Robbie Tucker’s Musical Triumph Over Parkinson’s Disease Unveils Fourth Album WTF Is Happiness?
Musician Robbie Tucker genuinely loves making music and doesn’t let Parkinson’s disease get in the way. After all, he’s been at it since he was eight years old and he got his first acoustic guitar for his birthday. Celebrating his fourth album release in less than a year, Tucker is eager to get as much music out as possible.
“I’m extremely proud of it,” he says. “I hope your ears discover happiness, anger, sadness, humour or some other human emotion that ultimately connects us all.”
The album, WTF Is Happiness? includes new time signatures Tucker hasn’t used before. The experiment proves to be a success—“Die Diana Please” (in 6/8 time) and “Relax Now (It’ll Be Okay)” (in 5/4 time) are both catchy earworms.
Tucker doesn’t shy away from sharing some of his most vulnerable work. For the album, he pulled out a song he’d written almost 30 years ago. Originally titled “Nameless,” the song is about a boy he fell in love with in high school.
“I decided to dissect the lyrics and create an epic two-part song, an idea I completely fell in love with,” he says. Listeners will hear “Two Boys I” on this album. “Two Boys II” will be on a future release.
Tucker isn’t afraid to let listeners know how his life can be dark at times. In the album, he opens up about how he’s feeling nearly 20 years after his Parkinson’s diagnosis: isolated, alone, and feeling completely defeated and disabled at times.
Tucker, who is from Miramichi, New Brunswick, is inspired by musical greats like Roy Orbison, Paul McCartney, and Elvis. These influences shine through in his playful, creative pop-folk with an occasional surprise thrown in.
Tucker’s determination, passion, and drive, combined with his lifelong love of music make his latest album a memorable one.
Care to introduce yourself?
Sure! I’m Robbie Tucker and I’m an indie musician living in Miramichi, NB. I’ve been a lover of music since my early childhood. In my early teens, I fell in love with old rock n’ roll and in particular the music of Elvis Presley. From there I grew to love artists like Roy Orbison, Paul McCartney, and Frank Sinatra. On October 20th I released my 13th home studio album, WTF Is Happiness?
Tell us about the process of recording “Boy With The Blue Eyes”?
When I started this track I was trying to be Charlie Puth. My second thought was that other than the vocals I only wanted to use MIDI instruments for this song however, I ended up adding an acoustic guitar near the end to finish it off. I recorded the whole thing in about 4 days.
What’s it like being a musician in Miramichi?
There seems to be a healthy amount of live shows going on at different restaurants, breweries, and pubs. There are a lot of talented local artists performing live in the area (Dillon Ryan, Crossover, White Noise).
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
I love Jessii Martin. Her voice is so soft, natural, and beautiful.
You’ve been making music for a bit of time now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Be inspired by the music you hear and connect with. Create sounds that you not only love but move you to tears during the creation process. Experiment with new sounds, use new instruments, and develop new strategies. Above all, have fun and smile while you’re creating something that is uniquely you.