What are some differences that you’ve noticed in the music you’re making now compared to what you’ve released in the past?
Tyler: It seems like some of the songs I wrote with more of a band in mind.  I wrote almost all of my stuff before on just an acoustic guitar and for an acoustic guitar.  I also notice on this stuff that there are a lot of songs that stretch me as a vocalist too.  They’re a lot harder to sing and a lot more demanding of the voice.  But I dig it! I wanted to write something like that.

Has your songwriting process changed?
Tyler: Yeah for sure! For this record I’ve really opened myself up to writing with other people, getting outside ideas and letting some other things influence me.  That wasn’t the case on The Tracks of Tyler Hilton, I just wrote every song myself.  So it’s really cool because I think that all of the influences – of people I wrote with and living in Nashville and then coming back to L.A. – I think you can hear all that.

Are there any tracks that you’re particularly excited to release?
Tyler: I’m really excited about this track, “This World Will Turn Your Way.”  I’m excited about all of them!  There are some old ones that the fans have been waiting for a long time that I’ve been really wanting to get out there and then there are some songs that no one has heard.  “Sunset Blvd” is one that I just put out this month which was been really exciting.  There’s also this song called “I Believe in You” that I wrote a couple years ago that almost didn’t make it to the record; I got to kind of argue my way into keeping it on the record and I’m so glad that I did.  That’s one of the fan favorites too right now and it’s on the EP, so those are really my three favorites.

What kinds of things inspired you for this record?
Tyler: The work that it took to make the record really inspired me.  It was the first project like this that I’ve had to work this hard on.  It took three years or so to make.  The last record just took six months, maybe a year to make – this took three or four years to make.  That really struck me.  Plus, since I recorded that last record right out of high school, I’ve been kind of recording and promoting it since then.   For this one, I really got a chance after all of that happened to me, to take a moment and look at myself and ask myself what I want.  It was really cool, I got to move to Nashville and hang there for a while and then I ended up moving back to L.A.  So a lot of things inspired it, this record was definitely a journey.

You’ve done a lot of acting work in the past, so which is more challenging for you…acting or singing on stage?
Tyler: Being an actor is scarier to me, it’s more challenging.  Music just comes a bit easier...

I would say that there are challenges in music – but I would say acting is more challenging for me.  I’m newer to that and I really dig it but it’s just really new and the newness hasn't worn off.  It’s really exciting to me but it also makes me really nervous, but it’s great! The music just kind of comes a lot easier and I’m enjoying it so much more.

Do you have any acting gigs coming up?
Tyler: Nope, nothing right now. I’m just going to be on the road for a while.

How do you stay inspired on tour?
Tyler: By not getting bored and just staying fresh. There’s a lot to take in when you’re on the road.  There are so many beautiful drives and so many beautiful cities that you get to see.  I used to spend a lot of time just ignoring the fact that I was on the road until I got on stage.  But now I’ve been trying to take measures to take it all in a little bit more and enjoy all of these beautiful places I get to be.  It’s been giving me so much more energy and making me feel so much happier.  It’s really great being back on the road; I haven’t done it in so long!

Do you have any favorite places to stop while you’re on the road?
Tyler: I have favorite cities with friends…I have friends in New York City and in Seattle and in Boise.  Also Nashville.  But as far as places that I think are beautiful, I love being up near the north east, it’s just breathtaking the kind of stuff that we’re driving through.  And some of those drives we had through the Midwest were just gorgeous. 

After all of these years of touring and making records, what have you learned about yourself?
Tyler: I think I’m having more fun with the process in every single way.  I think I’m enjoying the whole journey a bit more as opposed to being focused to some kind of end goal that I’m no really clear of.  When I was younger I had this idea that I wanted to do this because it would be fun to eventually do this and that.  And now I’m realizing that it’s so much more now.  I love playing the clubs and I love touring around.  I love being in the van with the band so it’s nice, I’m kind of digging all of that more. 

Do you know when the new record will be released?
Tyler: No, I think it’s going to be August but the EP is out now!  It’s called Ladies and Gentlemen and it’s got 5 new songs on it.  It’s on iTunes and is available all places digitally. I’m also selling it at the shows.

What’s the title of the upcoming album?
Tyler: The new record is called The Storms We Share.

What inspired that title?
Tyler: Well it seems like this record just took a long time to make.  A lot of the songs were about love on the surface level and also a new deep with love.  And a lot of the songs are about overcoming adversity and staying the course.  When I look at the record, it seems like a lot more of the music is universal, whereas my last record was so specific – every song was about a very specific moment in my life.  This record is more universal, for whatever reason that just came out of me.  It feels like these songs I would be able to share with a lot of people, so that’s why I came up with the title The Storms We Share.

What 3 albums would recommend that every music lover should own?
Tyler: Hmm…let’s see…

Well I’d have to say, any Robert Johnson record.  The complete Robert Johnson, that’s amazing.

I would say, Elvis Presley’s golden records. 

And let’s go with Bob Dylan’s very first record – Bob Dylan.

What kind of books and movies are you into?
Tyler: Right now I’m in the middle of watching The Proposal, as we speak. I also just saw the movie Julie & Julia a few days ago, I love to cook so I liked that one a lot.

I just finished the book The Power of Now, which was really good. Right now I’m reading this other book that my guitar player suggested to me called Siddhartha.

Check out Tyler's official website for more information about his background, complete works and upcoming record!

Check out Tyler Hilton performing "I Believe in You" featuring Kina Grannis:

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