Something In The Water: Bruce’s Struggle is Real!

Bruce Wojick is a veteran guitarist, singer-songwriter, and key figure in the Western New York music scene. Active since the early 80’s, Bruce has played in bands like ROXX and Raw Deel before rising to regional fame with Gods Children and Klear Five-time winner of “Top Original Guitar Player” at the Buffalo Music Awards and featured in many others.

Bruce Wojick and the Struggle has been his ongoing band since launching solo in 2009; The Struggle blends rock, soul, country, and Americana. Bruce also plays in the very popular tribute band Strictly Hip covering the Tragically Hip (notably performing nationwide) .

Bruce’s discography includes notable tracks: “Cheap Wine,” “Looking at My Life,” “When the Smoke Clears,” and “Big Bad Town”. His music has been featured in TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, X‑Files, ER, Touched by an Angel, The Osbournes; and films like Vegas Vacation, The Station Agent, A Thousand Acres and more.

His brand new album entitled The Hard Way is the culmination of every lesson learned on stage, in the studio, and on the road, and made by musicians who have lived it. Each song was written on the same acoustic guitar his mom bought him as a kid which might tell you everything you need to know about the man himself.

So they keep writing, plowing through, and still in the Struggle.

I sat down with Bruce and we discussed everything from this new album and his latest music video on through to what his latest music purchase was and, oh yeah, penguins!

Being that The Hard Way is your first new studio album since 2022, how did your creative sound differ here on this new recording as opposed to your previous outputs? - “For this record (The Hard Way) I wanted to capture more of what the band sounded like on stage. We tracked all the basics live and did minimal overdubs!”

What were some of the biggest obstacles along the way to bringing this album to fruition and how did you overcome them? - “I think the only real obstacle in making the record was just how long we chipped away at it! At times I would joke and say “this is our Gn’ R Chinese Democracy!” Finally, when the album was done, the label pulled the cover song that was supposed to be on the record, and I was faced with recording the last song on the album “Watching the sky turn Blue” in 2 days ... it took a while overall, but we made it!!”

As for the album, I understand that it contains songs that were influenced by the culmination of lessons learnt on stage, in the studio, and on the road, so can you please explain more about how this contextually came together, both thematically and musically? - “We had already been playing the songs live, so musically we knew where we were going. I didn’t want to make some of the mistakes that were encountered in previous sessions so we went back to basics and tried to make it a great listen like a nice 39 minute drive!!”

Indeed, a lot of words and terns have already been used to describe your music over the years, but how would you yourself sum up your sound on this new album ... and in just five (5) words? - “Rock that has Soul!”

And was The Hard Way always going to be the album’s name or was there another that nearly won the race come the time to take your hands off the project? - “Sparks in your hometown and Dos came up, but The Hard Way just fit”

Being that we’re not called Exclusive Magazine for nothing, is there a hidden message, a secret notation or an easter egg to be found amongst all the tracks assembled for this recording? - “Damnit! There is no hidden message!”

I just watched the video for “Cryin’ Shame,” which came across as a PSA for the homeless on the streets. Why is this subject matter so important to you? - “It’s just something that I wish we could find solution for. It’s tragic that there are so many homeless people with so much despair. “Cryin’ Shame” is a cry for help.”

Cryin’ Shame Music Video

What are some of the last albums (CD, vinyl, cassette, et al) you physically purchased (vintage and/or new releases) and which one have you already gone back to listen to more and why? - “I purchased a new vinyl version of “Wings over America.” I’ve been listening to it for weeks! I’m reliving when my mom brought it home for me at age 9!!”

What would you like all the readers of this interview to know about the new album and what to expect? - “This album is a snapshot of my life, and how I got to this point.”

And yes, we ask everyone we interview this very same question (as we are putting together a kid’s book). We here at Exclusive Magazine love Penguins and so we were wondering if you had any love for them and/or had a story of one (soft toy, zoo, chocolate bar, relative, etc.) that you could share with us? - “Crazy! My mom loves penguins, and my brother-in-law just got 2 of them tattooed on him! Also, I’m in another project called The Strictly Hip (tribute to the Tragically Hip) and one my favs to play is a song called “Emperor Penguin”!!”

And finally, we asked Bruce to kindly provide a never-before-seen photograph of himself. One that perfectly personified their readiness for the world to hear his new musical endeavor. And kindly, this is what he sent.