Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Walker.
Hi Tyler, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Raised in a family of six kids, I discovered my love for music, banging out my own melodies on my family’s old upright piano. I was infatuated with my parents’ 8-track collection and spent countless hours listening and falling in love with such musical icons as Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, ABBA, Neil Diamond and John Denver.
In 2004, my passion for music compelled me to pack up my ’94 Honda, leave my family and college degree behind, and head to Nashville to pursue a recording and publishing deal. Since that day, I’ve continued to aggressively pursue my music dreams.
In 2010, I started The Tyler Walker Band, which quickly gained notoriety and success throughout the Rocky Mountain region, including winning ‘Band of the Year’ in 2018 by the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame and receiving multiple nominations from the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards, such as ‘Entertainer of the Year,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ and ‘Song of the Year.’
In early 2020, I stepped away from the front-man slot in The Tyler Walker Band and signed with independent country music record label Third & James Records. Since then, I’ve released three singles, including “Make It To Sunset,” “As Good As It Gets,” and my version of the chart-topping pop tune, “Slow Hands.”
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to grace some of the biggest stages, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. I’ve been able to share the stage with country music chart-toppers such as Kane Brown, Midland and Carly Pearce, country favorites such as Big & Rich and Eric Paslay, as well as country music icons, including Travis Tritt, Sawyer Brown and Clay Walker. With my solo career beginning to bloom, I’m extremely excited to see where my music takes me and am most excited to connect with my fans on a deeper level by sharing the stories I create with my music.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Pursuing a career in the music industry is never a small feat. Whether you want to be a singer, a songwriter, a producer, a musician – the music industry is one of the most competitive and challenging industries in which to find success. So, of course, there have been challenges and obstacles.
I started The Tyler Walker Band project from scratch without knowing a single person in the country music world here in Colorado. It was challenging to find the right mix of talent, personality, and ability in order to feel like a cohesive group and achieve any sort of success.
Building notoriety and a strong reputation has also been extremely challenging. There is a lot of competition within the country music world in Colorado, so carving out a niche for myself and my music and building a well-respected reputation was very difficult. I’ve played countless gigs performing to an empty room, gigs where I encountered inclement weather, show cancellations and technical difficulties. It’s all about paying your dues!
Additionally, as an out gay man, there have also been a lot of internal obstacles and challenges: feeling like I don’t “fit the norm” within country music or fears that I won’t be accepted or that I’ll be alienated. The internal and mental obstacles have been some of the toughest.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a country music artist (singer/songwriter), signed to independent record label Third & James Records. My sound is typically a little more modern/contemporary than some other acts in the region. I’m proud of that, and I believe it sets me apart from others.
I’m also proud of the fact that I write a lot of my content, which allows me to tell my story in my own way and communicate relatable emotions and stories to my fans. Ultimately, the goal is to write something that my fans can relate to and can connect with. It’s not an easy feat, so I’m very proud of that ability.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The biggest and most impactful way others can support me is by following and interacting with me (liking, commenting, etc.) on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter). Additionally, sharing my content to their social media platforms is another huge way to offer support.
Secondly, following me on Spotify or Apple Music and streaming/purchasing my music on those platforms is HUGELY supportive. The music industry’s benchmark has become streams – it lives and dies by Spotify streams, so streaming and adding my music to personal playlists and whatnot is very helpful. Lastly, come see me perform live! Ticket sales, merch sales, and audience interaction are always great ways to show support for what I do and ensure that I can continue doing it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tylerwalkerofficial.com
- Instagram: @tylerwalkermusic
- Facebook: @tylerwalkerofficial
- Twitter: @tylerwalkerband
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tdKYKWetbzCL5CaYZSBRw
Image Credits
Steve Hostetler Tobias Choi Randy Owens
