Tim Be Told

Under the radar and dreaming: Who's the next big band from Charlottesville?
by LINDSAY BARNES, published May 8, 2008


In March 2007, the Hook asked a few veterans of the local music scene to predict which up-and-coming artists might break into the big time and become the next famous band from Charlottesville. A little more than a year later, some of those upstarts have done just that.

Since gracing last year's cover, popsters Sparky's Flaw inked a deal with Mercury Records and have been jetting from Charlottesville to Minneapolis and Los Angeles to put the final touches on their soon-to-be-released debut album. All the while, they've closely followed the model of fellow Red Light Management artists Dave Matthews Band by playing every college bar and club from Miami to Hoboken, winning an increasing legion of fans, including enough MySpace friends to fill John Paul Jones Arena.

The much-praised country rockers Sons Of Bill also seem poised to make the leap to the big time. In addition to being signed by Red Light Management, the band of brothers and two others have played for increasingly bigger audiences, earning a loyal following with a tour playing for our fighting men and women in Asia, and opening for heavy hitters Gretchen Wilson and Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Members of both Sparky's Flaw and Sons Of Bill-- in addition to a bevy of other tastemakers, houserockers, and veteran chart-toppers-- are on this year's panel. We asked them, who's next?


Will Anderson

...on Tim Be Told: For a band that just started at the beginning of the school year, they're incredible. They blew me away the first time I heard them open for us, and they still do every time, because they just keep getting better and better.



Brad Savage


Brad Savage is DJ and programming director for 106.1 The Corner.


...on Tim Be Told: They won the UVA Battle of the Bands this year, which has also been won by Sparky's Flaw and Sons Of Bill. They're keyboard-driven power pop in the vein of Maroon 5 or the Fray. There's some terrific songwriting going on there, and if they keep playing more gigs, they'll gain a following really quickly.



Jenn Rhubright was the lead singer of Clare Quilty and currently fronts jazz outfit Jive Katze.
COURTESY OF JENN RHUBRIGHT










Adam Gottschalk & Nick Noe


Adam Gottschalk (right) and Nick Noe are the hosts of the Internet radio and television show The Midnight Barbecue.


...on Tim Be Told:

Adam: Tim Ouyang is, quite simply, absurdly talented. Their music and pop sensibilities put them in line to become the next Sparky's Flaw very soon.

Nick: What are pop sensibilities? Are you just trying to sound educated?

Adam: I think it's a kind of food.

...on the Blackout Project:

Adam: Their studio stuff is some of the best music we've heard in a long time. They just need to tighten the screws and get out there and start putting it in front of people.

Nick: And just for the record, the last three winners of UVA's Battle of the Bands were Sons of Bill, The Blackout Project, and Tim Be Told. Not bad.

- The Hook

Tim Be Told
Frontman Tim Ouyang discusses his approach to songwriting, how to deal with rude fans and the way he filters his emotions into his music

By Anne Larimer Hart

Is there really anything more to music than sex, drugs and rock 'n roll? It is refreshing to think so, and when we see a band with the self-proclaimed aspiration to "cause people to view life through a different lens, one of honesty, hope, redemption, and change," we sometimes find ourselves a bit surprised. Even more surprised are we to find its music to make strides toward this goal.

Tim Be Told will appear at University's Springfest Saturday. Considering it played together publicly for the first time last August, the Charlottesville band has quickly developed a strong musical style that is constantly evolving.

Tim Be Told front man and songwriter, University alumnus Tim Ouyang said, "the [songwriting] process has really been a changing one. We are such a new band that when we first started it was easy to have someone with a base group of songs. As we learn how to be a band more, there's been more and more collaboration. Basically, I'll come in with a song that I've written, and the band contributes a lot to it. I'll come in with an idea of how I want it to sound, and when they start playing it'll change."

Tim Be Told came together during September 2006 when a mutual friend put Ouyang in contact with Andrew Chae, an electric guitarist looking to start a band. Chae quickly moved from California to Charlottesville, and they soon recruited fourth-year Luan Nguyen to sing backup vocals and play acoustic guitar. University alumnus Jim Barredo (drums) and Parker Stanley (bass) joined the band 11 months later.

They began recording their debut album, Getting By, in April 2007 before the band even played its first show, opening for fellow Charlottesville band Sparky's Flaw in August. Since then, Tim Be Told has played concerts all over the East Coast and recently won the University's Battle of the Bands in February, a mere five months after its first show.

During the last few months Tim Be Told's musical style has evolved, which is not surprising considering its various musical inspirations, which range from Michael Buble to Whitney Houston. For the most part, though, its inspiration comes from within.

"I tend to be one of those songwriters who only writes when he's upset about something, so usually when I'm angry or really sad or emotional ... Actually, I'm a pretty moody person -- it's conducive to songwriting," Ouyang said. "I think as a songwriter it's about trying to find the balance too and I'm starting to branch out of that emo, 'my life sucks' thing -- lots of teenage angst -- and more writing about things that are outside of myself and outside of my own struggles. I think that's just a byproduct of maturing as a songwriter. You start seeing things through different lenses," Ouyang said.

There has always been immense pressure for a band at this stage to get signed to a record label, but because of the way the industry is changing, Tim Be Told isn't sweating it.

"I think there's a reason why the big music industry right now is kind of falling apart; I think [the music industry] is the most fair it's ever been ... there are a lot of artists out there who wouldn't have been given the time of day for any of the major labels," Ouyang said. "Now they have the opportunity to say, 'Yeah. Here's my music,' and they can actually draw a fan base. Now it's actually possible for artists to make a decent living. It's not this 'all or nothing' thing where you're a billionaire with a major label or you're on the streets singing for pennies. And I think music has a lot more power because it's been given back to us and not to big corporations."

Though the group has not yet had extensive experience dealing with fanatical fans (so far there has only been one request for an on-stage striptease), its members are slowing learning how to deal with the advantages of life as professional musicians -- and the disadvantages. After playing a set at a Charlottesville local music showcase, a girl approached Ouyang.

"She came up to me and said, 'Why is the band called Tim Be Told? Why did you name it after yourself? Isn't that kind of arrogant? Isn't that kind of self-absorbed?'" Ouyang said. "I had nothing to say to her. I just shook her hand and said, 'Nice to meet you.'" 3

- Cavalier Daily

By Evangeline Cafe
Northwest Asian Weekly

The eclectic sounds of “Tim Be Told” are spreading like wildfire across college campuses and on the Internet. The band’s musical genre is a mixture of pop, soul, and rock. The group emerged from the University of Virginia campus, where it recorded its first album, “Getting By,” inside a school dormitory in 2007. The band will release its first studio-produced album, “From the Inside,” on June 4.

“When we first started out, I don’t know if we really had any clear goals of what we wanted to do,” said lead vocalist and pianist Tim Ouyang. “We just wanted to play music and see what happened with it.”

The band has attracted thousands of followers on networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, and earned invitations to perform on campuses across the country.

Ouyang is excited about the group’s growing fan base. “I don’t think any of us expected that we would grow this much. It has been amazing,” he said.

The band originated in Charlottesville, Va., where students Tim Ouyang and Luan Nguyen sang in an a cappella group together. They met guitarist Andrew Chae, a California native, through a mutual friend and began composing songs together in 2006. Philippine-born drummer Jim Barredo and bassist Parker Stanley hopped onboard to complete the band in 2007.

The group named itself Tim Be Told, which derives from the phrase, “truth be told,” in order to convey the idea that music should be honest, hopeful, and transformative. Tim Be Told has already dedicated many of its performances to raising awareness of social injustice.

“A lot of the shows on college campuses have focused towards raising awareness for different things, [such as] injustices in Africa,” said bassist Parker Stanley.

“We’ve done a couple of shows that raise money for villages, and education for children. This fall we’re going to focus on mental wellness in college,” he said, citing that the second biggest cause of death on college campuses is suicide.

Guitarist Andrew Chae, who moved from California’s Bay Area to be with the group, feels that the band’s central hub in Virginia makes it easy for them to impact a lot of people in a positive way.

“The thing about Virginia is that there are a lot of colleges [nearby]. It’s about a six-hour drive to New York and a 12-hour drive to Florida,” said Chae.

The band members, who range in age from 21 to 25, ditched their traditional career paths to put their faith in music. Many of them are self-taught musicians, and felt it was their calling to share their talent.

“I majored in architecture when I was in school and loved it,” said Ouyang, “but I knew that when I graduated, I wanted to do something exciting — something different.”

“I made a choice to pursue music instead because it was something I felt passionate about,” he said.

Drummer Jim Barredo is thankful for his family’s steadfast support. “As you can expect from an Asian or Filipino family, my parents had dreams of me becoming a doctor or lawyer, but at the end of the day, they knew that if I really followed my heart, they would support me in whatever decision I made. They are totally, 100 percent behind us,” said Barredo.

The band members fuse a wide range of musical styles and influences. They also come from varied backgrounds.

Pianist and leader singer Tim Ouyang is Chinese, guitarist Andrew Chae is Korean, guitarist and backup vocalist Luan Nguyen is Vietnamese, drummer Jim Barredo is Filipino, and bassist Parker Stanley is part Cherokee Indian. The group views the diversity as its strength.

“I think that definitely contributes to the style of music, and it promotes a more eclectic and diverse sound,” said Ouyang.

And while the members are proud of their heritage, they hope their music will have the power to transcend race.

“I see us as part of a larger movement of breaking down racial barriers, stereotypes, and prejudices,” said Ouyang.

The members admit that touring across the country can take its toll, but they find creative ways to keep themselves sane.

“I’m probably the goofiest person in the band,” said guitarist and background vocalist Luan Nguyen, who enjoys dancing for his band mates.

“I like to keep us entertained, even if it comes at the expense of my dignity,” laughed Nguyen.

Tim Be Told’s new album, “From the Inside,” will be available for purchase and download on June 4 though its Web site, www.TimBeTold.com and will eventually be available on iTunes. Fans may also listen to clips on MySpace and Facebook.

Tim Be Told looks forward to recording more music in the future, and is open to the possibility of making tour stops in the Pacific Northwest.

“This whole experience has exceeded our expectations,” said Ouyang. “We’re all in it for the long haul. We are just so grateful for the doors that have opened for us.” - Northwest Asian Weekly

NEW YORK—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— Tim Be Told, the five piece pop-rock band, has been selected as a finalist to perform at Kollaboration New York. This prestigious annual showcase shines a spotlight on the vast talent of the Asian community in America, with the aim of providing a platform to expose them to a wider mainstream audience.

On June 27th, eight diverse artists, including Tim Be Told, will be competing for the title of New York's premier Asian American performer. The winner will be decided by one-third audience reaction and two-thirds guest judge decisions. The event is headlined by Comedy Central favorite, Eliot Chang, and Yin Chang, who plays Nelly Yuki on the CW's Gossip Girl, is a guest judge.


Tim Be Told is one of today's hottest up and coming bands, whose soulful, pop-rock sound draws comparisons with Maroon 5 and the Fray. They have won the University of Virginia's prestigious Battle of the Bands competition, and are among the top 10 unsigned artists on the MySpace charts in Virginia. They will be performing in this Fall's national Pick Up The Phone Tour sponsored by To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), PostSecret, and the National Hopeline Network/1-800-SUICIDE. The tour is designed for college campuses and aims to raise awareness of suicide prevention programs and to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help for depression, a serious problem on college campuses which also affects many in the Asian American community.

Each member of the band hails from a different cultural background. Pianist and lead singer Tim Ouyang is Chinese, guitarist Andrew Chae is Korean, guitarist and backup vocalist Luan Nguyen is Vietnamese, drummer Jim Barredo is Filipino, and bassist Parker Stanley is of western European descent and 1/8 Cherokee Indian. Despite their distinct backgrounds, the band has a mainstream sound that appeals to a very diverse audience.

Tim Be Told frontman Tim Ouyang says: "We are honored to participate in Kollaboration New York. It will be a privilege to perform with some of the best talent on the East Coast." Kollaboration New York takes place on June 27th, at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University.

Check out Tim Be Told's website at www.timbetold.com.

For more information about Kollaboration New York please visit www.kollaborationy.org

For interview requests and further information please contact: Jem Bahaijoub,
jem@imaginepragency.com. Phone. +1 202 713 0735. - U.S. Asian Wire

A couple of weeks ago I had a buddy chat on AIM with three members of the band, Tim Be Told, the two remaining band mates, Andrew Chae and Parker Stanley had prior engagements. It took a little while to get into the same chatroom because we thought a multiple person chat was possible on Google chat (*it is not). But when Tim Ouyang, Jim Barredo, and Luan Nguyen finally got situated, the conversation got on a roll. Their tight brotherhood bond that mixes musical work and a I make fun of you, you make fun of me attitude was physically visible even though I was on a computer miles away.
TBT is based out of Charlottesville, Virginia but play in different East Coast cities for fans ready to embrace their musical truth. The band got together in 2006, along the way they expanded their group and deepened their inspiration to have “music transcend race.” Their melodies have a relatable tune that rings true in everyone’s lives because we all go through rough times. TBT’s harmonies have a nice acoustic touch and a strong drum base allowing for songs such as “Gravity’s Hold” and “Ordinary” from their album “Getting By” to be memorable.

October 22nd, 2008

- Boston Progress Radio

When it comes to boy bands, there’s no shortage coming out of Asia. But what about our homegrown boys? With any luck, Tim Be Told – with their soulfully honest lyrics, eclectic sound and boy-next-door appeal – will make a dent in the female fanbase of the Jonas Brothers and the like. Front man and singer Tim Ouyang, 23, started the band with California native Andrew Chae, 24, in 2006. The band is rounded out by Jim Barredo, 24 (Drums), Luan Nguyen, 22 (guitar, vocals), and Parker Stanley, 20, who plays bass and is the only non-Asian member of the band (though his bandmates claim that his 1/8 Cherokee blood gives him some distant Asian ancestry). Based in Virginia (where Tim was studying architecture), the band has achieved local recognition with their first album Getting By, and is currently working on a second album. “I believe artists and musicians are the diplomats and the doctors of our time,” says the Chinese American front man. “Music has the power to heal the heart and the strength to soothe its anger.”

Anne H. Kim and Anna M. Park

audrey [Magazine], October/November 2008
- Audrey Magazine

Thought it could be argued – particularly by anyone who has ever professed a love for “alternative” music – that the glossy pop nuggets of Billboard Magazine’s most famed inventory are often vapid and shameful excuses for musical innovation, there’s little denying that their soaring melodies and everyman treatises on life, love, and loss appeal to a large demographic of the Western world.

Music elitists may turn their noses up at the mere mention of it, but songs in the Top 40 are there for good reason. Inane as they can occasionally be (“Boom Boom Pow,” anyone?), there’s still some comfort to be found in songs with predictable structures, orthodox instrumentation, and relatable emotions of yearning, fear, elation, and defiance. Tim Be Told, the latest pop/rock act to rise from the mist of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, VA, has thankfully eschewed the Black Eyed Peas’ trademark absurdity in its quest for chart topping success. Choosing instead to inject heavy doses of sentimentality into a familiar brand of piano-based pop, the material on the band’s latest EP, From The Inside, is as fetching as anything the Fray or Maroon 5 could whip up. But whereas each of those bands tend to stick to their respective strengths of balladeering and swaggering neo-soul, Tim Be Told covers both styles and more with an impressive amount of finesse.

Opening track “Analyze” begins conventionally enough, as a melancholy piano melody gives way to a midtempo rock groove, replete with a string section and glossy guitar leads. As the song clumps along, there’s a clear juxtaposition between the heavy eighth note chug of the rhythm section and the gossamer lead vocals of Tim Ouyang. The vocals are deceptive in their restraint; Ouyang’s range is actually quite elastic. The tune is a meditation on love and suffering, as evidence by forlorn lyrics like, “Convince me it’s alright / that loneliness will subside.” Already, you can imagine an arena full of illuminated cell phones.

Armed with electric piano and acoustic guitar, “Wealth & Poverty” immediately shows the band venturing into blues territory. With a little less prowess at the mixing board, the tune could be downright swampy, but immaculate production and Ouyang’s flawless delivery make sure the pop sheen stays glistening throughout. Emitting a vibe of mellow soulfulness, the song is sure to yield to some comparisons to the likes of Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz, though the lyrics about the divide between rich and poor may seem a touch more socially conscious.

“System” deceives at the outset with its drowsy piano melody, only to be shaken awake by an electronic hip-hop drumbeat that is eventually enveloped by the moan of rhythm guitarist Luan Nguyen’s wah-wah pedal and the pummeling drive of the bass and drums. Offering only the occasional double entendre to explain the nagging temptation of one’s own vices (“Despite these lessons that I’ve learned / I’m still addicted.”), the song is nonetheless Tim Be Told’s darkest moment. After this, the band shifts direction again with “Third Wheel,” a perfect three and a half minute pop gem comprised of sparkling electric piano chords and the tried and true handclap.

The EP’s last proper cut is also its most adventurous. “Perfect,” which showcases heavy use of an organ and Wurlitzer, also includes some gospel-tinged female background vocals and a slow-to-build groove that lumbers along in 3/4 time. At times it feels tentative, but after four songs with such straight forward trajectories, a little unevenness is certainly welcome. The album’s high point also happens to be Tim Ouyang’s, particularly when he sings a line like, “Baby, I’m on my knees,” in a ridiculously high falsetto. Adam Lambert couldn’t have done much better during his American Idol run. As unnecessary as it might be, the sixth and final song – a hidden track by most defintions – is a touching 45-second epilogue of gentle piano playing and stoic words from Ouyang alone.

It’s unlikely that you’ll find anything on From The Inside that you haven’t already discovered in the catalogue of some other chart monster. What makes the disc worthy of a spin though, is just how adroit Tim Be Told is in being able to traverse all the varied styles of these titans in just one EP. - Delusions of Adequacy

Allow me to insist that you go out and buy this album as soon as humanly possible.

Tim.Be.Told. - [Getting By]

I cannot emphasize how talented these guys are, and how much I wish them success in the music world.

I have listened to the songs' development on this album over the course of 3 long years - and the final renditions are absolutely breathtaking. This band will singlehandedly start the revolution that will save popular music from its decaying and dying state. This isn't your typical 14 songs where 3 of them are catchy but more of the same old stuff radio loves - this album has depth. This album has more talent than most musical artists can ever hope for. This album has soul.

Do yourself a huge favor and grab Tim.Be.Told's [Getting By] at their website www.timbetold.com and store. You won't regret it. - Whisperbox

Is this the new sound of Charlottesville? This summer Sparky’s Fl—er, Parachute—hit it big with a mix of modern-pop and blued-eyed almost-soul, and now we’ve got Tim Be Told, another batch of recent University of Virginia grads, serving up a similar mix of smooth keys, guitars and Mayer-esque, teenage-heart-melting vocals on From the Inside.

As I shuffle through my various thoughts on Tim Be Told’s sound, I’ll throw out the wildest one first: The chords and keys that carry “Wealth & Poverty” and “Perfect” remind me of Tom Waits circa Closing Time. The piano and organ usher in a sober, autumnal atmosphere, a mood fitting for these increasingly cooler days, and one that Waits has long channeled. “Wealth & Poverty” moves on to acoustic flourishes, R&B vocals and thoughtful lyrics about the wide gaps between rich and poor. “Perfect” is a more personal meditation on high expectations, love and doubt. It builds to a dense climax, with gospel backing vocals gradually rising out of the mix to accompany Tim Ouyang’s soaring voice. The band doesn’t follow Waits beyond that initial starting point, but I certainly didn’t expect them to.

“Analyze,” the EP’s opener, could fit perfectly on Parachute’s Losing Sleep. The piano bounces, the guitars cruise and the vocals are smooth and “soulful” in that Maroon 5/Fray kind of way. String parts and deeper, more pensive subject matter set Tim Be Told apart from its C’ville pop brethren, but only by a little bit. “System” doesn’t reach much further. Spotless vocals, wah-wah guitar and keys melt into a concoction that’s sugary sweet but so by-the-book pop that it might make you sick to your stomach. “Third Wheel” has the hop of a Ben Folds number but lacks the wit or perspective that Folds tends to unleash.

Tim Be Told shines the brightest when they seize on the faith that underpins their music. Like the church organ that fleshes out “Wealth & Poverty,” “Perfect” and “Third Wheel,” the band’s spiritual leanings, though never directly annunciated, help them reach outside of the typical pop landscape. Escaping that crystalline, hook-focused territory, the band finds traction. Theme-wise, Tim Be Told turns its gaze to subjects like socioeconomic strife and the struggle for personal identity. Music-wise, the group’s optimum pace is a swaying gospel cadence, and Ouyang’s voice is best when it rises above the choir on “Perfect.”

The closing track, the 49 second “Honor You,” zeroes in on Tim Be Told’s spiritual sweet spot. The piece is essentially a closing prayer, with Ouyang singing, “I offer you all that I own/ Though small and simple/ I pray it honors you alone.” They’re humble words, but a bold final statement. It’s a conclusion you won’t find on a Parachute album, and with it Tim Be Told shows that, though their pop stylings are close to that of their fellow C’ville soulsters, they’ve got their own unique set of beliefs guiding them. - C-ville Weekly

I can’t remember exactly how I came across Tim Be Told, a pop/rock band hailing from Virginia, but I remember being skeptical for no good reason. Then I heard a few of their songs on their MySpace and was completely surprised by the strength of the few singles they had available to stream at the time. When they announced they were releasing their new EP “From the Inside,” I was immediately intrigued and ordered a copy to really get a closer listen at what this band had to offer. Mixing together styles of Gospel, Pop, Rock, and Blues, Tim Be Told offers a pretty unique sound. So should you to check out their EP “From the Inside”?

Analyze - Great instrumentation and use of strings. It’s a very strong song that manages to be both catchy and well written. Tim, the lead singer, really adds to the great sound, rounding out one of the best pop rock songs I’ve heard in a while.

Wealth & Poverty- The keyboard sounds give this track a great throwback kind of feel. The song has a Jason Mraz/Jimmy Needham type of vibe and while not an especially light song its still an easy listen; a difficult feat to pull off. The lyrics are thought provoking and offer more to chew on than most songs you would ever hear on the radio.

System- This song definitely has a meatier vibe and a little bit more crunch. It’s like Jason Mraz with just a little bit more edge, which Tim Be Told pulls off pretty well for the most part. There are parts of the song that seem a little formulaic but really I’m just being nitpicky at this point. It’s still a good song that just happens to stand out the least to me from this EP… hey there had to be one =).

Third Wheel- The opening style for this song is very upbeat and sweet… almost excessively so, but it evens out quickly and actually creates a great bounce. The only thing that stylistically bugged me is this low end buzzing sound that occurs in the chorus. I’m not sure what it is but it always makes me think my phone is buzzing. Besides that I really enjoyed this number. It has a great dynamic sound.

Perfect - The title actually fits very well. I think Tim Be Told really finds their niche with this one, with a piano driven, pop but soulful type of sound. It’s just a little bit slower than some of their other cuts on this EP but they still fill it with energy and heart. The subtle Gospel influences are a great touch too. They really shine here.

Honor You - Though a bonus track, this song really exemplifies everything I described about ‘Perfect’, only to a further degree. By toning everything back and taking a gospel-hymn type of route, Tim Be Told really brings out a lot of texture and color to the song. It’s a beautiful, though short close to the EP.

Conclusion:
Though it’s hard to thoroughly judge an EP, I’m going to say hands down this is one of the strongest releases I’ve heard all year despite the fewer selection of tracks. This EP alone has converted me from an optimistic casual listener to a full out enthusiastic fan, leading me to pick up their debut LP from a couple years ago as well. While many musicians struggle to find the perfect sound and style for themselves, Tim Be Told comes incredibly close to hitting the proverbial nail on the head. The have created a great sounding cocktail of Maroon 5 meets Jason Mraz meets Ray Charles meets Elton John… it’s something difficult to describe but I think you’d understand once you heard their material. On top of the great sonic palette, Tim Be Told keeps things weighted with thoughtful writing that touches upon deeper subjects all the while still drawing from their own personal beliefs and faith. It’s a balance that’s hard to strike but they are definitely on the right track. I imagine not all of you will share the same zealous appreciation, but regardless this EP is a must listen. If they can continue the pace and parlay their strengths well into their next full length album, it’s going to be incredible. - MTV Iggy