Interviewed by Karla Ash
One of the most unfortunate aspects of the music industry
is its disinterest in artists in their forties. Instead of hearing
voices that reflect life's long, hard roads and lyrics that sing
words of wisdom, we often get mindless adolescent gibberish.
It leaves the door closed on powerful talent like Canadian roots
rocker Tim Bertulli. Unlike most male singer/songwriters that
sing in a whispery tone a la Chris Martin of Coldplay or John
Mayer, Bertulli has a macho voice; you'd expect vocals this big
and strong leading a Metallica-type outfit. Just listen to "What
About Me" on Bertulli's CD Movin' On to see what I'm talking
about. This is no frail, ultra sensitive soul; instead, it's
someone who isn't going to take any crap from anyone. In a way,
Bertulli is a kindred spirit to country outlaws such as Johnny
Cash and Willie Nelson although there's a healthy supply of basic
rock & roll on his album. Bertulli enthusiastically welcomed
an interview with me.
Karla Ash: What qualities do you feel distinguish you from
other singer/songwriters?
Tim Bertulli: One thing that definitely distinguishes me is
the fact that I'm a one-man show. Writing, recording, arranging,
producing, mixing, mastering, etc - I do it all. And I'm not
bragging. I'd sure like to find people who'd like to buy into
what I'm doing, but I don't have a bankroll for people. Because
of this I've got this burning desire to get my stuff to market
one way or another. Sure, it could certainly sound much better,
but I don't have the bankroll a label has. This "island"
attitude is certainly not the norm out there. There comes a time
in a guy's life that you have to get stuff done because time
seems to be running out. I definitely fit into this category.
I tend to write lyrics that analyze situations (my life or a
situation at a certain point in time) and try to make sense of
them. In the end I try to leave the thought as a positive. That
is, looking forward to the future and trying to keep-on keeping-on.
I'm a pretty positive guy.
Ash: How long have you been a musician and what made you
decide to become one?
Bertulli: I've been a "closet" musician for most
of 25 years now. Only in the past three or four have I decided
to start seriously recording some of my stuff. Why? Home recording
is affordable now, and personally, I have the time. Also, people
have heard some of my music and have inspired me to share it
with others. That's a great feeling. For now, it's worth recording
to just to have someone look you in the eye with a straight face
and tell you what your song means to them. That really is magic
for me. I am not a full-time musician. I make no bones about
that. Let's face it. My real profession pays me way more than
any music gig ever has.
Ash: Describe the music scene in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Bertulli: In short, for me, there isn't one. Calgary contains
the usual bar scene that caters to the young meth-rock scene,
or the country bars that'll regurgitate Johnny Cash tunes till
"the cows come home." That's not my scene. If you wanna
play the pub scene then you'd better learn Top-40 tunes. That's
not my scene either. Or maybe you want to crank some Tony Iommi
or Richie Blackmore through the Marshalls. That'll get ya booked
in some bars. I did all that. Not interested in doing that any
more. If a singer-songwriter wants to play a one-hour set with
a few other acts (say three or four acts in one evening), there
isn't any place for him, at least not that I can find. I think
this town is a musical wasteland, hence the marketing of my product
in the U.S.
Ash: If you could pick one track from your album that is
the most personal to you, which would it be and why?
Bertulli: I centered the project on the song "Movin'
On.'" Having suddenly lost my father my life changed…in
a hurry. Without getting too personal the man was my best friend,
mentor, and inspiration. I wrote the song in about 10 minutes
after I returned to the West from the ordeal. I made that the
focus of the album, and the title, because my life really has
been about moving on ("makes me wonder who really died").
The past is the past, the present is here to absorb, but let's
move on to the future. When you look at the project from this
perspective there really is a common thread.
Visit the website at: http://www.timbertulli.com
