Bobby Wills is a Canadian country artist that is ready to make a name for himself here in United States. The Canadian Country Music Association award winner released his single “Never Didn’t Love You” here in the US, and it has been syndicated to country radio’s airwaves ever since.
The Alberta, Canada native recently released his third album Crazy Enough under Willing Nashville. Years in the making, Crazy Enough, is an intense mixture of rock-inspired country tracks featuring a musical attack of the senses with percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, balanced with his signature melodic harmonies and intimate lyrical story-telling.
NMG: Did you come from a musical background?
Bobby Wills: No and yes! Growing up, we had music on all the time and it was always powerful to me. My adoptive family was not musical and as such, we did not participate beyond church choir. When I was introduced to my biological family, I was introduced to a deep musical history that I was not previously aware of and it explained so much.
NMG: What are your musical influences?
Bobby Wills: I can still vividly remember the first time I “felt” Keith Whitley’s music. He had that ability to translate a lyric like very few can. I would say he’s the biggest influence although there have been many.
NMG: If you had to describe your music in three or four words, what would you call it?
Bobby Wills: Real life, honest and unmistakably Country at its roots.
NMG: What are 3 things that you have to have with you at all times/never leave home without?
Bobby Wills: iPad (what on earth did we do before these?), Notebook and a good throwaway novel.
NMG: How would you describe your music to someone that has never heard you before?
Bobby Wills: I hope they would agree that it’s music that comes from the heart, with songs that can mean different things to different people.
NMG: As a child growing up, music surrounds us; What type of music did you hear the most back then? How does it differ from what you listen to now?
Bobby Wills: Country music and Southern Gospel were the dominant playlists at home, however I spent a ton of time with U2, Bryan Adams, R.E.M. and Metallica to name a few. I listen to a huge variety of music these days from Kacey Musgraves to Michael Buble, but I still lean on Keith Whitley to get me through.
NMG: What made you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Bobby Wills: Meeting my biological family and discovering that music wasn’t just a passion, but something I guess you could say, I was born with, gave me the courage to push forward.
NMG: What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Bobby Wills: I love all kinds of songs so I try and create a variety and push myself creatively. Generally, the songs I write and cut are based on life experience. “Crazy Enough” as an example, is written about all the silly things I did growing up. “With You” was written around the loss of my biological father, but could be many different things to different people. I love when songs allow for interpretation so people can “try them on.”
NMG: Who does most of the songwriting?
Bobby Wills: I am fortunate to get to work with some of the best in the business, and I co-wrote all of the tracks on the new album.
NMG: Someone once said write what you would want to perform over and over. With that in mind, what song do you love to perform the most?
Bobby Wills: “Crazy Enough” is special from a performance perspective, it rocks pretty hard live and is always a blast. Fortunately for me, I don’t have anything that I don’t enjoy playing night-to-night ha-ha.
NMG: What are your up-to-date performance plans? New Releases? Tours ? News?
Bobby Wills: We are playing festival dates every weekend ‘til mid-September, and promoting the release of Crazy Enough along the way. In October, we will be finishing up a new group of songs that I am really excited about. A very hectic pace for the foreseeable future thankfully.
NMG: If you could perform with anyone in the world – either dead, alive, or broke up – who would it be? Why? (Name up to 3)
Bobby Wills: 1) Keith Whitley, although I think I’d rather watch. Sorry I missed that chance. 2) Garth Brooks, in my opinion, nobody understands a crowd better and I would love a “stage view.” 3) Lee Ann Womack for a duet, Lee Ann is tops for me.
NMG: What is a typical day/week like for you?
Bobby Wills: Ha-ha, right now it seems everyday is a new adventure. With promotion of the new EP in full swing, summer touring and chasing three kids, I’m not really sure I have a routine at the moment.
Without music, I would be… bored and miserable
Music is… so valuable
My music makes me feel… fulfilled and is all I’ve ever wanted to do
I write the songs because… I love discovering how universal life’s moments are.
Support music because… it’s always there for us, good days, bad days – even when you don’t realize it, music has such a universal impact on all of us.
For more information on Bobby Wills: www.bobbywills.com | www.facebook.com/bobbywillsmusic
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