McCoy Tyler is a singer-songwriter for the ages. On the heels of releasing his new record this month, he has shared the epic and captivating new single, “26,” which has been on our radar the past few weeks. His self-titled record which is soon to be release later this month, is a breath of fresh air. His songwriting and talent takes his music to a higher level, as he takes center stage. We had the honor to catch up with McCoy Tyler in anticipation of his upcoming musical endeavors this month, which you can dive into below.
How long did it take you to record the upcoming record out this May? and what is the inspiration behind the release?
We began rehearsals and tracking last June, so when it’s all said and done it will have been about a year in the making. Basically, I had a group of songs that felt suited to a larger band. The decision to work with The Coffis Brothers as a backing group on this record came out of necessity–they play loud, harmony-driven music and it seemed like an appropriate fit for these songs.
What is the meaning behind the first single, “26” from the record? What significance does it hold for you?
For me, “26” feels like a storyboard of sorts. It deals with individual characters as opposed to a singular narrative. But the different perspectives in the song, when combined, paint this larger picture of the day to day struggle and the ways we come to terms with the decisions we make. I think there is definitely a bit of the artist’s struggle in there–and by that I mean the difficulty in balancing one’s artistic urges with the day to day practicalities of holding a job, supporting yourself, supporting others–these are all things that are very personal to me at this point in my life.
How did you combine the elements of your influences to create the new album and hone a sound that is uniquely your own?
Regarding influence, it becomes really difficult to pin down. On the one end, I grew up immersed in rock and roll music and I wanted parts of this project to reflect my passion for guitar playing and improvisation. But on the other end, I’m a songwriter–finding a balance between those two parts of myself has been really interesting. And if I had to pick one thing that makes this record unique, it would be just that. There are hooks and imagery and harmony–all those things that inspire me as a lyricist, but there is also a very direct approach to some of these songs and the band aspect of the project helped give context to those inspirations.
When in the studio creating the new album, did collaborations generally take place? Did you have any others in the studio with you working on the McCoy Tyler tracks?
The Coffis Brothers are some of my best friends–musically, we share so many influences and our tastes are really similar. I absolutely consider this record a collaboration. From the arrangements down to the lyrics we collectively made sure these songs were going to be accurately represented during recording. Henry Chadwick [drummer] engineered and helped produce the record and each member of the band had a voice in the process. I think this band approach helped to do these songs justice and the whole process, rather than feeling strained or sluggish, was always enjoyable and inspiring.
What was the musical and lyrical inspiration for the record overall?
Writing from perspectives, as opposed to relying on my own viewpoint and narrative, was central to this project. It can be draining, not to mention narcissistic, to keep expecting people to listen to your singular viewpoint over and over again. I wanted to get away from that approach as much as possible and attempt to convey my message through story, which has always felt less preachy. These are completely ridiculous times, no doubt, and our opinions are important, but I wanted to create a platform for my judgment that was more than just pointing fingers. I guess that getting off my soapbox, at least lyrically speaking, forced my writing to have substance and gave it direction.
With the release of your new record this year, what else do you have in store for 2017?
Along with playing local and regional shows (not to mention pinning down a manager, record deal, and massive budget for my next project), the Coffis Brothers and I have plans for a western US tour in July supporting not only my new record but theirs as well, which comes out this summer.
