We were lucky to catch up with Tristyn Tate Tucker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tristyn Tate Tucker thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I grew up intensely quiet and anxious. Other than a neurotic practice of journaling every single day, songwriting was one of the only ways that I was able to express myself. Performing the songs I wrote was only really done as I was writing them, in private, possibly in the company of my sister. I would share some of my songs with close friends at times too, but only the very close ones and only if they knew to ask.

In early high school, I played a song for a friend of mine per her request. She was a huge Taylor Swift fan, and I think knowing anyone who wrote their own songs too was cool to her. She told me my song sounded like a graduation song. I didn’t agree. About a week later, I found out that she told some of our teachers about the song. Those teachers told the principal of my school. And the principal had me play it for her. Then she had me play it in front of my whole school at our senior assembly.

The whole process and performance was unexpected for me. It was terrifying. But after I played my song, a whole gym full of people were smiling and or crying in a standing ovation. I was only able to cover my face and cry in response then, but ever since, I have felt called to pursue songwriting and music despite most of my inherent qualities. I loved being seen and understood in that way, and I loved being able to bring the same feeling to others.

The next year, I performed a newly written song at my senior assembly, and did not cry this time. From then until early college I pursued writing and performing mainly in the local bars and restaurants of eastern Virginia.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Nashville-based songwriter. I mostly write pop music for myself and other artists, but I love writing all genres, as well as non-genre specific works. My style is currently evolving and journalistic; sometimes its theatrical, in your face, sometimes its petty, moody, sad, nostalgic, but mostly my songs are based in life, commentary and story. My narratives are queer, like lesbian queer, but also queer in the way that they are not what’s typically emphasized in music. I write about codependent friendships, systemic structures, almost strangers, and unleashed facets of character, for example.

Right now I am working on a 4-song EP with the working title ‘All The People Who Hate Me’, which captures a small period of time and transition a couple of years ago when I moved to Nashville. Each song is a sub-genre of pop (singer-songwriter pop, soul-pop, pop rock, synth pop), and each song tells a different story of cutting ties with people and ideas that no longer serve you, encapsulating the varied emotions that come along with that process.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I believe that there is healing power in conscious storytelling. Seeing yourself reflected in others’ stories makes us all feel less alone. This hearing, seeing and understanding changes the world for the better. Attunement is at the core of all of the work that I do as a musician. It’s the only reason I write music and have this insane drive to share it.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

You face constant rejection. We know this about creative fields. But what people do not talk about enough is how much you can get in the way of your own self. How life can get more in the way than not being able to book gigs or land a record deal.

What if you are the one who rejects yourself? Whether that shows up in the way of running away from your identity, or not believing in your value, that’s enough to keep you from writing for years. And what about being able to afford basic life needs, much less being able to afford to invest in your craft? Full-time work, 10 part-time jobs, full-time relationships, and where is the time to be alone with your thoughts enough to create something with them for the world again?

If I was not meant to pursue this in some capacity, I would have given up by now.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristyntatetucker/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNrJGSDw19wYX600YpUView

Image Credits
First image and playboy on fire image = Anthony Romano (ig: @anthonyromanocreative) Image with the hat = Emily April Allen (ig: @emilyaprilallenphoto) band depicted = Austin Luther, Chloe Kinnon, and @aubreydw) acoustic guitarist = Jesse Weidner local venue in the sparkly jumpsuit = The Electric Jane local venue with acoustic duo = The Bowery Vault