Life, family, and music.
When was the last time you got bummed because it started raining? Maybe you had planned on mowing the yard or going swimming. You’d even gone so far as to start cutting the grass or drape your towel over the back of a pool chair. Then the clouds darkened and grew heavier, and pretty soon […]
Know the Weather Forecast Read More »
I stumbled upon this YouTube video. It caught my attention because it seemed off-brand for Elliott Smith: the dark, brooding artist on a couch at six a.m. with a puppet behind him (not Sesame Street) and the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos. Huh? It made more sense when I saw the date. It was
Lessons from Elliott Smith’s Appearance on a Tacky Morning Show Read More »
Great question, Ty! But here’s a curveball for you: I encourage you NOT to focus on boosting your social media presence right now. Let’s hit pause on all that for a moment. Why, you ask? Social media can be a fantastic place to: Feel bad about yourself Practice mustering up genuine excitement for other people’s
AMA: “How do I boost my social media presence when I’m just starting out?” – Ty Read More »
How do I get over the fear of sharing my work? – Aly Aly, this is a great question, and I have to be honest: the fear of sharing your work never completely disappears. That’s why I titled this post “Dealing…” rather than overcoming. I’m not sure many of us truly overcome the fear. However,
Dealing with the Fear of Sharing Your Work Read More »
I know the lyrics to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” are about West Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains and all. But last year, when my wife and I hauled our family around the Midwest in a camper for my Living Room Tour, I took a wrong turn near the Montana/North Dakota border. Though we tried
Happy Accidents: Where This Picture Came From Read More »
I’m a distractible person. Don’t get me wrong, I can be laser-focused for several hours on, let’s say, a guitar tone. But send me to the grocery store for an onion, and I’ll return with strawberries, ballpoint pens, tiki torches—pretty much everything besides an onion. I tell you this because I’ve realized that looking at
Why I’ve Been Going Back to Paper Read More »
You probably have a method for capturing your ideas in the moment–whether it’s your phone, a recipe card, or a Moleskine notebook–but sometimes that method doesn’t work. For me, the combination of hot water on my scalp and the scent of shampoo often sparks creativity. If you wear a wedding ring–or any ring, for that
The Wedding Ring Hack Read More »
I wasn’t just interested in recording “I Love Rock N Roll” because I liked the challenge of reinterpreting it. I also recorded it because I knew my publisher controls the copyright. Back in 2020, they gave me a list of popular songs they can clear for licensing. I scanned through them and picked several that
The Art and Science of Choosing Cover Songs Read More »
It’s been a while since I’ve officially released new music. But starting tomorrow, I’ll be releasing one single every six weeks. I’ve got songs planned until December 2026! Question for you: Want to be on my online street team? What is it? Basically a group of dedicated fans who can commit to posting on social
The 2-Year Plan: New Music Every Six Weeks! Read More »
If you’re planning your first wedding, my guess is you’re just planning on doing it once. You’re not trying to get good at getting married multiple times, right? So pretty much everything is stressful. You’ve never done this before. What’s the budget? Will you have a band or a DJ? Who will perform the ceremony?
Act Like a Wedding Planner Read More »