thought it would give me some comfort, but it did so much more than that. It was the words I always wanted to tell him and never got to, so now each time I’m on stage, I sing that song for him, to honour him and thank him for everything.

Dave: What can we expect at a Tim Albertson show from you & your band, Back Forty?

Tim:  A party! Me and my boys of Back Forty Entertainment have trademarked the phrase #powercountry to describe us. We’ve been enough lucky to play nearly 52 shows this year alone and each time, the reviews are the same. “BEST NIGHT EVER!”

Dave: Tell us the story behind your new single “Did It For A Girl”.

Tim: The song was written by the incredible team of David Borys, Rich Cloke and Elias Edlund, produced by Shawn Moore of Moore Music, and mastered by Mike Monseur. I grew up in a small town and wasn’t the best-looking guy in the school, so like all young boys, I did some crazy things to get a girl’s attention, and I’ve got the scars to prove it – lol. This song is all about those silly things we do to catch a girl’s eye. It’s a country rock song which will keep you on repeat multiple times. Some even say it’s my best single yet.

Tim is ready for the road ahead

Dave:  And finally, Tim – who is your ultimate male duet partner & your ultimate female duet partner – and why?

Tim: My ultimate duet partners would have to be Luke Combs and Tenille Townes. I feel having two big boy country powers together, with Luke and I, would be incredible – not to mention I’d challenge him in a shotgun any day! Tenille is on a level all her own; she could sing the alphabet and it would still go platinum because of the magic she can bring to music – she’s incredible.