Tyler Boone ’14 performs at the 9th Annual First Flush Festival on May 24, 2015. Photo by Susan Clayton.
When College of Charleston alumnus Tyler Boone graduated with a degree in arts management in 2014, his priorities were crystal clear: continue to hone his skills as a singer-songwriter and build his music career.
So far, so good.
Following a post-graduation year that saw him touring around the country, opening up for major acts like Sheryl Crow, getting radio play, acting in an HBO show, and recording new music (including a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the Emanuel AME Church tragedy), Boone is poised to take his budding career to the next level with an upcoming move to the cradle of country music – Nashville.
The College Today recently caught up with Boone to learn more about his busy life and how he plans to make a big Cougar splash in Music City.
Q: What’s life been like since graduation?
A: I have had one crazy, exciting year since walking across the Cistern. I went on my first full month-long tour (that I completely booked myself) the day after I was a part of the First Flush Festival and opened up for The Avett Brothers.
We played and lived in a truck for a month straight and played all the way to Philly to New York City, Baltimore, Boston, Annapolis, back to Philly, Nashville, Wilmington, Pawley’s Island and then back to Charleston. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have had so far in my life.
My band and I also opened up for Blues Traveler and The Spin Doctors in Greenville, S.C.
I released a new single titled “Front Page Show” that went live on 22 radio stations across the United States, Pandora radio and even went international in Bolivia and Japan.
Listen below to Tyler’s Boone’s single “Front Page Show” on SoundCloud:
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In my off time, I have been a featured extra a couple of times in the new HBO show with Danny McBridge “Vice Principals.” In December 2014, I appeared on a The Better Show, a national TV program in New York City co-hosted by Brooke Hogan (remember Hulk Hogan?).
This month I’ll be performing at Charleston Music Hall for the first-ever New Music Confab, a music conference that invites incredible music industry people from all across the United States for panels and to watch live music so that artists and bands can connect with these people for a positive change in their music careers. The VP of Atlantic Records, head radio programmers and major concert promoters from all across the country will be attending this week from August 27-29th.
My showcase takes place at 8:10 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2015, with my full band.
Q: How did you balance your music career with some of the traditional jobs you held over the past year?
Tyler Boone ’14 wrote a song dedicated to the victims and families of the Emanuel AME Church tragedy.
A: I applied to 9-to-5 jobs all across Charleston to please my parents since I did just earn my bachelor’s degree. I eventually landed a job where I helped set up medical benefits for clients for about four to five months. During this time I was still touring on weekends, playing festivals, opening up for artists, doing radio shows and was taking off a lot of time from the job to still pursue music. I even still played four to five nights a week either acoustic or full band around town and was completely exhausted going to bed at 3 a.m. and then getting back up at 7:30 a.m. to go do the office thing.
I eventually had to quit that job. To most people that would be a scary thing to do, but I wasn’t scared at all. I was thrilled to go back to being a full-time musician. I called my parents on the way home and reassured them that it was going to be just fine.
Q: What are your plans in Nashville?
A: When I get to Nashville my plans are to work more closely with management, and I will be heading back into the studio at the end of this year to work on another single to release in early 2016 before I begin working on my next album with a Nashville producer.
Read more about how Boone balanced his music career with life as a college student.
Q: You recently recorded a tribute song to the victims and families of the AME Church tragedy. How did that project come about?
A: The last time I went to Nashville to check out housing and meet with my good friend Clint Higham (Kenny Chesney’s manager) our last night there was the horrible night of the Charleston AME shooting. Thus, returning home I wanted to start writing something more “Nashville,” and with no idea what to write about, I started something that I felt could be a dedication to the families and victims of the AME Church. I walked by the church every day for a couple months for a restaurant server job I had on Market Street on my days off from gigging.
Matt Zutell ’13, a local record producer and drummer for Human Resources who helps run Coast Records (a local music collective record label that myself and many other musicians in Charleston work on), produced the song that I titled “Next Life.” I just felt inspired and wanted to release something that could maybe help someone affected by the tragedy. All proceeds from the single will go toward the Mother Emmanuel Fund.
Listen below to Tyler Boone’s single “Next Life” on SoundCloud:
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Q: Now that you’ve had time to reflect on your time at CofC, what are your thoughts?
A: My time at the College of Charleston is one I would never exchange for anything. It was the most perfect change that I needed as I initially went to the University of South Carolina for Jazz Guitar studies. I didn’t want to finish my four years of college studying the guitar as I already had a firm grasp on that, so I eventually transferred to CofC for Arts Management, and it was the best college degree I could’ve asked for. I wanted to study and be around people who were looking to make their lives around the business side of the arts – in my case the music industry.
Mark Bryan of Hootie & the Blowfish who is an adjunct professor at the College, teaches and brings in incredible speakers for his lecture series “In The Mix.” He helps all of his students outside the classroom. The semester after I took his class he allowed me and my band to be a part of Hootie’s annual “Homegrown” concert at Family Circle Cup on Daniel Island. How cool is that?
My professors Karen Chander, Jeanette Guinn, Heather McDonald, Judith Allen, Chris Burgess and Mark Bryan were some of the best. I would recommend the Arts Management program to any student who wants to get involved in not just the music industry but any kind of creativity with the arts. You won’t regret it.
