On September 9th 2023, Vancouver artist Jungle Bobby performed his brand of funky singing and happy feelings on the Base 2 Stage at Rifflandia Music Festival.
Having joined bbno$ on the road for many years, Jungle Bobby had finally wanted to join the fun. The man with the moves currently has a catalog dating back to 2019 and has been rising to fame ever since. His latest single, what the funk is out now and can be found wherever you stream your music.
Joshua Szirmay-Corrales joined Jungle Bobby backstage after bbno$ got him past security.. With the sound of jazz and rap in the air from XL the Band’s Base 2 Stage performance, they spoke on Bobby’s first and second time in Victoria, his latest trip to Europe, his work with Lentra, Victoria’s Big Night, and what to expect from a Jungle Bobby show.
Joshua Szirmay-Corrales: You just got off the stage at Rifflandia, how are you feeling?
Jungle Bobby: Feeling tired, feeling good. It was beautiful, it was full of love and fun and a good time!
JSC: The first time we met was back in 2016, you were a part of bbno$ crew as he came to Victoria to play a last minute opening set for Wettworker at the since closed Al Smith studios. What do you remember about that show?
Jungle Bobby: Oh fuck that was a long time ago. I remember there being 6 people, maybe total including Dan, myself, and Alex. He played the same song three times in a row I think and then did push-ups while performing and everyone was just surrounding him, like it was just a small circle and he was doing push-ups, performing, push-ups, performing. It was so fucking funny. It was so good.
JSC: Haha I’m glad you remember that!
You also joined bbno$ as he played Rifflandia that same year at Wood Hall. How does it feel that you’re now playing in Victoria at the same festival 7 years after that set?
Jungle Bobby: Feels pretty crazy, like 7 years is a long time. I was actually here with him last year when he played Rifflandia. We did our song Take a trip and that was fun as hell. 7 years ago though, I remember the church, I remember Dan and I were deejaying and playing a bunch of sound effects which kind of threw him off, it was fun as hell. It was a way bigger turn out than the Wettworker show but yeah, I remember it being a good time. I know that we had fun and I know that when we came to Rifflandia last year, it felt like ages since that church show. Times a funny thing. It’s hard to believe that I’d come back and do my own show because at the time I didn’t think I was going to do music. I was still in school for acting and then I started doing music full time and I’m back. Headlining this stage tonight basically!
JSC: Pretty much! We’re glad to have you back.
JSC: In 2022, you toured Europe with bbno$, ceo@business.net, and DJ Dan. Looking back at the 28 date tour, what was the most memorable moment for you?
Jungle Bobby: Dude, the whole thing was so memorable just because Europe is a different beast. It’s not like North America where everyone is wanting to be impressed. They see a bunch of shit every night, they see Post Malone the next night. Whereas in Europe, everyone just wants to fucking party. They just want to have a good time no matter what. They don’t like silence, so anytime there’s silence in between songs, they start fucking chanting. It’s like a soccer game, they’re like bobbyyyyy, bobby, bobby, bobbyyyyy. Bobbyyyyy, Bobbyyyyy like Seven Nation army. It’s crazy!
Most memorable moment for a show? Paris because that was the only show I was kind of uneasy about due to the language barrier. When I got on stage, I’ve never felt that much love from a show before in my life. Paris is the city of love for real and it felt like it that night.
JSC: Shoutout Paris!
Last week, you released your latest single “What the funk”. Joining you on the release is Lentra, who has been a part of your releases before. What can you say about Lentra and how he fits with your style?
Jungle Bobby: Lentra’s the god man, Lentra the god. He’s pretty much my main producer. He’s pretty much made all my beats except for a few songs. We work really well together. He’s my favorite producer and my vocals suit his beats very well. I think we got a really good thing going, we got a bit of a magical combination we found, and we are just gonna continue making music. What the funk with Yung Gravy in the intro, shit’s a movie. Shoutout Yung Gravy, one of my favorite people in the world. That’s my boy right there. Love him forever. Dr. Cream. Shout out strawberry creamin, my favorite song, go listen.
JSC: Shoutout Yung Gravy! Fingers crossed he plays the festival one day.
You joined us at the festival early to attend Big Night. You were also at the event’s debut earlier this year. What about Big Night do you enjoy the most?
Jungle Bobby: Big Night is basically a theater production, it’s basically a play. My buddy Shiraz runs it. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s not like any other show I’ve seen. Kind of like a festival such as Shamabala. It’s out of this earth. It’s a real rave, people come together. It brings together a collective unlike any other show.
Thursday was insane. He filled that Dome up, he put so much work into the set deck.
The lights, Michael Hydro snapped on the lights. He is an absolute wizard, a beautiful maestro. He is like the Mozart of lighting and I hope he does a Jungle Bobby show one day. Would be the most special.
Shiraz had circus performers and people juggling. One of the girls was on stilts. He had all these dancers too. Lots of Different characters. It was wild.
JSC: One of the things I noticed was that there were people walking around like a cult, with signs saying “Do you know what Big Night can do for you?”.
Jungle Bobby: THAT’S BIG NIGHT! Big Night is a cult. It’s a cult and it’s my favorite cult. I’m a part of that cult!
JSC: Top member of the Big Night Cult here!
JSC: For those who may have not experienced your live show, what can one expect from a Jungle Bobby performance?
Jungle Bobby: They can expect flair. They can expect cinematic behavior. They can expect fun, just a really good time filled with love. They can expect to feel better leaving the show compared to when they walked in. They can expect good music and they can expect to dance. I don’t man, good wibes, good wibes.
JSC: Just good vibes!
Jungle Bobby: Good WIBES!
JSC: Good Wibes?
Jungle Bobby: Good Wibes! That’s what I’m about!
JSC: Like Ws in the chat!
Jungle Bobby: Ws in the chat, I’m about the wibes!
JSC: What’s next for Jungle Bobby?
Jungle Bobby: Big things. I’m going up! That’s what I’m about! I’m about wibes and everything is going up! Jungle Bobby goin up!
JSC: Any final words before we wrap this interview up?
Jungle Bobby: It’s really good to see you man. It’s been a minute. It’s been a journey for both of us. Journey for everyone on this planet. Much love. Wibe world, we’re going up! Love.
Jungle Bobby’s catalog, which includes What the Funk, can be found on all streaming platforms. Remember to continue supporting live music and support Jungle Bobby the next time he visits a town near you.