Rising Stars: Meet Tyler Walker of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Walker.

Hi Tyler, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I moved to Athens, GA in 2013 to play music, and spent the next few years playing with as many bands/musicians as I could. I started working at Livewire Athens as a bartender, where I met my good friend and mentor Johan Harvey, and we started a funk trio called Harvey Funkwalker. That band, and the folks at Livewire quickly became family to me, and next thing I knew I was engrossed in an incredible local music scene, with lifelong friends and local bands that I could talk about all day. I really cut my teeth during this era, and finally met the guys from The Orange Constant in spring of 2016. They happened to be looking for a new bass player, and before I knew it I was moving into their band house, and proceeded to hit the road with them for the next 8 years. At our peak we were playing over 100 shows per year all of the country, and I grew exponentially as a person and a musician. As we all grew out of our twenties, life started to throw changes at everyone, and we eventually decided to kind of take a hiatus in early 2024.

I had moved to Atlanta around the time the pandemic hit, and went “full time” as a solo musician shortly after, mostly playing acoustic gigs around the city and metro Atlanta. In November of 2024, I got a message from Taylor Godsey- co-founder of Tand, a jam band from south Florida. I had been connected with him a few years prior via a mutual friend while The Orange Constant was on tour in Florida. He let the band stay at his place, and we quickly hit it off. I had mentioned to him if he ever needed a bass player I was always down to jam, and lo and behold he eventually took me up on that offer. So I flew down to Florida a couple weeks later to jam with them, and things seemed to click pretty quickly. Next thing I know I’m officially Tand’s new bass player, and have been absolutely loving it.

I also currently play guitar in The Fixins, a Southern Soul/Funk band that I helped start alongside my old friend Ross Talbott, who was actually the first person I ever played live music with in front of a crowd when we were about 16. That band is near to my heart, with some incredible musicians. I’ve always loved guitar and bass pretty equally, and I’m very thankful to be able to play each, with a handful of bands that let me scratch all my itches.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a touring musician isn’t for the faint of heart, and definitely takes lots of sacrifices to make it work, but it’s also fun grinding it out like that in your twenties- it’s a kind of experience everyone should have in some capacity. For many years I’ve scraped by financially, had to spend time away from my loved ones, missed birthdays, and been at the mercy of my band’s schedule. Nothing good comes easy though, and even the hardest times can turn into the fondest memories. Everyone’s job is tough in their own ways, mine just involves a lot less sleep and a lot of time in a van. I love it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Most around Atlanta would probably know me best from playing bass with The Orange Constant, and more recently with Tand. I’ve spent a lot of time the last 4 years really trying to put myself out there at bars and restaurants around the city to showcase my guitar playing, and more importantly my singing. I would like to be known more as a singer, and I think being the bass player for so long hasn’t quite given me the opportunity to showcase that. I love to sing, and can feel myself getting a little better all the time. I’m proud of my vocal range, and can get pretty high up there sometimes. I also love to write goofy songs- I think those come quicker to me than anything else when I try to write. If you’ve spent some time around a campfire with me before then you know what I’m talking about.

What matters most to you? Why?
I think one of the most important things to me is just human connection. I love playing music because it brings people together, and gives people a temporary escape from whatever craziness they may have going on. It’s a universal language that connects us all, and there’s something for everyone. Music can take you back in time to a specific moment, help you cope with pain, and completely change your mood or mindset. Making music is one of the most human experiences I have on a daily basis, and I value that tremendously in a world that seems to be losing more humanity each day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tandtheband.com/
• Instagram: instagram.com/twalkertunes instagram.com/tandtheband
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tandtheband/
• Twitter: @TandTheBand
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@TandTheBand
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VC6mZuswk6M1p7AJKFdh6?si=t8xeT6kwQTSEBw7ooKcN8g

Image Credits
Image 1- Adam Berta
Image 2- Em Walis
Image 3- Mia Murray
Image 4- Alex Troy
Image 5- David Gray
Image 6- Adam Berta
Image 7- Adam Berta
Image 8- Adam Berta