Ty West

Artist Information

Biography

Ty West is an acoustic guitar playin' singer / songwriter, weaving together many musical styles to create his own unique sound. His rhythmic grooves and inventive lyrical style unite to generate a fresh, full sound. Ty blends elements from folk, jazz, funk, rock, and eastern music in his intriguing, driving one-man show. Originally from Ontario, Ty is now a resident of beautiful British Columbia. The last few years have seen Ty performing in numerous live music venues, pubs, coffee shops, and festivals across the country, and his fan base continues its rapid expansion.

Ty is currently working on the follow-up to his debut album, Organic. Organic, released in 2005, is a stripped down, song-oriented album. The new project will feature Ty’s multi-instrumental talents on vocals, guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, and sitar, and is expected in the Fall of 2010.

Ty is an independent artist in every sense of the word. Having spent time working for a major indie label and management company, he has found a way to do it all himself. He handles all of his distribution, artwork, marketing, recording, and bookings. When you are supporting him, you are truly supporting him!
Ty West allows taping and trading of his live performances. This has led to a growing online fan base in markets that Ty has never even played. From Canada to Chile, France to China, he is impressing listeners around the globe. His deep reservoir of original songs is spiced with judiciously-chosen cover material. If you are looking for a high-energy performer with true songwriting skills, look no further than Ty West.

Ty also plays electric guitar in Brian Rosen & The WhatNow, a rock reggae funk band that tours extensively in BC and Alberta.


At this moment, Ty is working on his follow up to his debut album, Organic. The new project will feature Ty’s talents on vocals, guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, and sitar.

West released his debut album Organic in 2005, and has been working on the follow up since. Organic, which features acoustic guitars and vocals is a stripped down, song-oriented album.
Ty is an independent artist in every sense of the word. Having spent time working for a major indie label and management company, he has found a way to do it all himself. He handles all of his distribution, artwork, marketing, recording, and bookings. When you are supporting him, you are truly supporting him!

Ty West allows taping and trading of his live performances. This has led to a growing online fanbase in markets that Ty has never even played. From Canada to Chile, France to China, he is impressing listeners around the globe. If you are looking for a high-energy performer with pure songwriting skills, check out Ty West.

Ty also plays electric guitar in the Rock Reggae Funk band Brian Rosen & The WhatNow.

Instrumentation

Ty West - Acoustic Guitar & Vocals

Discography

~Debut Album - Organic, released 2005 - http://www.cdbaby.com/tywest

~Live performances available for download via www.archive.org

Links

• Ty's Twitter
• Ty's Page on Facebook
• Ty's Side Project -Brian Rosen & The WhatNow
• Ty's Side Project -Brian Rosen & The WhatNow

Audio

• Ty West - Roll With It
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• Ty West - Rambles
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• Ty West - Always Thinkin'
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• Outta Site
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• Ty West - Varnish
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• Ty West - Petals On The Water
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• Sicilian Kiss
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Video

Ty West - What Do We Want

Photo Gallery

Press

• Face Time With Ty [+ Show ]
  

  Face Time With Ty by Jessica Pedlar What brings you back to Sarnia & why have you decided to...
  
  Face Time With Ty
  by Jessica Pedlar
  
  What brings you back to Sarnia & why have you decided to put on a show here?
  
  I have a close friend getting married on the weekend. I felt it would be a good time to hang out and play a couple gigs in Sarnia. I don’t get to experience Ontario in the warm months much anymore, as I save my
  trips East for the Holidays. I really miss Bright’s Grove in the Summer.
  
  Date/time/location of the show?
  Wednesday, August 12th and 19th
  Paddy Flaherty’s, 10pm, No Cover
  
  What other artists, if any, will be featured?
  
  James Miller – Bluesy/Folky Singer/Songwriter - originally of Sarnia
  Additional Special guests
  
  Where do you get your inspiration for your music? Is it something you really have to work at or does an idea just pop into your head that you go with?
  
  I get my inspiration from every moment of life. Things are happening all the time. Every one of those “things” can give life to a song. It all begins with a seed and seeds are being dropped every second. People
  you meet, something you read, any random daily occurrence can be a subject to be explored further.
  
  What makes your sound unique?
  
  I learned guitar by listening to the songs and trying to play along like many do. For me, learning the chords was not enough. I wanted to somehow get the feeling of the bass line, the drums, the keys and whatever else was in there. I wanted to really fill the sound in. This
  need for the full sound made it’s way in to my writing years later.
  Percussive strumming and some unusual chord structures are some
  characteristics of my tunes. Many musical styles make their way in to my playing. I may be doing a bluegrass song about a canoe, go in to an Eastern instrumental and end up in a funk tune about cats. I don’t
  want the listener to get bored.
  
  Rumour has it, you’re starting up a studio? Details?
  
  Well, I can’t let too much out right now. What I can say is that I’m starting business with two great friends that just happen to be amazing musicians here in Nelson, BC. The studio part is only one ingredient in the recipe. We will be making some announcements in the coming months.
  
  What does your family think of your music? Are they supportive?
  
  I really couldn’t imagine a more supportive family. Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and of course my folks, are at every performance that they can get to. My parents were really supportive in me finding what it was that made me happy and they continue to nurture it. I’m pretty sure my Mom is my best PR Rep.
  
  Do you have any new music available for people to purchase at your show? Can people listen online?
  
  I’m afraid not yet. I’ve been working on a new recording for quite some time now and all I can say is…soon. I’ll have my album Organic with me, so you can pick that up if you haven’t yet.
  
  Do you have a website? If so, address please!
  
  I have a few actually. I think everyone does these days. The official page is at www.TyWest.ca. I also have the Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter thing goin’. You can link to those from my official page.
  
  What are your thoughts on how technology is changing the music industry? Do you use a lot of computer effects in your music or do you prefer to do things the old fashioned way?
  
  I think the music industry is going through lots right now and has been for a while. As I’m sure many people know, the old model is completely shattered. Everyone is trying to find out the best way to rebuild it. Technology is changing every second though, therefore, the
  model has to constantly change. We’re not force-fed music like we
  were in the past. Sure, we could decide what radio station to listen to, but not what was played on it. It really feels like there’s something for
  everyone if they want to find it.
  When it comes to my recording, I like it to be simple and honest.
  I’m really tryin’ to capture that idea in the next album. I dabble in the electronic side of music, just not with my singer/songwriter stuff. I like to keep all my projects separate.
  
  Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven’t covered?
  
  I’d love for the readers to check out another project that I’m involved with. For the past year I’ve been playing and touring with the rock/reggae/funk band Brian Rosen & The WhatNow. I’m playing electric guitar in this act. I can’t wait to bring our conscious dance grooves to you all in the not to distant future.
  
  
  

• Musician works to satisfy his creativity, not get rich [+ Show ]
  

  Sarina’s Ty West didn’t become a musician to score millions of dollars, or chicks. With his debut C...Sarina’s Ty West didn’t become a musician to score millions of dollars, or chicks.
  With his debut CD, Organic, exceeding his own sales expectations, the self-confessed starving artist says making music is about satisfying his own musical creativity and staying true to himself.
  But, making a comfortable living off something he loves to do wouldn’t hurt either.
  “I just don’t want to have regrets,” says West, who now calls Vancouver home.
  The 25-year-old has been giving music a go professionally for the past four years and West feels as if he’s accomplished a lot in that short span.
  He wrote and self-produced his first album, which has been organic in every sense of the word.
  Even the art on the album’s cover was his own.
  Organic, an eclectic mix of 12 tracks fusing his vocals and his rhythmic acoustical work, incorporates styles from several musical genres, including reggae, blues, jazz and classic rock.
  West says he’s a performer who doesn’t dance to the same tune as most musicians.
  “Even when I’m on stage I improvise quite a bit. I don’t go out there with a set list.”
  And you won’t hear the typical rhythm guitar chords in his playing, either.
  “I’m not going to be on top-40 radio,” he admits, “But, I like my musical freedom. The main thing is not the excessive cash flow. I’d rather live humbly and keep my own vision of the music I’m recording.”
  So, selling out and spewing out music to please the execs in exchange for cash isn’t an option.
  “It’ll be a tough day when someone tells me how to play my own music,” he says.
  Music piqued West’s interest at an early age. He’s self-taught on the guitar and got his first performance fix as a member of Bluewater Musical Productions in Sarnia.
  He recalls that first solo performance in front of 800 people and the indescribable rush he felt through his connection with the audience.
  “I’ve been searching for that same feeling ever since,” West says.
  He came close recently during a performance at Paddy Flaherty’s. “I was up on stage and we had a 12 bars of Christmas bus come in. It was the first time I had a stage rush,” he says. “That’s my first big taste, I guess.”
  It’s those moments that make all the sacrifices worth it, West says. Millions of dollars could never reproduce such genuine experiences.
  “That’s what pumps me to keep going.”
  West has enjoyed a number of performance gigs leading up to the holiday rush, with stops in Sarnia, Peterborough and Guelph, which has become like a second home to West.
  He’s met some fantastic musicians from that city, and outside of Sarnia, Guelph hosts more West performances than anywhere. But, his music has been far-reaching.
  Fans from across the globe, including Russia and Brazil, have contacted the musician with accolades for his debut CD, calling it “different and refreshing.”
  West says he’s living the dream right now, thanks to comments like that. “It’s very important to strive for that dream,” he says, “but the hardest part about living the dream is living the dream.”
  His CD, Organic, is available at Cheeky Monkey. A second album is expected sometime in early 2007
  
  By Jack Porier
  The Observer
  

• Here is what my fans have to say... [+ Show ]
  

  cool nice job!!!! everything is great just sound perfect...and is catchy so keep it up..finally good...cool nice job!!!! everything is great just sound perfect...and is catchy so keep it up..finally good music is coming back,
  Chris
  
  THESE SONGS ON N1 SITE ARE AWSOME! These songs should be on the radio. the lead vocals are top notch. The lyrics are well crafted and flow nicely. The arrangement is right on as well. I'm sorry. I have no constructive criticism for your songs. Theres nothing to say except, great songs. Loved it all.
  Tanya
  
  This is like, the perfect songs for stardom. The perfect vocals, very radio friendly and yet original. Have you been signed, cuz you should be. I just love your songs. I'm gonna visit your site and check out your other stuff. Keep it up!!!
  Loma
  
  These are the greatest songs Ive heard on number1music so far and I am amazed Im not hearing this on the radio yet. good job keep it up...Were can I get a CD??
  Cindy
  
  Hi!
  I like your well polished sound and the way it keeps building. The
  arrangements of the songs are flawless, and strong. Great lyrics. The hook is there and is nicely put together. I'm surprised this isn't on the radio.
  Keep 'em coming!
  Diana
  
  Overall very impressed, look forward to hearing more from YOU...you've earned a fan!!!
  Nancy
  
  Yeah!!!
  You've managed to put together very beautiful & catchy tunes. Those are
  perhaps the most professional tunes I've laid my ears on Numberonemusic.com. Thank you for sharing this wonderful music with the lot of us - music for free is nice - but you ought to get paid!
  William
  
  Those are by far the best and most interesting tracks that I have listened to on Numberonemusic.com. Everything about it is great. Just fabulous. I don’t need to give you any advice. You know what to do already. Just continue what you are doing and you will hit the stars.
  Regards
  Jonas
  
  Hi!!!!
  Your...songs....give me the goose bumps. Where have you been all my life? This is awesome, totally way better than most of everything I've ever heard. Since you are still around numberonemusic I assume you didn't get a record deal yet. Such a shame. I would buy your album the very moment it was released! Oh my god, I would buy it twice! So, this is how good music can sound when true genius get to work.
  Kathleen(FAN)
  
  you are simply the best i have ever heard in my life, and the best singer in history of the human kind, its simply awesome!!!
  Danila

Setlist

No setlist is ever prepared. Ty "feels" out the energy of the listeners and creates his song choice based on that. Ty's shows consist mainly of original compositions. Covers include selections from such artists as Bob Marley, Phish, Nick Drake, Dave Matthews, and Pink Floyd.


Original Music:

Always Thinkin'
Body Of A Lady
Calm
Can You Hear It
Dealer
Dust Car
El Doté
Fall
Find Me
Fly With Me
Ghost
Here I Am
High Hopes
I Won't Be Me
It Showed
Jary Mane
Lager
Letter Almost Done
Lie To Me
Little Big Man
Lost My Step
Message In The Mountains
No Name
Norm
Outta Site
Petals On The Water
Pigeons
Presents
Rain
Rambles
Red Canoe
Roll With It
Red Wine And A Spliff
Sahight
Sandy Mountain
Say Say
She
Sicilian Kiss
Simple
Sore Soul
Sunset
Sweetest Kisses
Tee Jay
The Night I Chased The Sun
The Watcher
There We Were
Wasted Times
Weasel Tooth Annie
What Do We Want
What I Need To Hear
Why
Wordless Sense
Written
You Make Me Feel So Good
You're So Tired

Basic Requirements

Calendar