Ty Myers is Living the Teenage Dream
Photo by David O’Donohue.
Ty Myers is effortlessly cool. At just seventeen-years-old, the overnight sensation has already proven to be one of country music’s most exciting young talents. With an intoxicating sound that marries old-school country and bluesy riffs with lyrics that explore the complex feelings that often accompany being in love, Myers can be likened to a countrified John Mayer.
Raised in a Christian household on a 450-acre cattle ranch just outside of Austin, Texas, Myers embodies the grit and determination that define many country artists, but his story is unique. He’s not just another rising star with a guitar – he’s a passionate storyteller whose earliest memories include watching his grandmother play the piano in church and his dad perform weekend gigs in local venues. “There are so many pictures of me passed out at three-years-old on a bar top,” Myers laughs.
Like his father, Myers has been playing various gigs for years. Devoting every waking minute to writing and performing, he even gave up baseball and football for homeschooling in order to wholeheartedly pursue his dream.
After he released his first single, “Tie That Binds,” last year, the TikTok account Bonfire Specials organically promoted it. The song then went viral, which led to Myers being aggressively courted by every major record label from New York to Los Angeles. He has since opened for artists from Larry Fleet and Cody Johnson to Willie Nelson, and has acquired a notable fan base.
Nevertheless, Myers, who grew up around the music business, shares that his rise to fame came as less of a shock to him than it might to others who are pursuing similar dreams because he’s never questioned his passion for music. “There’s never been a question in my mind that this is what I’m doing,” he says, adding, “but it’s obviously still very life-changing, and I’m still very grateful for it.”
In August, Myers released his first EP, “Let ‘Em Talk,” a four-track compilation that evidences the beginning of a promising career. The alluring title track draws listeners in by exploring the complexities of a small-town romance. “The storyline is simple,” Myers says matter-of-factly. “A man and a woman both show up to a place with other people, but they obviously have a connection. It’s up for interpretation whether there’s an old flame or these two have just met for the first time. Nevertheless, the guy and the girl end up leaving together, and it’s going to be the whole talk of the town. They figure, ‘We’ve got something, so just let ‘em talk.’ I’m really proud of it, and I think it’s a great story that really doesn’t get told very often,” he shares.
On the moody, Parker McCollum-esque “But Me” and “Drinkin’ Alone,” Myers sings of the raw emotions and deep feelings that often come along with heartbreak and longing for a former love interest.
“Baby, you ‘n me/We're like a melody/But we’ve reached the end of our song/And everybody's moved on but me,” Myers sings on “But Me.”
Photo by David O’Donohue.
As of late, Myers has been in the studio working on his debut album. Just today, he released “Worry is a Sickness,” his first single ahead of a slew of forthcoming releases.
“I feel like it was kind of a turning point in writing for me when I wrote that song,” Myers says of his latest release. “I was trying to find a sound to make me a little unique and kinda not just a ‘dime a dozen’ type of sound, so I pulled from a lot of different influences to write it, and I think it’s a great intro to the rest of the music that we have coming out later.”
Myers, who is quickly proving to be a prolific writer, has always had what he calls “a real imaginative imagination.” “My mind is always working, so it was never hard for me to make up a story and write a song about it,” he shares. “Recently, I’ve gotten a little more pleasure out of writing from real life experiences. It’s definitely harder for me, but I feel like I get more out of it, so it’s been a fun journey figuring all of that out.”
A week ago, he embarked on his first headlining tour in his home state of Texas, which has nearly sold out. “We have a lot of venues in a lot of cities that we haven’t been to before,” he shares of the twenty-one-stop tour. “It’s always exciting to see a different crowd from a different city that you’ve never been to before. I think the best part of the business is being able to play live shows and see everybody’s reaction and the joy, and sometimes the sadness, created right in front of you, and knowing that all the hard work that I’ve been putting in is payin’ off,” he reflects.
Despite being put on the fast-track to fame, Myers shares that he’s been living “the same old life I’ve been livin’.” When his grandfather needs a hand on their Texas ranch, he and his father are there to help. “It’s really not stressful,” Myers admits of ranch life. “It’s a nice balance between the good part of it, without having all the ‘tear your head off’ moments that can come along with it,” he says, laughing. “But it’s awesome, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
In his free time, Myers enjoys golfing and going to the batting cages with his friends. He’s also admittedly a huge car guy. “If I’m honest, most of the money I make – some would say too much of the money I make – is gonna go to cars,” he confesses. “Late sixties Camaros are my thing, and I’m a big fan of the early sixties Corvettes, so that’s kind of what I’m looking at right now.”
For the time being, Myers plans to be based in Texas, but hasn’t written off getting a place in Nashville. “I don’t know if I’ll ever move full time to Nashville, but I can definitely see me living there every once in a while. I love that city,” he shares.
As Myers continues to build on his already impressive career, it’s clear that he’s only just getting started. With his distinct sound, authentic approach to songwriting, and unwavering grit initially forged on his family’s Texas ranch, Myers is carving out a path uniquely his own. Whether he’s captivating audiences with his blues-infused ballads or balancing ranch life with recording sessions, Myers’s journey is one to watch. At just seventeen, he’s already living the dream, and his future looks even brighter.
