I don’t listen to music, I listen to people. A sound that intrigues me on one hand, and frequently turns me off of on another. It’s always been true that in any genre there’s some good and a lot of bad. When something new catches on it can quickly trigger it’s own parodies. Pop music almost takes on this pattern, and hip-hop even more so.
This is why I knew something had to be special when I came across Ty Blue. Not only is she an old school storyteller through her music, but she’s a fresh original. Ty’s look is as striking as any punk band I’ve ever seen. Rarely is she ever seen her not wearing bright teal, and it’s impossible not to notice her uncommon accessories. However, Ty not only has talent but a genuine sincerity and excitement for everything she creates.
1. Tell me about your music…..
Ty: “My Music is a hybrid of pop-rock and hip hop. Overall it’s what most would most likely categorize in the Pop-Rock genre. However I love having a hip hop foundation in regards to the beat and then rocking it out with slick rhythmic guitar. It’s meant to still be dance-worthy so the art of rhythm is very important to me. Everything from the instrumental production to the way I ride and dance with the rhythm in my vocal delivery is how I want to capture people. My idol when it comes to working the rhythm vocally is of course none other than the legendary Mr. Michael Jackson. He’s the best at it. I feel I have a lot in common with him thus I learn a lot from him in such a phenomenal way. I’m forever grateful to him and all that he has contributed to Music. I desire to do the same.”
2. What story are you trying to tell with your sound?
Ty: “Well, in regards to my sound I like to highlight the vibe of rocking out and dancing. It’s a rhythmic rock-edge to my groove. That is ultimately my trademark sound. I love the freedom of it. As far as I can see here in the United States there aren’t many young females of color taking chances and going to the left. Most artists in the US seem to always take the ‘safe’ path and go to the right which indicates doing what everyone else is doing. Safe is sometimes equivalent to boring; but above all of that I think it’s best to define what your idea of “Safe” is. I define ‘safe’ as getting your expression across and never feeling like you should apologize for it. Especially when it feels good and feels right to you. That’s what’s ‘safe’ to me. I always keep in mind that there is an audience for everyone. So basically that means though you may not win everyone over, you will gain love and support from those you have won over. The people that really get you and what you’re all about will grow with you and you’ll build a strong fan base from there. You have to just keep up your grind, your drive, and passion and continue to market and share your Music. In my Music there is a generous spectrum of topics I like to express. Of course love, relationship roller-coasters, sex, romance, and dance but then there’s the occasional spotlight pointed on the hardships of being a female in this Music game. Though I’m inspired by the few good men in my life and a wide range of male entertainers, I am totally about female empowerment.”
3. You have an amazing sense of fashion. Is there something you’re trying to tell people with your style?
Ty: “Well thank you. My motto is to over accessorize until you die… LOL… joking; but sometimes I do have a lot going on in one outfit. And it’s done on purpose however it often works and people love it. My style seems to make me a conversation piece for most. My real motto is ‘think outside the box’; even if your foundation is simple then color it with explicit accents. That’s the basis of what I do. In a nutshell I prefer to describe my style as Glam-Rock. I like the glamorous like every other girl but I am in love with studs and spikes and artful accessories. I would take pretty much anything and stud it out if I can. That’s my route of explicit accents. With my fashion style I like being sexy, artistic, daring with a blend of mystery and class. I love matching things to a tee. It’s fun for me to find the perfect color shoes to match my nail polish lol. The color Blue is my trademark of course and I have been wearing the color Blue since I was 10 years of age. Any and every shade of Blue I’ll wear. All other colors are just accents to my Blue. I am fortunate to have my name for Blue turned out to be a very spiritual color for me and represents’ my strength, power yet tranquil mysterious persona. It’s the embodiment of being ‘All Attractive’ for there are many facets to the color Blue and they’re all so very attractive. It’s mystical and magical as well as melancholy and dark. However it’s my way of saying to the world ‘I am Royalty’. People are instantly attracted to my persona even if they don’t know why. People always feel I am someone famous before even knowing what I do. Ty Blue attracts people in a deeper way than the 50 shades of grey (wink, wink lol) and it’s great! My style is just something I do naturally and it’s naturally outside the box. That would be the best way to describe it.”
4. What the biggest obstacle you’re working against now?
Ty: “The biggest obstacle for me with keeping my music in production is MONEY. Yes I know it’s every up-coming artist’s cry. I am a perfectionist so of course I do my best not to let anything leave the studio that does not represent me and my sound. It has to be good to me. Something I can strongly stand by. I can interest an investor quickly for investment in my project however it’s the other BS that comes with it that rolls the project right back to square one. This industry will always find a way to punish you for being an attractive woman. However I stay firm in my stance and passion to sing and keep a steady head forward. I believe the day will soon come where I am speaking with investors that are able to see the overall big picture and keep the focus on business. In the meantime my partner and I have come up with some other ideas to keep things rolling.”
5. What kind of budget are you working with to record and how is impacting what you make?
Ty: “I need a budget of $50,000 at least. I am not working with that at all right now but that is the kind of investment I need to truly jump start this project on the right path. Once my project hits the public it’s going to be an amazing journey for so many people from different parts of the world have expressed that they’re so interested in seeing and hearing more of my talent and sound.”
6. How are you setting yourself apart in your live performances?
Ty: “As far as setting myself apart from other artists in my live performances, I feel my voice, style and charisma speaks for itself. I find that the contrast of my looks and my “in your face” style of delivery is a shocker to people. After each show/performance I always hear from different people in the audience that they didn’t think I could sing and perform like that. I think my exotic supermodel looks make people think I would be overly delicate in my sound; but obviously my voice has some raspy rough edges to it. So I thrive off having the “BAM!” affect, lol. I like the shock value of it. That time bomb effect where I start off my performance rather meek and then BAM! it all blows up and spills all over you and you have the shakes once I’m done lol. I also think some of the sassy yet classic theatrical impromptu that I like to implement in my performances keeps people’s attention. My effort to make each person feel alive in every moment of my performance is rewarding. Making people feel a part of my performance with my raw expression intense eye contact, sex appeal, edge, and overall art is what draws them in. I feel over time I’ll have several dimensions that will become a trademark for me.”
7. If you are offered to be signed to some kind of a deal, what would you nonnegotiable demands be?
Ty: “If offered a deal I would demand the labels full support on my path to go left. Whether what I like to do is considered to be risky or crazy or not I prefer a label that is not going to shut doors on me. I prefer a label that will only open the doors of opportunity for me. I also would not want to stand for one of those weird deals where they get a huge percentage of everything I do. I believe that’s called the ‘360 deal’. If I did a lot on my own, like getting my own modeling contract before being signed to a label then I feel that should not be touched. If I generally did a lot on my own to get my name and Music out there and the label is now coming to ME, then I should be able to negotiate the deal to being as fair as possible based on facts. Not them just trying to ride on my coat tail and going home with what feels like all of the royalties because it’s then you feel like you’re getting so much less. Of course I understand that when a label is investing in you they’ll need to see that money come back. I just would want something that would make all parties involved comfortable with what they’re getting out of the deal. In most cases it seems like the artists could suffer the most if it’s not negotiated properly. I have heard some scary stories from other artists. Generally I would need a deal where it promises high promotion & marketing, and distribution. That would be a great boost to my career.”
8. What do you hope to give back to music once you’re on more stable ground creatively and financially?
Ty: “First, I would love to have my own Music school for children ranging between the ages of 5 to 21. I think it’s immensely important to keep Music education alive. It would be a place they can learn and excel on their instrument of choice. They can have jam sessions with each other and be so overjoyed with it. I wish I had that. I am studying the bass and it has been a weird and interesting journey for me but I always say to myself ‘damn I wish I took bass when I was a little kid’. I would be more patient with myself. My bass teacher always says to me “stop beating yourself up every time you make a mistake and be nice to you. You ain’t gonna get it over night!!!”…lol. So I like to encourage children who strongly express an interest in an instrument to stay with it and it would be great for me to contribute to that by having a school they can go to for pursing their instrumental interests and passions. Secondly,(and this is in no particular order) I would like to build a physical confidential center that people who are suicidal can go to in order to keep them from checking out of life. That is a topic that is very dear to me and though it’ll be a place open to all people suffering with this issue, I often think of people in the arts who go through this feeling one time too many in efforts to pursuing their dreams and not reaching their goals as they thought they would have or as quickly as they thought. These people can really use guidance to keep them from going to that dark place. We as artists go through so much and in a totally different fashion than the average Joe. When you think about it we have lost several greats from that dark path of self destruction and suicide. Third, I have been doing volunteer work for a long time now and I would certainly love to give back to the community. I have gone through and I still go through so much that helping others less fortune means a lot to me. Just when you think you have it bad you discover that you are not alone. If you can pick yourself up off the floor and donate a few hours a day to feed the hungry, work with kids, aiding the blind and even abused animals then it’s a sure way to bring joy back in your heart knowing you’ve put a smile on some one’s face. It’s then that you have saved others including yourself from going down a dark path and suddenly embracing a feeling that makes you look forward to tomorrow again.”
Ty Blue is the art. She is all the right pieces, and works like a horse. Ty is lucky enough to have the kind of looks she can get by on, but decides to reward anyone who happens to be looking at her by laying her talent at their feet.
I don’t get pop music and probably never will. There are exceptions to every rule and Ty breaks those rules. She’s makes whatever she is doing mean something and truly believes in her craft. She found her own voice and hopefully soon her voice will find you.
Written by: PawL Bazile
Ty’s website & music can be found at http://tyblue.com
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