There’s a new artist in town, and it’s my good friend Tyler Dial. His country style is fitting in well with today’s top 40 hits. He’s been at it for a while, and is only getting better. Over the summer his single “Damn Good Time” debuted on Sirius XM’s The Highway. I was lucky enough to grab a second of his time from a busy practice schedule, and sat him down for an interview. Here’s a look into the journey of a promising, hungry artist.
What started your dream to be a singer?
- I was in middle school when I saw some older guys play “Hotel California” and I thought it was the coolest thing. I made it my goal that year to learn guitar and learn how to sing so that by the time the talent show rolled around, I’d be ready. Ever since I played “Free Fallin’” in 7th grade, I was hooked. The next year I played my first live country song, “God Love Her.”
Why country music?
- Some of my first memories are riding in the car with my dad listening to guys like Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, James Taylor, and the Dixie Chicks. Their music was ingrained in me at an early age, and as I grew up I started to discover country music on my own through artists like Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, and Sam Hunt.
What sorts of things have stopped you?
- I don’t think anything has really stopped me. A lot of people tell me I’m not ready yet or I’m too young but I try to tune the naysayers out. When people don’t believe in my vision, that’s okay, hopefully they’ll come around one day.
Could you tell me a little bit about how BBVA Compass noticed you, and the story with them?
- Yeah! Our partnership with BBVA has been very mutual. They saw something in me and my music that aligned with their brand. So they stepped up and helped us take my first single, “Damn Good Time” to radio. It’s a song that matches with their #livebright brand. They have been such a blessing and an amazing partner to work with.
What does living in Austin, the music capital of the world, do for someone like you?
- I always thought Nashville would be where I would become the best artist I could be. But it turns out that Austin is the city that is challenging me to be a better artist. When I lived in Nashville this past summer, I learned the skills of becoming a great songwriter, but here in Austin, I find the inspiration to write great music and be a better artist.
What styles did you grow up listening to? Did that affect the singer/performer you are today?
- Like I said earlier, I got my knowledge of music from my dad. I always stayed true to the music I was introduced to as a kid. Especially when middle school came around and my friends were listening to artists like Lil Wayne and Akon. I would listen to artists like Keith Urban, The Counting Crows, and John Mayer.
What was your favorite performance you’ve ever done?
- That’s hard because I feel like we are always raising the bar. Even this past weekend we had one of my favorite performances on 6th street. Every gig and every rehearsal we are getting better as a band. I typically view a performance as a success when I’m able to engage the crowd.
What motivates you when you write?
- Every day life experiences honestly. I’m also motivated by what I hear on the radio and see on the Internet. When I hear artists doing unique and cool things, it motivates me to do the same. I’m also very competitive. I’m always trying to make the best music possible.
Who inspires you to keep working everyday?
- My dad is really the one who is always challenging me to be a better artist. He knows how important it is to never be content. He’s also the one who shares my vision so when I’m not executing it, he makes sure I change things up.
What type of song are you working on next?
- I’m working on a bunch of new material. Currently I’m trying to write songs that are timeless like the Eagles’ “Take It Easy.”
What do you like most about what you do?
- My favorite part about being a musician is the live performances. I know it’s a little selfish to say but being on stage and being the soundtrack to someone’s Saturday night is so cool to me.
Finally…what did you learn in your semester in Rhetoric of Country Music that you remember most?
- Rhetoric of Country Music gave me such a great knowledge of the history of country music. Being able to listen to my idols’ idols was very cool. The class made a huge impact on how I view country music and how I view myself as a country artist.
Tyler is always at work on his music. Even during class I’d peek over and see him researching ways to improve his skills. UT Student by day, artist by night. You can either catch him walking past the Tower, or find him on Spotify, Youtube, SoundCloud and even iTunes. I do see a lot of potential in him, and I encourage you to give him a listen and come to his next performance! You could very well be witnessing country’s next best.
I really enjoyed reading your post and the interview you did with Tyler! I personally had never heard of him or his music, but I listened to the song that is linked and I really enjoyed it! I also think it’s really cool that he is also a student at UT, but he’s doing a lot of cool performances and is getting his music and stuff out there! It’s also really awesome that he was a student for this rhetoric class because we talk about different country artist, but he is also a country artist, and it’s interesting to see how he was able to apply what he learned in class to his own music.
This is an awesome format for a blog post and how great that he is a friend of yours! I love hearing about upcoming artists that are trying to get their voice heard. I have never heard of him but he sounds great and I will definitely listen to more of his music! I really like the interview because it lets you get to know people and understand where their inspirations and ideas come from. Its also so cool that he took this course!! Great post I really enjoyed it!
Really enjoyed this post. Getting to interview a country artist, even a relatively new one, you can really learn a lot. I love everything he talked about, especially his love for Austin. I believe I heard he performed this weekend during SXSW which is amazing. It is always so fun to learn about new artist and so interesting to learn how they feel about their music first hand. Overall great post!
This was an awesome post! I thought it was really creative doing an interview with a “rookie” like Tyler, but how you did the interview in the blog post format was stellar. The images and video was great visuals and audio to match well with the questions. And bolded questions made it really clear, and easy to follow. I think it was also cool how he is so local and close to us as students in this country music class. It’s not everyday a classmate in our demographic is as aspiring as he is. My friends have been to see him perform and loved it. Thanks for the post!
I loved that your chose to do an interview! I really enjoyed how you built up the ethos of the artist, so that by the time I got to the music video of his hit single, I already knew so much about him that I really wanted to listen to it! I found it interesting that Tyler actually prefers Austin as a place to grow and be challenged as an artist, despite having worked in Nashville for a time. Then again, we are the live music capital of the world. I also think it’s really cool that his music seems to be something that brings him and his father together – having his dad challenge him in his music is definitely a unique way to stay tight with him.
I thought it was great how unique this post was through the interview format. It’s interesting to see the process that somebody takes to try and become a country star in the modern age. I thought it was funny how as a Texan singer, he tried Nashville and then ended up in Austin like so many others over the years that ended up with great careers. I wonder if he plans on ever returning to Nashville as a songwriter because it seems like he would like to write enduring pop country songs like how he mentioned, “Take it Easy”. Overall, great post and I enjoyed the interview format.
This was such a unique post and refreshing to read in a format so different from the rest! I think it’s awesome that Tyler is your good friend and how relatable he is to all of us, which is exactly how I view country music. I feel like growing up in Texas it was never rare to have a country musical talent somewhere in my social circle. Their personalities were always as real as can be as they were also always the best form of entertainment at any event or party. Because of my little background anecdote, I definitely think Austin is a much better place for him to explore his talent rather than Nashville, because having a group of people who know you and support you can get him so much further in his career. His music is also really enjoyable, I hope to hear more from him!
This was a very interesting post! I have heard of Tyler because he is good friends with one of my best friends. I think he is a very talented singer and has huge potential in the country music industry. Earlier in the semester I read an article he wrote for this class about his experiences in Nashville which was unbelievable! I am happy he got noticed so quickly and is still pushing for more! It must be really cool to have a friend excel in a music genre that you also love. Great post!