Page 138 - July ONLINE VERSION

ways want to hear music, or play your instrument, or ZPG: When you are playing, what’s your
view a Grateful Dead concert. It can be multiple ways,
but it is definitely something inside you. How that hits
you is different. It can hit you to a point where you
want to create, or you want to replicate a sound. I see
music lovers that like listening to music more than
I do, but they don’t play music. Where would artists
be without people like that? Artists need people who
listen to buy their music so we can keep creating.
ZPG: I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting ZPG: What if you woke up tomorrow and
Chuck McGill, but I did get to interview there was no music? How would you create
Paula and her daughters. They said that music for us listeners that need it too?
not only was Chuck a talented musician, TG: There would still be sound. Because even hum-
but he was a wonderful husband, father, ming and tapping and friction are all emitting fre-
and friend. That was an amazing experi- quencies. If you can have sound, you can create
ence for you to be able to play with them. music.
TG: Oh yeah, he gave the best advice, and would
support anybody trying to do something, and he ZPG: Do you think music brings together
could do it 10,000 times better. It was very special. more than any other medium?
Charley Baker, Joe McKinney, Josh Smith were like TG: Yes. It touches back to your soul. If you connect
that too. A lot of people have given me a lot of chanc- with music, you’ll seek out places where you can con-
es. I try not to take it for granted, and I try to help nect with it. So, you’ll be around a bunch of souls with
them out if I can. We can ask each other for help. the same type of vibe. Music brings people together
that already share something in common and don’t
even realize it. Then they can become as close as they
want after that. I think that’s apparent in any kind of
music, no matter what it is. No matter if you like it or
not, if there’s a movement of it, people are connecting.
ZPG: How does it feel when you look out at
your audience and it’s full of different races,
ages, genders, and all kinds of diversity?
ZPG: Just for fun, Tyler, if you could go on TG: It feels good because I realize I’m not pi-
tour with any musician or band, living or geon-holed to one thing. I play older music, and it’s
dead, who would you go with? usually people that grew up listening to it that hang
TG: Honestly, I would have loved to go on tour with around, but young people listen to it too. If the music
the Allman brothers, Duane and Greg. They had is good, and somebody’s soul likes it, it doesn’t matter
such a special sound, but it wasn’t just the music. what race, nationality, or whatever they are. That goes
They created Southern Rock and it grew, so the out the window and that soul connection starts hap-
audience became a family, and you knew you were in pening, and then it’s like you’ve got a new brother. It’s
good hands wherever you went. It’s not just the show, way more powerful than looking at the outside.
it’s before, and after, and going home and talking
about it, and planning for the next one.
ZPG: Do you think there is a genuine con-
nection between music and the soul?
TG: Yes. If you have a soul that feels music, you’re
going to be connected whether you play an instru-
ment or not, that’s what you’ll be driven to. You’ll al-
138 www.zoegracepublishing.com ZGP Magazine
an original, and they were surprised. Most people
most requested song?
TG: “Tennessee Whiskey” actually. People request
that song no matter what band or group I’m in. It’s
because I feel that old music in it. I play this new song
and sing it in my old way, and people love it. I add a
couple chords and don’t sing it exactly the same way.
Some people get hung up on singing the words just
right, but I don’t. I’m a guitar player, so I just sing
how I feel. I play so many covers that I end up mak-
ing it somewhat original. I must watch it when I’m
in a group, but when I’m alone I will do pretty much
anything in the middle of it. You can be the one that
copies and plays it note for note, which is ok, that’s
how I started too. But I realized that once you do that,
all you’re going to do is be in a tribute band. You do
it enough, and people will question if you can write
music or can do anything for yourself. I’m not good
at learning a song note-for-note. I want to change it.
That’s the nature of how I’ve ended up playing. I do
what feels comfortable to me, and it’s going down the
path of becoming an artist. Although, I haven’t taken
the plunge to really become an artist yet.
ZPG: Do you ever get bored with singing
the same songs all the time?
TG: Sometimes, but you always have to remember
that it might be your last time playing. If someone
keeps requesting the same song, I’ll just change it. I’ll
do it funky, or bluesy. As long as the words are some-
what right, they don’t mind. No matter if I’m playing
at a nursing home or on a big stage, I remember that
the reason I’m there is to entertain people. The oth-
er reason is to connect with people, make them feel
happy if they're sad, even if I never know about it.
That’s why I’m there. If I’m on tour and no one comes
to hear me but two people, I’m going to do the same
thing I do for 5,000 people. If you don’t like playing
a song, you’re being selfish, like you want the crowd
to want you to play something you want. You can’t be
a selfish musician and get real far. We must cater to
what people like.
ZPG: Do you ever throw an original song in
the mix?
TG: Oh yeah. And I don’t ever say it’s my original
song unless they clap for it. I’ve had a group of peo-
ple come out and request my original, because they
kept hearing me play it, and I finally told them it was
ZGP Magazine www.zoegracepublishing.com
don’t know if it’s a cover or an original though.
ZPG: I think you already are an artist!
From the way you think about music,
your ability to play, and how far you’ve
already come down the path, all contrib-
utes to you being an artist. You don’t have
to have a record label to become an artist.
TG: Well, the missing piece is promoting yourself
on social media. You almost have to be a market-
ing genius and stay on top of it. It can be a full-
time job. I don’t do it enough, but I know that if
you want to make it, you must do it. It’s as import-
ant as showing up to your job to play. I’m lucky to
know people around here that get me gigs, but if
I moved to a new town, I would have to do more
social media. I was playing music before social
media became the way that you promoted yourself.
I started with pieces of paper and posters. I was
approached by a record label executive but short-
ly into the conversation, he wanted me to cut my
hair, change my clothes, and my sound. So, I left
because with my guitar I can be just as I am.
ZPG: Through your connections with
other talented musicians around Jack-
son, I’ve seen you pop up on my social
media several times.
TG: To be honest, that’s basically what I’ve used.
I’ve let the people of Facebook be my Facebook.
I don’t like to promote myself. I like to play my gui-
tar. I don’t want to put my banner up and promote
myself. But I know I will eventually have to. It
would take someone encouraging me to promote
myself because my head is in my guitar.
Keep up with
Tyler Goodson
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