I was recently invited into the studios of MetroEast Community Media and KZME Radio to film a performance and interview segment known as Music on the Air. In all, we filmed a 30-min episode that features five live performances and interlaces some of my interview responses regarding the Portland music scene, my stint in Nashville, my upbringing, etc. Fun stuff.

Thank you John Lugton and the MetroEast crew for your hospitality and for supporting local music. You do a good service to the community.

Enjoy the video embedded below or visit their Blip.tv site to watch.

THIS EPISODE WILL AIR JULY 11, 2011. TUNE IN.

SET LIST:
1. The Road | buy now
2. That Moon | buy now
3. Often & Much | coming 01.01.12
4. Best Laid Plans | coming 01.01.12
5. Better Be Us All | buy now

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
MetroEast Community Media | Community Television and Beyond
KZME Radio | music where you live

In late 2006, two very gracious friends of mine surprised me with a plane ticket to Europe, providing me with a monumental opportunity to feel another breeze and lay beneath another sun. The trip changed my life. And, because this gift was given out of the complete kindness of their hearts, I felt mine shift and soften as their Big Hearts made mine grow.

This song is my very humble way of saying, Thank You.

Below is a video discussion of the behind-the-scenes background of Big Hearts, track #1 on my new album Another Gleam — a revealing look at the inspirations, the meanings behind the song, the songwriting process, the recording experience and much more. Enjoy.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

BIG HEARTS
by tyler stenson © 2007

Heaven knows I’d wait to feel another breeze
And to lie beneath another sun;
Deep down in your love.

Big Hearts are filling up the hemispheres.
Big Hearts are warming up the coldest years.
They’ll lie beside me forever more
Because Big Hearts make mine grow.

It’s growing everyday
And softly resting miles away.
I swear Heaven was exploding there-
It was filling up the air.

Big Hearts are filling up the hemispheres.
Big Hearts are warming up the coldest years.
They’ll lie beside me forever more
Because Big Hearts make mine grow.
Big Hearts are Full Moons and Northern Lights.
They come full circle-
They defy science.
Big Hearts are freight trains that push me along
They hold onto the tracks even when the wind is strong.
Big Hearts are factories of Godlight Beams
That just get brighter as the daylight completely recedes.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

When lovers quarrel, the conversation often leads to the definitive question, Should we work it out or should we part ways? Should we combine or melt into separate things? With any luck, the outcome will settle the unsettled and finally leave you at ease.

Below is a video discussion of the behind-the-scenes background of Separate Things, track #9 on my new album Another Gleam — a revealing look at the inspirations, the meanings behind the song, the songwriting process, the recording experience and much more. Enjoy.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

SEPARATE THINGS
by tyler stenson © 2008

The trees have gone
But they’ve graciously left their leaves
In piles on the ground.
These are the coldest days (with the coldest breeze)
That I have ever found
But still I feel fine…

Cause I’ve found the sun still shines without you here
(Though it’s missing the brightest piece).
Usually, there is something in Silence that I fear
But I don’t miss you in the least-
In fact, I feel fine and it might be just what I need.

She came to talk about Love.
She came to talk about this want to combine-
One last time-
Before we melt into separate things.

So much of our love is dissonant;
Detracts from the beauty in life.
So, I’ll try to write a silver lined song
With a melody that’s nice
Just to make me feel fine and believe
This might be just what I need.

She came to talk about Love.
She came to talk about this want to combine-
One last time-
Before we melt into separate things.

Believe me.
Believe me, I’m trusting my head
Because to live by the Heart is to die.

She came to talk about Love!
She came to talk about this want to combine
One last time…

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER!! As you know, I’ve been in the process of re-recording my album See That Gleam from 2008, in an effort to do the songs justice. I’m proud to say that I was just given the first round of mixes for Another Gleam (2011) and the results have far exceeded my expectations. Allow me to show you the difference…

Below are two songs from my new album in their raw form; Big Hearts and Cellophane. Although these mixes are incomplete and the tracks are not mastered, I’m confident you’ll enjoy the moment as you realize See That Gleam in another light.

BIG HEARTS 2011

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CELLOPHANE 2011

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BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

In August of 2008, I recorded and released an album you know as See That Gleam — it was 12 tracks that I loved dearly; however, I felt the recording fell short of the vision. Of course, it doesn’t take a music production degree to recognize a short coming and this short coming has haunted me ever since.

As a blatant sufferer of OCD, I’ve mulled it over for years; Should I re-record See That Gleam or move on with my newer music? Is it worth re-visiting or should I just cut my losses and look to the future? Am I being hyper critical or is a re-recording truly justified? What are horse shoes? Are there horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?

A persistent burden.

It was early November of 2010 when the answer hit me like a ton of bricks — a resounding YES. Like a wave crashing over me, I was all at once convinced that re-visiting See That Gleam 2008 was the right thing to do as it would forever settle my soul and clear all doubt.

I was going to make it happen. Quickly.

Without hesitation, I instantly contacted my good buddy Laz who was the chief engineer at a local Nashville studio (I was living in Nashville at the time) and, as I had recently received of a $1,000 check for some design work, I asked him, How much studio time will you give me for $1,000? He agreed to block off a marathon week and we set the date for the Monday after Thanksgiving.

The goal was to track EVERYTHING in that one single week and while we didn’t quite finish EVERYTHING in that long-winded week of recording, we covered about 80% of what needed to be done: drums, guitar, vocals, harmonies, percussion, keys, strings and more.

Ask around; not many albums get tracked in one week.

All of that said, the bulk of the process was swift but there was an unfortunate delay in completing the final 20% chunk. While most of it was recorded at MEG Productions in Nashville within a matter of hours, some of the recording came back to Portland with me and the upright bass was just recently tracked in New York City by my enormously talented friend Logan Coale.

Three cities and five months later, I have finally received round one of the almost-final mixes. Another Gleam has found its form in 2011 and I’m proud to say, it has reached its potential and more than exceeded my expectations. It’s beautiful if you ask me.

To think, I started writing these songs in 2003, See That Gleam took raw shape in 2008 and at last, Another Gleam has been realized in its totality in 2011. A long process but well worth it.

While there is still some fine tuning to be done (mixing and mastering), the grunt work is finally finished and I’m ready to show it off. Please join me for the CD Release Party on Friday June 17th at Someday Lounge in Portland, OR. It is on that evening that I’ll finally release a version of a record that will stand in stone forever … plus two bonus tracks.

RIP See That Gleam … Welcome to the party Another Gleam.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

TONIGHT. TONIGHT. TONIGHT!! My live CD/DVD recording featuring my “greatest hits” from 2002-2011 … yes, even Cannonball … is TONIGHT at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland, OR. I’ll be featuring a wonderful new band so please join me and come be part of the immortal recording!!

GET TICKETS HERE: http://bit.ly/auIjXd

THE LINEUP:
Gabby Holt – 7:00p
Redwood Son (“Best New Artist”) – 8:00p
Tyler Stenson (“Best Male Artist”) – 9:00p
Matt Hopper (A Really Good Musician) – 10:15p

Please spread the word, re-post on your page, tweet, blog, yell on street corners and bring a crew.

Thank you all.

In September of 2009 I played a farewell show at the Aladdin Theater — my last waltz before moving to Nashville, TN. Although I’ve posted the concert videos previously, I now present the audio — for free — a live album that captures the magic of one of the most special nights in my life. Please, pass it on.

DOWNLOAD THE .ZIP HERE: Tyler Stenson live at the Aladdin Theater

WATCH ALL THE VIDEOS HERE

Lastly, please join me on March 11th for another live recording at Alberta Rose Theater. It promises to be just as special. More info here.

ALADDIN SET LIST:
You can download the tracks individually below…

1. Welcome the Change
2. You Already Know
3. As the Crow Flies
4. Cellophane
5. The Road
6. Wyoming
7. Explode
8. Great Man’s Funeral
9. I Get No Sleep
10. Better Be Us All

In honor of my “Best Male Artist” award at the 2011 Portland Music Awards, I will be hosting a very special celebration at the Alberta Rose Theater on March 11th, 2011. That said, save the date and BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

In an effort to make this evening extra special, I will be doing a live “greatest hits” CD/DVD concert event that will highlight my best songs from across the decade. If you have any songs in particular that you’d like to hear — from any era — let it be known or forever hold your peace.

This will be a concert you’ll definitely want to see — your participation will be documented for time and all eternity so be sure to grab a group of friends and join the party.

Also, joining me on the bill is Redwood Son and Matt Hopper…

REDWOOD SON
redwoodson.com

Redwood Son, a fresh new solo effort by Portland based singer/songwriter Josh Malm (formerly J*Malem) is gearing up to release its debut album at the start of 2011. With 2 albums under his previous moniker, “Beginnings*End” & “Live @ Mississippi Studios”, Malm truly believes this current effort is the culmination of 5 years of hard work and evolution as an artist. Although the original Band was torn apart by the tragic death of drummer Kipp Crawford, in November of 2009, Malm has not given up on the vision they shared. The group was searching for the perfect sound that could represent Malm’s childhood in the California Redwoods, with an obvious affinity for the Great NW, when they were cut unexpectedly short. “The sound has been found!” Malm says proudly.

“This music should speak to your soul, and hopefully my stories can help you find some peace within the confines of this human condition we all share in common”, says Malm. Coined as “West Coast Americana”, you can expect to hear a heavy dose of Alt. Country, Blues, Rock, and Soul. Whatever the sound, the Lyrics stand out in a big way. “Call it Folk, call it Story Telling. I don’t concern myself with labels, as long as the message is clear and the listener feels something deeper, on an emotional level”, he says.

MATT HOPPER AND THE ROMAN CANDLES
matthopper.com

After reading Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild and recording a solo E.P. (Gold Rush 2004) an inspired Hopper left LA for his own version of Kerouac’s On The Road. He toured non-stop as a solo artist from late 2004 to late 2005, crisscrossing the USA twice performing to anyone and everyone. After performing at the South Park Music Festival one writer from Summit Daily News describes him as “a monster rock n roll front man who writes brilliantly crafted pop tunes. He has the catalogue, persistence and the stage presence to be the next big thing in pop musics re-birth of the singer/songwriter genre. He’s already proven he’s among the best of his class.”

For more information on the special concert event, visit the Alberta Rose Theater website.

I’m proud to say that my song That Moon was featured on Kink.fm yesterday for the Local Music Spotlight!! It was a very cool experience because I got to do a 10 minute phone interview with Inessa that she has included in full on the Kink web page — it really gave me the chance to talk about my career, my song and my goals for 2011. Thanks Inessa!!

To listen to the entire phone interview, go the the Kink.fm here or to download my song That Moon, visit CD Baby here.

Thanks Kink for supporting local artists and thanks for playing my song That Moon from my newest record Long Before the Wheel.

A few weeks ago I posted the Better Be Us All performance video from the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville — well, I recently got my hands on all but one of the songs from that evening and I’ve posted them below. Although As the Crow Flies wasn’t captured on film, I hope you’ll enjoy the other five songs from that very special night.

THE ROAD

THAT MOON

DAFFODILS

OFTEN & MUCH

BETTER BE US ALL