QQ. What made you want to name your latest EP "Ladies & Gentlemen"?
A. A lot of the songs were not just dealing with love but just dealing with the interaction between men and women. Actually, I had started naming my demos for the record "Ladies & Gentlemen" and it didn't quite seem appropriate for the whole CD, but for the EP I thought it was perfect. That's why I called it "Ladies & Gentlemen," all of the songs are kind of about boys and girls.
Q. How much hand in the production of the EP did you have?
A. A lot and I think I am kind of controlling in the studio and I try to take a step back and kind of learn some things and let some other influence happen in the studio. This time I didn't have as much but it's still a lot. I was there every day over the process and oversaw everything and I really like the recording end of it and I had kind of a big hand in it.
Q. You've already been doing a bit of touring for the EP, how has the fan reaction been?
A. Fan reaction has been great, and I think they've all been excited for the music and they like the EP, which is great. There are a lot of fans that are still around and I think it's because of the videos and a lot of the things that are on my website. People have hung around still, which I think is amazing. I am super grateful and I am kind of shocked that it ended up that there are this many people singing along to the EP on this tour already.
Q. From those people who haven't had the wonderful opportunity and pleasure to see a Tyler Hilton performance, what can they expect?
A. For me it's just a lot of fun, at least we try to make it that way. It's me and a few of my friends and we've been playing together for a while. We all kind of get bored easily so we make every show different and I think the songs sound great and the band is really good. I think they can expect a really fun forty-five minutes.
Q. You mentioned dealing with the interaction between men and women, is that the main inspiration for your songs?
A. A bunch of different things, a lot of it was just kind of learning more about love, and dealing with women is always something that I end up writing songs about. I don't think that it's that new of a concept, I think it inspires a lot of people to write music. A lot of the songs on my last record, all I knew about women and relationships was just from what I knew in high school, because I wrote a lot of that record then. A lot of these songs are about the same thing with the interaction between ladies and gentlemen, but all I've learned throughout my life so far. It gets better and better and so the songs I think keep reflecting that. Also a lot of the songs are about life. There was a lot of hard work that I had to do for this record and a lot of hard work I had done for the last record. I think a lot of the songs are about perseverance and life too in this batch of tunes.
Q. Why do you think listeners will want to take the time to pick up the album?
A. I think there are a bunch of songs that I guarantee are going to be worth at least one listen. I can put the stamp on it that for sure I didn't want to release anything just to release it. The reason that this record took so long to make is that I wanted to wait until I thought it was something that I really loved and I felt would make sense. There is so much music out there, and I like doing so many things, I didn't see the purpose of just flooding the market place with more music unless I thought it would be something that people would dig and something that would make a difference and would fit really well on somebody's mix. I think that's what I got, especially on this first CD, I think all five of the songs are catchy and fun. I think there are some cool autobiographical moments in them too.
Q. You've done music and acting, is there anything else that you'd like to try your hand at?
A. My plate has been overly full with just one of those things, let alone both, I am always in the struggle to keep both going. There are so many things that I want to do and I am so scatter-brained as far as that goes. I just use my YouTube page as my outlet for that stuff, I have a cooking show on there, I love writing and reading and so I have a blog where I can write. Instead of doing them professionally I just kind of put them up on my website and get them out of my system. I don't think I could take on anything, I don't think I am that guy to take on that much.
Q. You're a part of the social networking site Twitter, why is it important for you to connect with your fans that way?
A. It's the easiest and quickest way that I can connect with my fans in a way that I can get the biggest response right on my phone. Any time someone tweets at me I can read it. That's not always the case with Facebook, my website, or anything else. With my phone, especially with all the car chargers I have, I literally have been reading every tweet that people send me. Whenever I am in the car I read a few and it's easy because it's right on my phone. That's why I think it's the coolest thing that's come out, it's the most fun tool for me. Plus the people I follow are really good friends of mine and are musicians and we don't get to meet up unless we're in the same town. I get to check in with Lady Antebellum or Lifehouse or anybody that I know, I get to follow them on Twitter and see what they're up to. I love that and I think that it's really cool.
Q. What would you like to say to all of your fans and supporters?
A. I just have to say thank you because I think there is a part of me that still thinks I am the kid who is just learning a few cords on a guitar and playing coffee houses. I can't believe that it's gotten this big already. I just have to say thank you for people that are still hanging out on my website and coming out to my shows, it amazes me. Sometimes I have a moment when I am driving or about to go to bed I think, "I can't believe this is working."
