Photographer: Ralph Letim
Hey Tyler!! So excited to be chatting with you 🙂 Where did your love of music come from?
I started to really get into music when I was in second grade. I started out playing guitar and just absolutely fell in love with it. I just thought it was honestly the coolest thing in the world. I remember my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said I wanted to learn how to play the guitar, they were kind of shocked being that neither one of them were musicians or in any way into anything related. But they were super supportive and got me my first guitar and lessons. I would practice the songs that were given to me. Eventually, till I started learning new songs online off of YouTube. It wasn’t until about my freshmen year in high school that I wanted to start getting into singing. Since then, everything just kind of started to take off from there and I have just been in love with everything from music production and recording to performing live.
What has been your reaction to all the success you have been having?
I have honestly been a little shocked by it all if I’m being honest, especially since I’m not from a big city like LA or New York. A lot of people kind of leave music as a hobby and don’t really try and take it all the way or aren’t able to find the resources to get started. I just feel super grateful that I have amazing parents who support my dream, an amazing team that I get to work with, and amazing fans that send their love and support. It honestly just feels unreal. I mean, I know I’m not Beyoncé or anything like that, but still it feels crazy to me. 🙂
Will there be an ep/album out soon?
Right now no, I’m kind of just doing singles right now. But there is definitely a lot of new music coming out that I’m excited to be releasing and working on.
You have worked with some well known producers and songwriters. What have you gained from working with them?
I have learned and gained so much insight from them. A lot of them have helped me learn their techniques from songwriting and music production, to audio engineering, performing, and even so much about the business side of the music industry. It has been a real eye opening experience for me and I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to learn from them and gain so much insight. For me it was just insane, not only because I learned so much from them, but they are people who work and worked with artist I look up to like Michael Jackson, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber just to name a few. So for me hearing it straight from them was just an amazing opportunity.
What do you hope to gain out of your music career?
I honestly just want to have fun making music and inspiring people. On Instagram when kids message me saying that I have inspired them to start singing or to pick up the guitar it honestly is the most rewarding thing I can think of. Especially, when they say that my music has helped them during difficult times in their lives such as coming out, dealing with a loss, or bullying. It honestly means the world to me and always kind of gets to me a little. Mainly because I know what it feels like to be going through a hard time and to go to someone wether it’s a recording artist or a YouTuber and just listen to their music or watch their videos on those days that everything just feels like it has fallen apart. As crazy as it might sound, it honestly helps. For me when I came out to my parents it was a hard time in my life, but I remember watching YouTubers like Troye Sivan Or Tyler Oakley and they would remind me that things are going to be alright and it will get better, sometimes it just takes time. So for me hearing that I helped them really does feel amazing and almost in a way feels like you’re serving your purpose.
Do you have any shows coming up?
As of right now, no. But I do have a lot of content planed on social media for everyday day on Instagram and TikTok on my account @TylerGomezMusic that I am excited to be posting.
What do you think is the benefit of having a following on social media in the music industry?
I think it is the best thing in the world. I feel that, that is the best thing about living in our generation, we’re all connected. When you think about it we literally have a computer in our pocket that gives us the ability to send a text to someone all the way across the word! It’s insane. It’s great for the music industry because no matter what your style is you can just post it online and have it displayed there for people to find. I mean Instagram alone has one billion users world wide. That’s a lot of people, even if everyone on there isn’t into music or your style, that still makes it a lot easier to find someone who does like your music and share it with them.
Does your fanbase have a name?
I don’t think so, but I did see a fan account say that they are calling it Ty Nation. I thought that was pretty cool.
How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?
I kind of see my relationship with my fans as either like I’m an older brother to them or one of their friends. I kind of like that. I personally don’t have an older brother but for me when I think of an older brother I think of someone you can look up to, go to for help, and just have fun, mess around, and be your self around. And I pretty much think of a friend as the same way but instead of looking up to them I think you can kind of look to them for help, I see it as more even.
What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?
I use Instagram the most for that. We usually stay connected by direct message. It’s always funny to me when they message me and when I respond back how they freak out a little. It’s cool to see them get so excited, especially when they say it made their day.
Photographer: Matt Hansen
What was the craziest fan encounter you have had?
I don’t think I have had any crazy encounters yet. No one has snuck into my hotel room or anything like that. Honestly, every time someone has come up to me when I’m out it has been a pretty normal experience. They will usually ask for a picture and talk a little. The only thing that they say sometimes is that they were watching me for a little while trying to figure out if it was really me or not. Which is pretty funny especially because there has been times where I see them like staring at me from across where ever we’re at and I will notice them staring a couple time, so sometimes I’m not sure if they know me or if they are like checking me out or something, which is funny to me because they are usually girls, and I’m gay so I just laugh to myself like sorry honey, your not my type. But then they will come up to me and we get to laugh and joke around for a minute.
What do you think makes your fan community/fandom different from others?
I think it’s just cool to see such a mix of people, they are all usually younger but they are all from different places, who come from different backgrounds, going through different things. It’s just cool to me how we can all come together and share a love for music and videos.
What are three words you would use to describe your fans?
Three word I would use to describe my fans are Amazing, Beautiful, and Talented.
What do you want your message to be towards your fans? What do you want your fans to take away from your music and shows?
Love that! There’s actually quite a few messages I want to get across. I want people to know that it’s okay to be yourself and that you should never be afraid or feel embarrassed about that. No matter what people or society might tell us we don’t need to fit into this mold of what we should look like, how we should act, or what we need to do with our lives. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should act crazy and go steal a car or anything like that. But what I am saying is that we are all different, and that’s okay. It’s actually the best thing in the world. If we were all the same that would be so boring. We all have different physical features, personalities, talents, and goals. That’s what helps us stand out. I think it’s empowering to stand out, it shows that you’re not afraid and that you are comfortable and confident. I’m also a big believer in equality, I even have the equality sign tattooed on my left wrist. I want people to know that we are all equal no matter our gender, race, sexuality, where we come from, the way we look or sound. We are all human and deserve the same amount of love and attention. I also want people to know that they are beautiful just the way they are and that they are just as important as anyone else and deserve the same amount of love and attention that they would give to someone else. So in other words self care and self love.
What’s something your fans don’t know about you?
I recently decided to go vegan. I know that being vegan is pretty hard especially since pretty much all my life I have had animal products like dairy and meat, but I recently saw how they treat the animals to get those products and that honestly changed my whole point of view. It also made me feel really sad. Before, I kind of would just look at animal products as just something we would get at the store or at a restaurant, but now I kind of look at it as something that was alive and it kind of just grosses me out if I’m being honest. I don’t believe in pushing a vegan lifestyle on anyone so I don’t really talk about it that much, but it is something most people don’t know about me.
What’s one word you would use to describe what your fans have allowed you to accomplish?
Happiness. Being able to inspire and help people out is something that makes me feel happy. Being able to do that all while doing music and making little videos is honestly the best thing ever for me
What do you want your fans to know if they ever see you in public?
That if you want a picture or just want to say what’s up or anything, don’t feel scared to ask, I honestly don’t mind. I think it’s awesome to be able to meet you guys.
What’s an average day for you look like?
Every morning I make myself breakfast, workout for two hours, then have a snack. After that I take a shower and get dressed and start working on everything I need to get done that day. Lately it’s been TikTok, Instagram, and School. I do school online so I’m able to travel whenever I need to. I honestly really like online school, it makes it so much easier for me to go to LA every week.
Do you have any last things you want to tell your supporters?
I just want them to know that their love and support means the world to me. I love you guys!!!
