Meet Tyra Marlar of Washington Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyra Marlar.

Hi Tyra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always been drawn to music. In second grade I begged my parents to let me play the violin, which became my first instrument and the one that taught me how to read music. From that point on, I threw myself into anything musical. I auditioned for talent shows, sang the latest pop songs on the family karaoke machine, and spent hours watching new music videos.

In high school I taught myself to play piano and began experimenting with writing my own songs. Most of those early pieces stayed hidden for years because I was too nervous to share them. In college I occasionally posted a video on YouTube or TikTok, but I still wasn’t confident enough to pursue music consistently.

After graduating and starting my first full-time job, something shifted. I finally began to let go of the fear of being judged, and I realized how much I missed creating and performing. At the beginning of 2025 I started attending open mics, which helped me gain real confidence in both my voice and my songwriting. Those nights pushed me to take my music more seriously.

A couple of months ago I released my first single, Another Cold Winter, and I plan to continue recording and performing as many of my original songs as possible. Becoming involved in the Denver music scene has introduced me to incredibly talented musicians, which led to me joining two bands: The Midnight Soulbirds and Portal Noir. I am proud to be part of both groups, and each one has helped me grow creatively and understand more about who I am as an artist.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As mentioned previously, the biggest hurdle I have had to overcome musically was the fear of judgement, the fear of being perceived. I never wanted to be wrong or disliked and while there is no “right” answer when it comes to creativity, putting your own ideas on the line is incredibly vulnerable. It took a long time to get over that fear.

Similarly, I found it difficult not to compare myself to others or to wonder if my own talents could ever match theirs. I found as I grew older, and more appreciative of the outlet that music is, that I didn’t care to be “good enough”, I cared more about creating what made me feel something.

I think these challenges held me back for longer than they should have. My only regret is that I hadn’t started sharing sooner.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Rather opposite of music! I work as a regulatory consultant at a firm called Iron Road Partners. I have been with this company for a little over two years now. I started in this industry with very little knowledge of compliance and regulation and spent most (all) of the better half of a year learning how to understand the ideas that we consult on. Now I lead a team of marketing reviewers and enjoy collaborating with my peers and clients.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I think it’s important to be well rounded. To chase passions and interests and to leave a little room for social hobbies and exploration. I feel whole now that music is a priority in my life.

Contact Info:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7vC729ANFFxJZLi0NNQ4QH
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyramarlar
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tyramarlar