SHREDnews

Justin Tyler Interview

By: Poppy Cleere

Poppy Cleere: Could you perhaps give our readers an idea of what your music is about? By describing your sound or the message you hope your songs give out?
Justin Tyler: My music is basically about relationships that everyone goes through with their significant other and all the struggles, memories, etc. I just hope when people listen to my music that they can relate and it can make their days :]

Poppy Cleere: You’re a very talented young man and can play multiple instruments, which instrument is your favorite to play and why?
Justin Tyler: Yeah I can play quite a few instruments but my favorite is the guitar because that’s what I started playing first and it’s the instrument I start writing a song with.

Poppy Cleere: Who inspires you musically and lyrically?
Justin Tyler: Musically, I just play music that I love and I write lyrics based on past, present, and future relationships.

Poppy Cleere: You were previously part of the band ‘Nextdoor’. What led you to leave? Was it a difficult decision?
Justin Tyler: Yes I used to be in the band Nextdoor for 3 years and I left because I wanted to pursue my solo project and do things on my own and show people that I can write music on my own. It was a difficult decision because I was so close to them and I was in the band for so long.

Poppy Cleere: What do your old band mates think of your new music?
Justin Tyler: My old band mates love my music and actually my old drummer, Jake Fight recorded drums on my EP Wake Up Call. I’m really thankful to have them as my friends still.

Poppy Cleere: In June you played your first show as a solo artist at Chain Reaction. What was that experience like? Did the fact that it was your CD release show add extra pressure?
Justin Tyler: That show was so awesome! I had the best time ever, I finally got to show everyone what I can do with being the front man now. The show being my CD Release didn’t add pressure, the fact that I haven’t played a show in over a year and half added the most pressure and that I was the center of attention now.

Poppy Cleere: For a fairly new artist you seem to have quite a large fanbase (Justin has over 24,000 friends and 276926 profile views on Myspace already) How does it feel to know you have so much support?
Justin Tyler: It’s so awesome; I would’ve never thought I could get this far when I first was starting out. I want to thank everyone who is supporting me, I love you all! I have so many plans for my solo project in the future

Poppy Cleere: I noticed you have a Twitter. Many artists are using sites like Twitter to keep in direct contact with fans. How important is it for you to connect with your fans? Do you like spending time with them after shows?
Justin Tyler: Twitter is the best thing ever, I think. It is very important because all my fans get to read all my updates and feel a personal connection and know exactly what I’m doing and where I am. I love my fans; I would not be able to do this without them.

Poppy Cleere: With the music industry going through tough times are you looking to be signed or are you planning on going it alone for a while?
Justin Tyler: For now I want to continue doing things on my own, I mean I’ve got this far on my own but in the future I do want to shop myself to labels and see what happens from that. I definitely would not mind getting signed :]

Poppy Cleere: How did the writing and recording of your EP “Wake Up Call” go?
Justin Tyler: I got out of the band Nextdoor in January 2008 and I decided to go solo. So from there I began writing songs and I wrote for about a year and I had a huge list of songs that I wrote. My good friend Yultron referred me to a great producer named Justin Powell and I looked into him and I scheduled dates with him to record. I picked my 5 best songs and I recorded 5 songs in 5 days in March of 2009.

Poppy Cleere: What is your favorite track from your EP?
Justin Tyler: My favorite track is my single Action! Action!

Poppy Cleere: Currently you’re following Warped Tour across the Country to promote and sell your new EP, what gave you the idea to do this and in the current financial climate how did you make it possible?
Justin Tyler: Yes, I’ve been on the Warped Tour for about a month and half and it’s the most amazing thing ever. Well I did the same thing with my band Nextdoor in 2007 but we only did like nine dates and we did really well, so I said why not do it with myself this year. My friends from the band Uh Oh! Explosion did the whole tour last year and I asked them if I could come along with them on this years.

Poppy Cleere: Who have you been most excited to see whilst on Warped?
Justin Tyler: A Day To Remember is my favorite to watch because they put on such an intense show. I also enjoyed watching The Maine, who I became good friends with while on this tour, really really nice guys.

Poppy Cleere: What has been your highlight of Warped so far?
Justin Tyler: My highlight of Warped is probably the whole thing it’s just the most amazing thing. Being on the road is the best, I get to meet thousands and thousands of people, I make a lot of money and get tons of exposure while doing this.

Poppy Cleere: What are your plans for the rest of 2009 and beyond?
Justin Tyler: When I get home I plan on setting up some shows and then following a few more tours to promote/sell my EP. I’m also writing new songs because I plan on recording another EP in the beginning of 2010.

Poppy Cleere: If you could collaborate with one artist or group, dead or alive who would you chose?
Justin Tyler: I would probably want to collaborate with The Beatles because, I mean come on, they equal pure GENIUS.

Poppy Cleere: Anything you’d like to add for our readers?
Justin Tyler: I want to tell everyone to keep checking back on my myspace(www.myspace.com/justintylerrock) for important updates like shows that I’m going to be setting up, upcoming tours that I’ll be on for promoting. Also follow me on Twitter(twitter.com/justinxtyler) and check out my funny updates.