We were offered the chance to interview a superb Canadian country music act called THE BOBBY TENDERLOIN UNIVERSE, who better to test out a new interview format with…..what could possibly go wrong?!

When I start writing a song, the first thing I do is…

Usually when a song idea comes to me I’m doing something mundane like driving on the highway or mowing the lawn. But I always try to stop to record a voice memo on my phone. Then I keep thinking on it to see if any other lyrical or melodic ideas come to mind. 

What’s most important to me when collaborating with another artist is…

I’d never want to collaborate with someone who I didn’t connect with on an artistic level but also a personal level. I’d never care how proficient they were on an instrument or anything like that. There needs to be comfort between both artists for them to allow the other person’s strengths to shine. 

When finishing a track the part I find trickiest is…

I’ve got numerous songs sitting at a listenable level that I can show my friends, but after that stage it feels like work to fine tune the mix to officially release. I do get strangely excited about the smallest mixing changes but it’s nothing compared to how I feel listening to a full song that’s been loitering in my brain. 

The most important part of a song to me is…

It really depends on the genre, but in country music, I find lyrics to be the most important. I love songs that have a twist. George Jones was amazing at doing that. 

In a year I would like to have achieved…

One year from now I’d love to have released all the new music that’s just sitting on my shelf so I can unapologetically just focus on writing and recording new music. That’s when I’m the happiest. 

I would describe my sound as…

“Off-kilter” classic country with modern day lyrics 

I wouldn’t be making the music I am today without…

…all the “four hands on one piano” playing my grandmother and I used to do. She was a touring ragtime pianist and we loved to jam with each other on one piano. She taught me so much and has always been a huge inspiration. 

My first memory of performing is…

When I could hardly even walk yet, I played a sheep in a nativity scene for a play. I decided to try to steal the show by eating the hay that was scattered around the ground. As people started laughing I knew my plan had worked and I kept chomping away. My parents weren’t very impressed with me afterwords haha. 

I know I will have made it when I collaborate with…

Shania, babeeee! I’d also love to collaborate with Angel Olsen or Sierra Ferrell on a duet. 

My favourite moment since making music is… 

I wrote a duet specifically for myself and Orville Peck, so when we went on tour together, he would come up during our set and we’d sing it together. Emma, one of my backup singers would move to the drums and my drummer, Bud, would take over on piano, so I could stand up from the piano and sing arm and arm with the masked superstar. 

We’d like to thank the band for taking part in our new interview feature, rest assured, you’ll be hearing a lot more from this super talented act from Canada, in the meantime, you’ll find a ton of tracks below, go and immerse yourself in their output and tell your friends, they’ll love you for it!

Follow THE BOBBY TENDERLOIN UNIVERSE on the socials:

Find them on Instagram/Facebook/Bandcamp/Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music @thebobbytenderloinuniverse
and on Twitter @thebobbytender
bobbytenderloinuniverse.com