This January during my Bittersweet Parade album release tour, I had the opportunity to sit down with the fellas at Acoustic Conversations and chat about my move to Nashville — I even got to play a couple songs! Curt and Peter are good guys and I always enjoy our little talks. I hope you do to.

LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION: HERE
SEE MORE PHOTOS: HERE
RE-VISIT THE FIRST CONVERSATION: HERE

photo by pete wright

GO TO iTUNES TO DOWNLOAD THESE EXCLUSIVE LIVE TRACKS:

1. Welcome the Change
2. Leave Oregon
3. Blush
4. That Moon
5. Roderigo (Cover, Seven Mary Three)

My record Bittersweet Parade was recently featured on The Music Critic UK as the August 2010 Album of the Month! These are some of the kindest words I’ve ever heard toward my music and much needed at this time. Please read the review below and feel free to leave your own here.

Tyler Stenson: Bittersweet Parade – Album of the Month – August 2010

Every so often you get an album through to review that kinda takes you by surprise. In Tyler Stensons case the surprise is that he is not a bigger name than he is. The singer songwriter from Portland is a well known face on the cities local music scene but Stenson comes equipped for bigger things. The music is simple yet mesmerisingly beautiful and the voice distinctive, full of warmth, expression and with an aching sorrow in it at times. I’ve never heard of Stenson before this album but he has been a productive boy with a clutch of albums and ep’s before this release with some glowing reviews to boot.

The music is primarily acoustic and flirts with folk, Americana and bluegrass but it is none of these. Instead it takes on a pop element without being poppy. Confusing I know but suffice to say that the songwriting is of a quality that the like of Ryan Adams and Jackson Browne would struggle to match. This is beautiful, heartfelt and honest music that is performed with a conviction and passion that is simply irresistible.

Straight from the start you are in no doubt that you are listening to something very special. Opener Welcome The Change introduces a confident voice comfortable with intelligent lyrics that draw the listener in rather than patronising them and all set to a deceptively simple melody that is underpinned by driving acoustic guitar and flashes of mandolin. The Road is no less of a masterpiece, in fact there is nothing on this album for anyone to remotely dislike. The production is equally as impressive as the music, enveloping the whole album in a warm glow with space to allow the instrumentation to breath.

On an album of this quality it is hard to pick out individual tracks for praise but if pushed I would have to say that As The Crow Flies is a particular favourite. In fact I am struggling to think of when I have ever heard such a beautiful and mesmerising piece of music as this. It is a remarkable song and quite breathtaking.

This is by far one of the most accomplished and beautiful albums that I have ever heard and Tyler Stenson has produced something that he should be justifiably proud of. I seriously can’t believe that this man is not a star as he has proved with this album that he is in every sense of the word. I can’t recommend this album enough. Seriously…. buy it.

Read more: http://www.themusiccritic.co.uk/2010/07/tyler-stenson-bittersweet-parade-album.html#ixzz0upVEVE91

LADIES, my sweet sweet friend Emily sells beautiful jewelry for Stella & Dot and in an effort to help me out with my fundraiser, she has offered to donate 100% of her commissions toward my album for all trunk show purchases from now ’til August 1st.

Yep, it’s a double score of goodness: by buying some lovely jewelry here, you can support my upcoming album. Can’t go wrong with that.

I just discovered that out of 700 submissions, my song The Road has made the top 84 as a semifinalist in the Zac Brown Band Sailing Southern Ground Contest. The next round gets whittled down to 25 finalists and then who knows what happens after that — I don’t really care. However, that said, I am proud that my horse made the first cut and we’ll see what happens in round two. Stay tuned.

With only 3 weeks to go I have just barely breached the 50% mark of my fundraiser for my next album Long Before the Wheel. I’ve got all the confidence in the world that the goal will be met but I could still use everyone’s help in making it happen. The deadline is August 1st.

If you’re interested in donating toward my next album, please visit http://kck.st/clPNkY for details or simply send a personal check to:

Tyler Stenson
Attn: Kickstarter
740 Vernon Ave.
Nashville, TN 37209

Be sure to include your email address and other contact info so I can get a hold of you for your free copy!!

INCENTIVES:
$5 = 1 free download of the album.
$10 = 1 free signed copy of the album.
$100 = 5 signed copies to give to your friends and a beaming mention on my blog.
$250 = 10 signed copies and your name in the liner notes of the album.
$1,000 = 20 signed copies and the title of “executive producer” in the liner notes.

Thank you one and all for making this happen. The record would not happen without you; therefore, I appreciate each and every donation big or small. Here we go!!

I was quite honored today when I logged on to Facebook to find an invite for a group titled: Tyler Stenson’s “Wyoming” Should Be the Official State Song. I had no idea this group had been formed but I must admit, I have zero objection to the cause. I’m truly honored that my song has made the impact that it has and I’m humbled that others would even attempt to get it recognized on a larger level.

I suppose the attention began last summer when I performed my song about Wyoming at the Oyster Ridge Music Festival in Kemmerer, WY — the song, it seemed, received a beaming appreciation from the crowd and this Facebook group is the result.

That said, I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be returning to the Oyster Ridge Music Festival this year where I’ll be kicking off the festivities with a special first-of-its-kind Thursday night showcase on July 29th. I just found out about this performance so as usual, I’m very excited to return to my place of birth — Wyoming.

WYOMING

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Tyler Stenson @ the Oyster Ridge Music Festival
Thursday July 29th, 2010
Kemmerer, WY

Please do me the honor of joining Tyler Stenson’s “Wyoming” Should Be the Official State Song. May this group take us places!

In an attempt to raise funds for my upcoming EP Long Before the Wheel, I have teamed up with a fundraising website called KickStarter. Essentially I’ve set up an account, outlined my vision for the project, named a fundraising goal and now it’s up to me to see if I can reach it before August 1st. Pass it on: http://kck.st/clPNkY

My goal is $3,500 for covering the recording, mastering, replication and release of the new album. If you feel inclined to support the arts and to help in immortalizing this record with any dollar amount, visit my Kickstarter account for all of the details necessary to donate.

Truly, any amount helps and there are various incentives to be involved … think of it as pre-purchasing your copy of the record. Thank you for your support across the years and may this venture be one of success. Pass it on: http://kck.st/clPNkY

Here is the link for my fundraising home base … pass it on: http://kck.st/clPNkY

I recently designed a website for Stepheni Elli, a Nashville based singer-songwriter in the folkrock genre. Although I’m not an expert web designer by any means, I’ve been making a living these days by “flipping the code” that I use for my website and tweaking it to the client’s liking. It’s something I can do relatively quickly and at a very low cost to my friends and fellow singer-songwriters.

Below is just a snapshot of Stepheni’s new website, if you’re interested in having me make one for you, send me an email here. Thanks!

Stepheni Elli website by Tyler Stenson

While flying from Nashville to Portland, I finally finished a book that I started back in January. It’s not that the book wasn’t interesting; I just happen to read in sporadic spurts and February was a bit of a lull. I digress.

The book was called Endurance and it was the most insanely inspirational account of a 1914 Antarctic expedition gone awry. Sir Ernest Shackleton led 28 men into the treacherous territory and when their ship was crushed by the ice, they found themselves stranded and tested to the extent of human-will for roughly 2 years — never dry, never warm, always hungry.

THE BACK OF THE BOOK:
This fabulous account of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s epic adventure re-creates one of the most astonishing feats of exploration and human courage ever recorded.

In August 1914, the Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. The object of the expedition: to cross the Antarctic overland. In October of 1915, still half a continent away from their intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in the ice. For five monts Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways in one of the most savage regions in the world.

Alfred Lansing’s vivid narrative chronicles the amazing thousand-mile voyage in an open boat across the stormiest ocean on the globe and an overland trek through forbidding glaciers and mountains.

The book recounts a harrowing adventure, but ultimately it is the nobility of these men and their indefatigable will to fight back and survive that shines through.

I’m not typically a self-defeating pessimist but there are definitely times when I think life is too tough to bear. If anything, this book left me to reflect upon my “trials” and ultimately realize that I’ve seen nothing worth complaint. These men were the dictionary definition of resilient and I have much to learn from their bravery.

In the end, my life is a lovely piece of cake — I’m humbled and endlessly grateful for the food in my belly and the dry land under my feet. Thank you Endurance for the lesson on perspective.

I was lucky enough to have TWO of my songs approved for a local music compilation CD that benefits Relay for Life. My songs Better Be Us All and Whistle Stop can both be found within the mix of great local artists found on the Believe CD Compilation.

Believe
Various Artists
© Copyright-The Birds Eye View
Record Label: Various Artists

This CD is a compilation of musicians and poets from the Portland Metro area who have contributed for a good cause, where all the proceeds go directly to Relay for Life (American Cancer Society). CD Baby is also donating to this cause. Thank you CD Baby!

To sample and/or buy the Believe CD Compilation, click here or on the image above.