Tyler Elden
Tyler’s songwriting incorporates a wide variety of influences ranging from progressive rock to folk. Performing as both a solo artist and with a high energy backing band, he has garnered comparisons of early 2000s post hardcore acts from Philadelphia’s CherryVeeZine, and praise for his more intimate work with comparisons to Death Cab for Cutie from NJ’s The Mic blog.
After years of multiple independent releases and live performances across the east coast and local Philadelphia venues such as: Underground Arts, The Fire, The Grape Room, & Ortlieb’s, Tyler Elden is poised for a busy year of touring & new music.
"Our good name"
Die Geschichte eines ungeborenen Kindes und einer Familie, die aus ihrer Gemeinschaft verstoßen werden. Ein Song über Vorurteile und kein klares Bild von der eigenen Zukunft vor sich zu habe, das behandelt die neueste Single von Tyler Elden, welche heute erschienen ist. Gutes Storytelling und ein musikalischer Ausflug Richtung Dream Pop meets Indie Rock können überzeugen und bescheren uns zum Jahresende hin einen großartigen Song der neuerlich das Talent des Künstlers aufblitzen lässt.
Who is Tyler Elden and how did you get into music?
Tyler Elden is my newest moniker. I’m a longtime musician who recently has started releasing music and playing shows more regularly than in the past. I wanted to start fresh. I got into music at a very young age, and have been banging on pots and pans since I was a toddler.
"Our good name" is a great piece of Indie Rock, what was your inspiration, what's the story behind?
“Our Good Name” is a story of an unborn child and a family being cast out from their community. It’s a song about prejudgement and not having any clear picture of one’s future. It explores the heaviness of having the responsibility of a new innocent life coming into the world without a family or village to help raise the child. Isolation is a major theme.
The song is a collaboration, how was it to work with Katie and Matt Weber?
I work with Matt pretty regularly. He mixed the track and also played drums. We have a good working relationship at this point and can make quick production decisions together. Katie cut the vocal harmonies at the beginning and ending of the track from a home studio in Philadelphia. I initially had some pitch shifted vocals on the demo which was the reference point.
How would you describe your creative process, especially for this song?
For the solo stuff, my creative process is heavily tied to my home studio. This song is no exception. Generally I go to a proper studio to get drum tracks recorded, and then take that home to work on the majority of the song alone off the clock. Sometimes I play the majority of the instruments, and other times I remotely collaborate with musicians to flesh out an arrangement. In addition to Katie and Matt’s contributions, Christopher Hawthorne performed keys from his Vermont studio, and Joshua Pannepacker played some additional guitar.
Being an Indie artist in New Jersey is ...?
I grew up 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia, so Jersey & Philadelphia have been an influence on me as far as being an independent musician. Both scenes have a DIY spirit that inspired me growing up. Shows at small venues & VFWs were how I got my start. Lots of bands did a lot of work on their own without big budgets or labels, and I always took that attitude and work ethic seriously.
Any chance to see you somewhere live on stage?
There will be some east coast shows announced in early 2023.
Your All Time Top 3 Songs, right now, in this second are ...?
3 Of All Time is impossible, but off the top of my head
1. Tom Petty - Angel Dream
2. Placebo - Every You Every Me
3. Death Cab for Cutie - Company Calls Epilogue
Currently
Bat For Lashes - Siren Song
Future Islands - Walking Through That Door
Anaïs Mitchell - Watershed
... and what are your plans for 2023?
My plans for 2023 are working on two releases at once. One release will be an EP featuring some solo songs I took out on tour last summer. The other is from my collaborative project that will be announced in January. I also will be working on some videos with a talented videographer and likely touring throughout the year.
Photo credits: Bob Sweeney
