Tyler Higgins: A Musician on the Rise

Jonathan Espinoza, Associate Editor

Being the son of a podiatrist, there were natural concerns when Tyler Higgins told his parents he wanted to be a musician.

He didn’t always want that life though.  The career path he had in mind was that of a marine biologist, but that was soon put to rest once he found out that teaching may be part of the equation.

“I loved the science part of it and felt that it was something that could work for me.  But my parents were concerned, as they have every right to be, and informed me that the salary of most marine biologists isn’t that great, and I would end up teaching and asked if I was okay with that,” he said.

The realization that he may have to teach set him on a new path, especially when he received his first electric guitar at the age of fifteen.  The trajectory of his life changed; Tyler found his calling.

But perhaps it was always meant to be.  From an early age, he recalled how he wrote poetry just to get his thoughts out.  The poetry of then has evolved into the lyrics of a musician today.  Practice may not always make perfect the first few times around, but Tyler has always aimed to do his best to make sure he meets his own musical standards.  Late nights melt into early mornings, and the self-sequestration he imposes is all in the name of his craft.  Hours on end are spent honing the perfect string of words to convey how he is feeling at that exact moment.  Aware of his craft as he is, Tyler knows the importance of having meaningful lyrics.

“I want to tell stories that actually mean something to people, something they can relate to; everyday-types of songs,” he said.  “Bob Dylan was really good at telling stories that had meaning and not just writing music to entertain an audience where the lyrics really didn’t make sense.  I am more on the side of telling stories on the real life side of music.”

Even before receiving the electric guitar, Tyler had proved himself adept at learning musical instruments when his uncle introduced him to the clarinet.  Guided by the desire to be better than his uncle, he practiced, for hours on end, to become a best musician he could possibly be.  The drive to be a musician was evident even then and carried on to the friendships he made later on in high school.

“Tyler has been really passionate about his musical career over the last few years and has expressed a huge desire to be a professional musician. I believe that Tyler has the skill, desire, and drive to achieve this,” said Daniel Stout, Tyler’s best friend for the past seven years.  “Tyler’s music has definite influences, but he takes those influences and adapts them to create a distinct sound. Most of his music comes from personal experience and he puts his entire being into it. He is incredibly talented and passionate about what he does and has incredible potential. If Tyler sets his mind to something musically, it will happen and be better than anyone would expect it to be.”

And for Tyler, the hopes of stardom rest in the city of Nashville, Tennessee.  The “Music City” is where he hopes to make his start and his ability to play four different instruments gives him better chances than most.   His instrument of choice?  His guitar, a Taylor GSMini rosewood. And the ease of learning new instruments is something he knows all about.

“For the most part, picking up a new instrument does [come easy] because of the fact that I have been doing it so long there is a kind of a method to learning a new instrument and when you get it down it is a matter of practicing,” said Tyler.

He’s been practicing all his life, gaining inspiration from living in places across the country.  From Utah to New York to Texas, he was able to experience the many musical styles specific to those areas and it shows in his musical tastes today.  One minute he can have Lil Wayne on the mind, and in the very next, Ed Sheeran.  Not to be tied down to just one genre, he seeks to simply make good music that connects with people on a personal level.

In his heart he knows he will succeed.  He has no Plan B.  His goal is to make music and make it well.  And it seems that he is not the only one who thinks he is going to make it big one day.  One of his teachers in the WTAMU School of Music, Dr. Bobby Bledsoe, knows that success is in Tyler’s future just as well as he does.

“He’s a super talent.  He as a real feel for writing.  He just eats, sleeps and breathes music all the time,” said Dr. Bledsoe.  “I can tell him to tear up a song and start again and he’ll come back with a better version.  He’s just that way.  He has a real future ahead of him.  I think in the industry he just keeps getting better, and he has a sweet heart too.  And he’s an excellent student and I just love working with him.”

The makers of music, the real music that moves the soul and touches the heart, is heard by any of those willing to listen.  It can be heard in Bach or Beyoncé, it’s all dependent on the listener.  Tyler Higgins is a true architect of music, drawing on his talent as a lyricist and performer, he allows himself to be open to his own emotions while trying to reach anyone willing to listen.  It may not be easy, it may not always be rewarding, but music is who he is and who he wants to be.