Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Gill.
Hi Tyler, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi! Thank you for having me. I started playing guitar when I was about 13 years old. Throughout my teenage years I built a strong connection to the electric guitar, fueled in part by a great friendship with my teacher Seth Hollander. After I graduated from college, Seth hired me as a Guitar Teacher for his private lessons school, Mobile Music Teacher. I taught for MMT for five or six years, gaining experience as a teacher and passively gathering my own clientele outside of the school. Eventually, I branched off and started my own business as a self-employed, Private Instructor. I’ve now been teaching for about 12 years in total, and am happy to say that I love my job just as much as I did when I first started. Working with my students and being the one that helps bring music and a passion for guitar into their lives is something that I treasure deeply!
Outside of lessons, I was a guitarist in the local San Diego groove-rock band Cherry Road, until I eventually started a new blues-rock project called [bxwd]. Both bands recorded, produced and released original music, and played live shows around SD and LA. Eventually, I decided to pivot towards a new style of instrumental music – one that would enable me to play all kinds of different styles and genres that I enjoy.
Over the past few years, I’ve released two albums of my own, titled ‘Nothing Interesting Happens’, and ‘Super Effective’. My music can be described as instrumental rock, with varying influences of blues, jazz, metal, and more. This new music was, and still is an inspiring challenge for myself as a guitarist, songwriter and producer. The complex and technically challenging nature of the songs I feel pushes me as a composer, and helps me grow as a musician and guitarist. It was throughout the DIY recording and production of my previous bands’ albums, along with my own, that I learned the skills and processes of independent music production.
As of today, I am currently performing with my new group – the Tyler Gill Trio, or TG3. I’ve paired up with drummer Nate Sanders, and bassist Brian Spencer to perform these instrumental songs I’ve written over the years, and create new music as a group. Collectively, we all enjoy challenging ourselves as musicians and are excited to share our music live.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’m not sure if I’d say it’s been a “smooth road”, nor would I expect it to be. I think life in music, creatively and professionally, always introduces a level of volatility that is continually unforeseen, yet unsurprising. I continually learn lessons in the general transience of art, and of life. I think when I was a bit younger, permanence played a much larger role than it does for me now. It does, however, feel that through all of the constantly changing goals, dreams and relationships, the one creative constant that remains firm in my life is my guitar. At this point, I’ve learned to relinquish expectations and separate ideas of success from money, and love from fame. All of this overly analytic introspection has thankfully led me to a current state of creative freedom, gratitude for the past and present, and optimism for the future.
What are you the most proud of?
I think the thing I’m the most proud of and inspired by as a guitar player is the cultivation of my own personal style and ‘voice’ as a guitarist. For many guitarists, there’s kind of this never-ending search for specific sounds, and the mimicry of other great players. I spent a lot of years crafting my playing style and sound to emulate my guitar heroes. I think it was a valuable lesson for me to eventually learn that the goal should have never been to sound like anyone else but myself. It took me a lot of years (and a lot of mistakes) to create something that I feel I can truly call my own, and I’m extremely proud of my instrumental music for that reason.
I don’t think expression and comparison go well together. I’m proud that I feel inspired by my own guitar playing, and that I no longer feel like I need to compare myself or my music to anyone else. I think the ability to let go of that inner sense of competition, and just embrace what makes me, me, was a big moment for me as a musician and as a person. Having said that, I do think throughout the years of trying to sound like other players, I’ve learned so much about the instrument and its affiliated fancy-sounding friends. Relaying passion, perspective and experience in my crazy guitarist brain to my students and peers is very fulfilling to me – and fingers crossed they feel the same!
What would you say that you are most known for?
I’d say I’m mostly known as an educator, and as someone who is continually excited to share his world and guitar experience with others. I’m known as the guy who shows up at their house once a week ready to have fun and play music (also to pet their dogs). Outside of lessons, a goal of mine is to be known by others as a unique guitarist and artist, ideally with intent to help and inspire others to pick up a guitar and create. It’d mean a lot to me for my music to serve any kind of special purpose in peoples’ lives – be it schoolwork audio accompaniment, or live Friday-night entertainment.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
As I mentioned before, I’d say the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that nothing is permanent, nor is it meant to be. Enjoy the moment, look back on experiences with appreciation and gratitude, and look forward with optimism and a constant directive to better yourself as a musician and as a person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tylergillmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylergillmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tyler_Gill_Music
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/266ZyNLT23QBXkibof7oeL?si=8yAmnPv2QruuhLkrTsKwnA
