I, Tyler, haven’t posted since thanksgiving because Jenny and I been getting ready for the CD release and man, there’s a lot to do. Today I am back; so let me try and explain some more “God things” related to this project. Let me start with our website, jennyandtylermusic.com?
I work at a Macintosh computer lab (the Maclab for short) and a lot of the time at the lab I am able to work on things not Mac-lab related. (I help people with software, hardware and printing, but people don’t always need help). At the Maclab, I work with a bunch of really cool people. I also work around the University of Delaware’s visual communications (VC) majors, who rock at designing. These VC majors had nothing to do with the creation of the “jenny and tyler music” website; however, my co-worker Corin Larraga, did. Corin, not only helped with the encoding, slicing and overall design of the website for little cost, he recorded drums for track 7 of the CD and he’s playing acoustic, electric, organ, synth, and singing background vocals at the CD release concert tomorrow. Corin amazes me because he’s so talented in so many ways yet so meek/humble. Sometimes just being around him is humbling.
Not so small points:
Contact ease. When I was calling schools and newspapers and radios for marketing purposes, I had very little trouble getting through to the right person. We have been played on WSTW’s hometown heroes for about a month now.
Artwork on the CD. Free. Matt and Emily Troutman (wait for troutmandesign[dot]com coming soon I hope) and my sister Bethany Somers.
Posters for the CD release show. I got old posters from Starbucks and printed on the back of them for free.
Starbucks my other part-time job. They are giving me 50 free drink coupons to hand out and two gift baskets because of our donation cause to a local family’s adoption fund.
Don Klumbach. A professional marketer has freely given me his time, stuff, and advice on what to do/say and who to contact.
Dave. Jenny’s dad. He makes professional mandolin’s for crying out loud. We used his mandolins on every song that has a mandolin on the CD. Also, he plays bass and let me borrow a sweet electric bass which we used on every track that has a bass on the CD. He also helped with the intonation of the ukulele.
Wilson Somers. Jazz piano genius and my dad. How often does an artist just starting out get a professional jazz artist to play on his album for free? Check my dad’s music out at wilsonsomers.com
Lyndsay Wharton. Where did this girl come from? Well, from Texas if you want to get specific. She came to Delaware; we played a song together at a presentation for BSM at a church; and we’ve been playing together ever since. Her piano melodies are incredible. Listen to “You think” and “season.” I think that’s some of her best work. She just hears stuff and plays it. Amazing(in the colloquial sense of the word)! She’ll be playing the CD release concert tomorrow.
Grace Chou. Also amazing (also in the colloquial sense of the word) Laid down a very tasty piano part on “american dream.”
Adam Cooke. Plays drums, guitar, bass, and piano all really well. He and Corin (who does the same) should just move to Nashville and get picked up by some band ASAP. Adam recorded all the drum tracks to every song with drums except “american dream” and “plans for us” in a matter of 4 hours. Adam is also playing bass and singing background vocals at the CD release concert.
Ryan Crump. Also needs to move to Nashville. Not only is one of the best drummers I’ve ever heard and is playing at the CD release show, works for a credit card company. Now I’m able to ring people up on a credit card machine anywhere I go.
Tyler Ewing. We lived across the street from one another in Nashville. Too good at cello and piano. Recorded the tracks on plans for us and made it what it is.
We live in Newark, DE. Not Nashville, TN. How we know all these highly talented people is beyond me – God thing.
Matthew and Meredith. I wouldn’t have lived in Nashville if it weren’t for their hospitality. Meredith charged me nothing to live in her closet and Matthew charged me $100/mo to live in his house even though he wasn’t there half of the summer.
Curtis. Our new pastor who totally supports our music. He rocks. At 31, he’s wise, bright (just got a doctorate), culturally relevant, cross-centered and the same person on the pulpit and off (authentic).
I could say a lot more, but I’ve got a list of things to do today that I should get to doing.
Thanks and peace to you,
Tyler