We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tyler Thompson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tyler, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned to produce music through trial and error and maybe some blind confidence. I was always analyzing the instrumentation of songs and the overall sonics and wanting to figure out how to recreate my favorite sounds. I think really understanding less is more when it comes to music production is really helpful and something I wish I practiced more early on. The essential skills are really just having a taste and figuring out how to use your taste to assist other creatives. I think the biggest obstacles are finances when you’re first starting out because it costs money to get the gear, time to figure out to use it, and lots of trial and error to get to the point where you can make a profit from your productions.

Tyler, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started out playing in bands and recording my own band. Eventually, other local bands asked me to record their albums so I learned as I went. I started a band called WILD that got some popularity and led to a career in music licensing. I’ve since started a few other groups that have had success as well as producing music for many other artists. I think what sets me apart from other producers is my ability to take a song from zero to finished quickly.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I feel like working in the entertainment industry is constant pivoting. One day you’re an artist/boss figure, another you’re hired to do a job exactly as someone else tells you to. I go from making music for advertisements which require specific lyrics and specific production styles to trying to make something unique and new for an indie artist. So it’s a constant pivot to stay busy.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part is being able to have such deep and profound relationships with so many different people. Every time you create a song with someone, there’s a cool bond that connects us and I think having a less creative job might not have those opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.secretroad.com/roster/tyler-thompson
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylermeetsworld?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/tUbojEM5el0MZLQTyx