by: Nancy Glass – EDN
Any living creature evolves with time. That is to say, it develops other features, and then turns into another living being. Such is the case with Eugene singer songwriter Tyler Fortier (pronounced For-teer). He certainly doesn’t look old enough to have released six albums since 2007. He doesn’t look like a man who once fronted a punk band with pink and purple hair. He certainly doesn’t look like a man who ever was a baseball jock. No, at first glance, Fortier looks more like a man who is a “starving artist” who loves nothing more than drinking whiskey, hanging with his fiancé and writing songs that entertain his ego. But then again, looks can be deceiving.
“If there is a purpose of my music, I’m guessing it’s something therapeutic. It’s a channeling of emotions. I don’t choose to write. It’s hardly ever a conscious thing. It just happens” Fortier tells me.
Tyler Fortier
Trying to understand how it is that at twenty-six years old he has 6 albums out, (with another one on the way) Fortier tells me, “that’s a tough one. I can’t explain the fact that I write so much. There was a 4 month period where I wrote, and wrote, and wrote, and I haven’t written much of anything good lately. A door opened up somewhere in my mind.”
That opened door has given way to an extremely productive year for Fortier. In October he’ll release his seventh album, Bang on Time, marking the third release this year. In February he released …And They Rode Like Wildfire Snaking Through The Hills ‘Neath The Scarlet Sun. In April he released, Fear Of The Unknown.
I was able to hear two tracks off the soon to be released record Bang on Time; Will You Love Me and The World is Moving Slow. Both songs are still in production, however, Will You Love Me is a slow intimate confession of fear and loneliness sung with harmonies echoing each sentiment. The World is Moving Slow is a more up tempo song that is more about finding a home in the world. For these songs, Fortier has a somewhat expected style; think Springsteen meets Lovett meets Petty.
“Matt Greco engineered and mixed both of the last two records” he tells me. “He is amazing. He’s only 23 and is extremely advanced in his engineering and mixing skills.”
Fortier also saw his biggest tour this year, with performances in 8 states, including 2 showcases at South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
That kind of schedule could make a lot of ‘working musicians’ look bad. However it takes a lot of tenacity and perseverance as well as time to build up to such a level. Since his first band he knew he wanted to do music. “My first band was called The Marshmallows. I was in the sixth grade. We played once for a group of friends and I’ve had the performing bug ever since. I then played in punk bands, called Odd Man Out in the eighth and ninth grade, which later evolved into the band 24 HRS throughout high school. I remember we played once on top of a chili truck at the Rose Festival in Portland. If there was a strong wind, I don’t think we would have made it out alive.”
Fortier second from the left
With very supportive parents who (as Fortier puts it) “have my back no matter what” he’s always felt guided and encouraged towards pursing what makes him happy. He is quick to point out, “monetary value has rarely, if ever, been lumped into this category of, “happy” he tells me. “My dad used to play guitar and sing me to sleep often; it’s an extremely fond memory to say the least.”
His own musical tastes rooted in strong songwriting, Fortier remembers the first song he ever recorded. “There is a cassette tape somewhere of me walking around as a very small child in my grandparent’s house singing the Loggins and Messina song, “Danny’s Song.” The first CD he ever bought was Billy Joel’s, River of Dreams in the fifth grade. Over the years his tastes have branched out to “some strange musical fixations” including Ace of Base, No Doubt, Everclear, and Metallica.
It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he discovered acoustic music and started to really play. “I never performed for anyone, except for the occasional impromptu performance at a party” he says sheepishly.
Fortier in the studio with Matt Greco
Fortier illustrates that there are many elements to writing a song. And there are many ‘lives’ a song must endure before being released on a record. “Songs for me, usually start with one lyrical line and from there, they build. There are a few different stages in writing a song whether it takes 5 minutes or 5 weeks to write it. The song evolves from the time of conception till the time you perform it live. Once it’s performed live the song can go one of three ways: 1. the song could die there on the spot, 2. keep its form or 3. continue to evolve to what it needs (this could be a chord change, a different time signature or verse melody, or even key change).
A song then takes another life in the recording stage. This is where I think a song truly lives or dies. A good song unfortunately turns into a “bad” song pretty fast without the right production, recording, or intent. I think there are four completely different “arts” in place that dictate the life of that song: 1. Writing 2. Performance 3. Production 4. Recording. It’s my opinion that most people don’t understand that there is more to a song than simply writing it, performing it and or recording it. the studio.”
Tyler Fortier
It’s through this kind perseverance Fortier has doors opening up before him. With a successful year, he reflects on his career. “As an independent artist, the most challenging aspect for me is selling myself. Poster printing, show booking, press kits, promotion, web updating, CD pressing and design. I hate it all. I just want to write songs and perform them for people who appreciate them. I would rather play to a room of one who is attentive than to a room full of a hundred loud, indifferent listeners. The really good shows are few and far between. Good shows, to me are, attentive people who make an effort to connect to my lyrics, sign up on mailing list, purchase my music…it’s a really good feeling.”
“Anytime I sell a CD, honestly, is my proudest moment. It’s so hard to make money as a traveling musician.There have also been a few occasions where someone has messaged me or told me that they really love a song of mine and listen to it all the time. That’s enough to make a guy burst with pride.”
Fortier with Erin Flood
As a full-time singer/songwriter performer Fortier does make that connection with his audience, despite the fact that he hates selling himself and confesses “I’m not that good of a musician. In fact, I don’t consider myself a musician at all. I sort of play guitar. I sort of play piano. I kind of sing. I’m a writer so I feel I am limited to what I can do musically.”
Tyler Fortier and his band
Being in a band and a relationship concurrently can sometimes be taxing. Fortunately for Fortier, his fiancé, Erin Flood, is also in the band. “She’s an amazing singer. She’s also an incredibly talented songwriter. It’s always great getting to do things with your best friend.”
Unplugging from the demands of work is often somewhat of art as well. Fortier takes comfort in the everyday “normal’ aspects of life. “I’ve been so engulfed with music over the last 2 years it’s hard to even think about relaxing. To relax, I play with my dog, Topper, or spend time with my fiancée, or pretend I don’t hate golf. Maybe I’ll watch the TV shows 30 Rock or Scrubs? Or I might have a “quarter-life” crises about my career decisions and money issues…you know, the usual.”
Tyler with his dog Topper
Tyler Fortier
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