TyLean: News

I'm very pleased to announce that Formaldehyde (EP) is on sale today!

Produced by James Scott, Formaldehyde (EP) features "Love Always Dies (Formaldehyde Mix)," "The Dark and the Blue and the Grey," "Big Hearts" and "Amputation of a Heart" ..... four cardiac chambers that take you on a journey through a diseased and damaged heart. Each atria or ventricle of the album features an original piece of artwork (painted by me) that depict hearts in various stages of misery, rot and decay.

I recommend purchasing through Bandcamp.com in order to receive the artwork for each individual song, rather than just the album cover.

The album can also be purchsed at any of the following links:

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
iTunes - Coming soon!
CD Baby

A Press Release with more information about the album is available at:
http://www.tylean.com/publicfiles/Formaldehyde_News_Release.pdf

 

Many thanks to all who have pre-ordered!

The new and improved TyLean.com has just launched! I hope that I have made things more streamlined and user friendly. The two biggest changes that I would like to invite you to have a look at are About TyLean, where I have added an Artist Statement and a Chronology, and Discography, where all of my releases are listed complete with track listings. The TyLean store is now gone.... but there are links to all the major retailers where TyLean music can be purchased on the Discography page!

I would also like to draw your attention to a new product available on Bandcamp.com. Wall clocks made from TyLean CDs! As downloads are becoming the preferred method of music consumption, I just had to find some use for these poor little critters. The clocks sell for £9.99 and come with a free instant download of the chosen album. When All Else Fails (EP), Between 10 and 2, and The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable are available.

 

Don't forget that Formaldehyde (EP) is on sale this Friday! You can have a sneak peak of the new album on Youtube.  If you pre-order at Bandcamp.com you will be able to download the original version of "Love Always Dies" as a free bonus!

Please note, there will be no physical CDs made of Formaldehyde (EP), it will only be available for Digital Download for the foreseeable future.... unless any labels out there are interested in pressing it!

A Press Release with more information about Formaldehyde (EP) is available at: http://www.tylean.com/publicfiles/Formaldehyde_Announced.pdf

Great news! A new album is about to be released!

Over the course of 2011, I have been working with James Scott, producer of "Love Always Dies," on an EP called Formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde features "Love Always Dies (Formaldehyde Mix)," "The Dark and the Blue and the Grey," "Big Hearts" and "Amputation of a Heart" ..... four cardiac chambers that take you on a journey through a diseased and damaged heart. Each atria or ventricle of the album features an original piece of artwork (painted by me) that depict hearts in various stages of misery, rot and decay. All have been preserved in Formaldehyde for medicinal, educational purposes.

On 13 January 2012, the album will be available for download through Bandcamp.com, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, and of course iTunes (as well as many other websites). I recommend purchasing through Bandcamp.com in order to receive the artwork for each individual song, rather than just the album cover.

Pre-order on Bandcamp.com and receive a free, instant download of "Love Always Dies (Original Mix)" as a thank you for your early support of the album.

 

Exactly two years ago today, I materialised my hair-brained idea to record my third album in one night.... in front of an audience! The intimate event was called One Unforgivable, Unforgettable Night with TyLean and the resulting album called The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable.

There was video from that night! It has taken me ages, but I have finally posted a video of "October" and "The Monster "I've Become," two of the most intense tracks from the album.

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I have decided to no longer offer my music through tylean.com, which will mean that fans will need to purchase through third parties (iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Bandcamp). Some music fans (mostly those who have completely converted to digital media) prefer this as a superior shopping experience, whilst others prefer the traditional grass roots method that puts most of the profit in the artists' hands and a tangible product in their hands. For those of you who belong to the later group, here is one last chance to get in your tylean.com orders!

For lovers of physical music products, please note that CDs are and will continue to be available through third parties such as CD Baby and Amazon. However, they cost considerably more! The most economical method to buy TyLean CDs is directly through tylean.com.

  

Special November Offer:

Every tylean.com order in November receives a free autographed photo AND a free download of "Love Always Dies!"

 

*Physical orders only... excludes intangible items (mp3s).

*Offer expires 1 December 2011.

 

Visit:
http://tylean.com/products.html

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Buy at Bandcamp.com - £1
Buy at CD Baby.com - $1

The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable is now available to order through TyLean.com!

PRE-ORDER your copy now... all pre-orders will receive a special, limited piece of signed memorabilia.

The first 250 copies of the album will be numbered and hand stamped.  The official release date is 13 August 2010.

 

Also new on TyLean.com....

You can now order in £ GBP, $ US, $ AUD, or € Euros.     

The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable

I am happy to tell you that my 3rd album.... The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable... will be available very soon! As post-production comes to completion, so, too, must The Unveiled.

What is The Unveiled?

Last year, I implemented a crazy idea to offer TyLean.com memberships, where members paid a premium of $50 for a one-year subscription to receive exclusive TyLean tracks, including first-ever demos, live versions, exclusive alternate versions, and a special advantage to hear The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable as the new album has been edited, mixed, and mastered. I had no idea whether my crazy scheme would work or not, but much to my satisfaction, it did.... and evolved into what we know today as The Unveiled.

What do Unveiled Members receive?

The core of Unveiled Membership are the weekly emails with mp3s and various documents, sent personally from me. I have decided overtime that The Unveiled will ALSO receive two very special things:

- A free, autographed copy of The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable.

- Their name printed in The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable jacket.

Since all Unveiled Members will have their names printed in the jacket, membership must close as of 1 July, 2010.

How do I become a member of The Unveiled?

Very Simple! Visit Merch Store and click on the link to take you to Paypal. Membership is $50 US (approx. £35 or €35). You will receive 52 exclusive tracks and documents, a copy of The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable (which will individually retail for approx. $15 US / £10 / €12), and a very special thank you in The Unforgivable, The Unforgettable credits.

Join the Unveiled now!

I suppose I have been rather quiet in December and January. Busy.... just not with music.

I have had more emails and messages than I can respond to asking, "where is the music video?" and "when is the new album coming out?" It makes me smile that others should be so excited to hear and watch my latest accomplishments.

Those of you who know me best have an understanding of the nihilistic "this is meaningless" despair that I get into at times. That's what makes me an artist I suppose... but I'm also human (this week anyway) and become troubled by financial dilemmas, loneliness, and longing like the rest of you.

I've been battling with myself for sometime whether to keep my career going or not. Those of you who are artists and musicians already understand what those who seek our passion do not. Our careers become their own vampiric nonentities... they require unsustainable amounts of blood to keep the machines rolling - be it money or hours upon hours of slave-like, menial work that has absolutely NOTHING to do with music or creativity. Simply put... you put a lot more into it (time and money) than you can ever hope to get out of it.

I struggle with the vanity of this... as music creation costs nothing, but the marketing and promotion and facilities that bring it to the masses - to either embrace or reject - carries a staggering price tag. I become sickened by how the exploitation has filtered into virtually every facet of the music business.... a business that implies it exists for musicians to make money, when in reality, it survives by musicians pouring their own money into it. Musicians don't make money making music. Many musicians who DO make money practice a form of cannibalism, where they find a way to market what they have to other musicians. I would gladly eat a human being as an appetizer... yet I find this practice disgusting.

Why do I bang on about this all the time? Do I expect to live like a 1980's hairband rockstar? No - not in the slightest. But it would be nice to be able to pay my bills and my student loan payments and be able to eat and maybe even go to the cinema occasionally. Now... what particularly untalented people generally say to this is: "Can't you get a job and do music part time?" NO.... YOU CAN'T..... IT DOESN'T WORK! Why don't you just get a second and third full time job on top of the full time job that you already have? Because if you physically could and had one job purely for financial reasons and another as a passion... you would be absolutely miserable. I know, because I've been there. There is no joy there - and I won't do it again.

Regarding Modeling

SO.... What HAVE I been up to? Not my music. Sorry - but it is a pointless waste of time. I've been modeling... of all things!

Regarding Attrition

I've also joined the long-established band Attrition, and have been working on new material with Martin Bowes. With Attrition, I will be able to enjoy music again, for the sake of performing and playing music... and for that opportunity I am very grateful and happy!

Regarding Performances

I do have a solo performance coming up at the Lolita in Wonderland Festival in London on 27 Feb. 2010.

Regarding The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable

I'm still editing it and will still be releasing it. I have been busy, and it's taken a back seat to modeling and Attrition.

Regarding the "Corner of My Eye" Music Video.

Your guess is as good as mine. It's not in my hands. I'm anxious to see it, too! :)

Just posted a new track on MySpace called "The Dark and the Blue and the Grey" recorded live at The George Tavern.

I quit!

One Unforgivable, Unforgettable Night with TyLean was incredible! I had an amazing time, and it was my best birthday ever! Thank you to everyone who came to make it a special night... I never expected such a tremendous turn out. I know most of you were too far away to make it, but you can see some photos on MySpace or FaceBook.

So, what happens now?

I'm expecting to get the recorded tracks this week... which will be 3 hours of 8-tracks recordings... quite a lot of stuff to listen to! I'll select and edit the best takes possible for the album, do any overdubbing in studio that is needed, mix, master, get the artwork finished, and release the album!

In the meantime, the "Corner of My Eye" music video should be posted online - for your viewing displeasure - by the end of the month.

Sunday, the 15th of November, 2009, shall be history in the making!

Live in London, at the legendary George Tavern, I will be recording the 3rd album, "The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable." Admission is free, and the tape rolls at 8 PM!

Previously, I had mentioned that this would be an invite-only event and you would need to be on the guest list in order to get in. Well... I didn't expect so many people to actually want to attend this event! The list has gotten a bit out of control. Just in my rehearsals on the piano at the George Tavern, people have randomly been saying that they can't wait to see the show on Sunday.... well... we can't turn them away, can we?

INSTEAD.... I am going to have a guest book! PLEASE take a moment to sign the guest book... and know that I am planning to use the pages of the guest book in the album jacket artwork!

Other exciting things to mention.... cellist Bela Emerson will be joining me for part of the night! Also, special guest In The Land of The Blind will be performing.

I must admit, I was getting very nervous last night! But then I read a quote from Barry Green that reminded me why I am doing this crazy thing in the first place... I will leave you with that, as I feel it says it all:

"When the music really comes alive, it means the performers have put themselves at risk, and to risk interpretation, to risk exposing yourself to the music, means confronting the risk of failure."

A lot of people make comments comparing myself to Tori Amos.... fair enough.... as I invoke her name myself quite often. I have some points that I would like to make regarding said Goddess.

First and foremost... I fucking love Tori! I think she is the most incredible songwriter of this time. I could never hold a flame to her talents or abilities... nor have I ever attempted to do so.

Many assume that Tori Amos is my idol or my greatest influence. As much as I adore her... this could not be further from the truth. My highest idol is, and has been since I started in this business 11 years ago.... Bjork. I regret, I discovered Tori relatively late in her career... Choir Girl Hotel era. I was already making my first demos in recording studios when I experienced my first Tori exposure. Although I am sure some influence has seeped in... my style was already in its beginning stages of development before I really knew who Tori Amos was. I didn't even like her at first, to be honest. I thought she was weird. But she grew on me, and then I fell in love with her.

So why do I tell people that my music is kind of like Tori Amos? (When it really isn't). Because every encounter with someone is approached with the same assumption of musical ignorance. Do they know these underground sub-genres? If I say vocal/piano/cello, will they inaccurately assume classical music? "Have you heard of Tori Amos" is a good way to gauge the situation! To someone who has heard of her, but doesn't really know her work, it doesn't matter anyway, because from their perspective, it would all be lumped together under "girl singing with piano." And if the person DOES know Tori... well then there is a good chance he/she will be interested in what I do, and will probably be educated enough to suss out for themselves that my style is very different and unique compared to Tori. About the only similarity is that we are both sopranos who write on piano, have red hair, and had moved to England at some point.

And about the red hair... my hair has been MANY colours! I happen to like red at the moment. I think it suits me. I'm sure there is a dramatic change to my hair in the near future. :P

Five months of pre-production... and the we finally made our music video!

The very first scene that we shot was myself in a straight jacket, sitting next to a snake named Kowhai... doesn't sound that spectacular, unless you are aware of the extreme terror and screaming that emanates from me when I see a snake! This was exactly what we wanted though.... genuine fear and terror, as someone insane and hallucinating can experience.

I must admit... I am damn impressed with myself. It wasn't out the question that I could have hyperventilated and screamed until I passed out (in fact, I was expecting this), so we really wanted to do this scene last. Schedules worked out that it was first to be shot... which meant that I had to do my best to not COMPLETELY lose my shit... and I think I succeeded and recovered quickly after it was done.

Other scenes for the video included me in a straight jacket on the floor, running around our cavern like location (The Southwark Playhouse) like a mentalist playing in mud, having a BRILLIANT character (played by Iain Conochie) being creepy while sniffing my hair and squeezing my head, and - of course - me raping a piano!

I have never been part of a production that ran so perfectly in my life! Every participant of the day was incredible... and I can't thank the crew and director Blair Mowat enough for creating one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

The editing should be finished and video posted within a few weeks... keep checking back, as it's coming soon!

I am very, very honoured to have been included in Terrorizer Magazine's first edition of Dominion... a special section of the metal magazine that features Goth, Dark Wave, and Industrial.

You can get your copy of the October edition of Terrorizer Magazine at most newsstands in the UK, or at select bookstores in the US.

What a fucking great way to start the day.... a review by someone who thoroughly understood the album!

It doesn't happen often, so when it does, I get very excited. The last line says it all:

"I don't suspect it's something I will listen to very often, but I will never forget it."

...... Fuck yeah!


Read the Review

The UK supply of When All Else Fails (EP) has been replenished, and autographed copies are once again available!

Visit TyLean.com to order.

I hope you are all paying attention.... I hope you are watching and listening.

Well... whether you are paying attention or not...

The events that have occurred over the last year of my life have caused deep, serious, and unrelenting self reflection. Everything has been analyzed and dissected... I have even been writing an autobiography called Inside the Mirror.

I have discovered many things about myself... things kept hidden from most everyone. I'm a very complex enigma, straddling two extremely contrasting worlds while not being part of either.

I've always stated that my music and "image" is the most true version of myself. That is true, but I have come to realize that I am only representing half of myself: the weak, tormented, and tortured side... because that was the only side I was comfortable with until now.

The re-release of Between 10 and 2 on Danse Macabre Records, the possible deluxe edition called From 3 to 9, and the live recordings this Autumn that will (hopefully) result in The Unforgivable, the Unforgettable will mark the end of an era.

It might take a year or so to transition - and I may take some time to finally complete Thus Far. On the other side, I will be the complete opposite of everything you know me as now.... not because I've changed, but because I have accepted and embraced the viciousness, violence, and coldness that I have always embodied.

My career until now has exploited my weakness... soon it will be the epitome of my strength.

Last Sunday, I did a cross-Atlantic telephone interview with Brian Lush of ROCK WiRED.

Here are the results.

I posted a demo of the new song "Love Always Dies" on MySpace. Just scroll down the player to the last track.... but listen soon, as I doubt I will leave this inferior quality track on for very long. Sooner or later, common sense will kick in.

Please let me know what you think.....

XOXOX,
TyLean

Visit Skope to read the latest review of Between 10 and 2.

A freelance writer named Devon Sartori wrote an article about me, which he worked especially hard to get published. Please take a moment and read the results of his efforts!

Read the article.

For those of you who have been following my career since before When All Else Fails (EP), you may remember me as being adamant about the title "recording artist" and always having a thousand excuses why I couldn't play live. I would even say, at times, that I had no desire to play live.

That was all bollocks! The two reasons why I played so few shows (usually dropping out of half of the shows I would schedule) were this:

1. I was too scared.
2. I didn't think I could do it.

Do you know what else was bollocks? Saying that I didn't want to play live. The whole time... I wanted nothing more than to be a successful, touring artist.

It's too long of a story to tell you here where this fear came from... and an even longer story why I finally swallowed that fear and went for it, but I did. When I moved to London (from Northern Ireland), I made the decision that I was going to actually do it this time. I hadn't played a show (that wasn't radio) in 2 1/2 years. I was terrified, but I went for it. I booked shows before I even bought instruments to play on! I got myself into situations that I couldn't back out of. In total, I played 9 gigs this summer... each set a little longer, each performance a little better.

Being an established recording artist for over 10 years was more of a hindrance at first than anything. I knew mistakes I was making and opportunities I was missing, like not collecting email addresses for the mailing list or selling CDs from the stage. I had to accept that I was starting from scratch in this area of the business,
and I had to take it easy on myself and give myself time to grow into something bigger and better that matches what I have already
accomplished in the recording world.

I had one goal that I wanted to reach by the end of the summer tour: to get over the fear. I'm happy to tell you... I have been successful. I can't say that I am never going to have a nervous moment again or have shaking hands at the beginning of the set... but I can tell you that I am never again going to cancel a show because I'm too petrified to do it!

I am now having a 6 1/2 week break until I begin my autumn tour. It's not really a break at all though. If anything, I am busier than ever preparing for Phase Two... where everything is getting turned up a notch and taken to a new level. I've learned many things over the summer, which I will be implementing this autumn with my newfound freedom from fear!

Thank you so much to those of you who came out to see me live an support me this Summer! It meant a lot to me! And if I didn't play in your area... well then... Demand that I do!