10 Questions with ... Tim Myers

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

From 2004-2007, Tim Myers was part of the pop group, One Republic. He was with the band when they released their mega hit debut record, Dreaming Out Loud. This album had the hit songs, "Stop And Stare", "Apologize" and "Say (All I Need)".

After leaving One Republic, Myers set out on a very promising solo career with continues today. Earlier this year, he released his sophomore album, The Year. Its first single, "Hills to Climb" is making a lot of noise. His music can now be heard in commercials for Target, Macy's Chase Bank.

1. Can you remember the moment that you decided to be a musician? Were your family supportive of this passion?

I was five-years old! I started playing piano and always loved singing. There was a singing group for kids and I tried out for it and got in! We got to play Anaheim Stadium, San Diego Stadium, we performed on TV and made a few records. I'm very fortunate, my parents have always been extremely supportive. They bought me an amp and guitar when I was teen and let my band practice in our house. I grew up poor and my parents definitely could not afford it, but were so supportive of the music!

2. Did you really start writing songs at age 14? What were they about at that young age?

Ha! Ha! YES! They were horrible! I had a band and my parents bought studio time and everything! I don't think the songs were love songs, they were more like "life" songs. One of the songs was called "Finish Line" and was about running life's races and obstacles. Pretty deep for a kid. Just recently I heard two of the recordings and it was pretty hilarious/cute.

3. Please tell us about the making of your new album "Portraits" coming out this fall?

My album is called "Portraits" and each song is a portrait of someone in my life, or a public figure. My process is to let inspiration come to you. I've written a lot of songs that have done big things in the drive-thru line! One song in particular came in a long line at El Pollo Loco and another one in In-N-Out. I've also written several songs in the shower or long car ride. Other times I have to really work for it. I wake up and write and record every single day, it's something I love to do every day.

4. What was the inspiration for your new single, "Lover My Love"?

"Lover My Love" is a deeply personal song about my wife Lauren! There's a million songs about young love, but this song is about marriage and being by each other's side through the highs and lows! We've had so many deep valleys, and the highest highs together and this song celebrates standing by each other's side no matter what. At one point in the second verse I talk about not having sex anymore and rehab. It's deeply raw, real and a very personal experience so I think fans are connecting to the message of a deeper love.

5. Please tell us about the making of the video for this song?

My Director Evan and I wrote this together and we wanted it to be very reflexive of the song but also artistic. I fight with Lauren's character, there's drinking, and at one point I jump off a building. As the song continues I reverse up the building and remember the good times with Lauren in our marriage. Lauren actually makes a cameo playing one of the girls seducing me. The "B" necklace that causes the reverse stands for our two kids we have together Bowie and Berlin. Making this video was extremely therapeutic and the jumping off the building scene was hard to do emotionally.

6 From 2004 to 2007, you were the bass player for OneRepublic. Please tell us about the formation of the group? What was that experience like? Are you still in touch with the guys of One Republic today?

It was overall such a great experience, I feel so lucky! I met one of Ryan Tedder's roommates when I was filling in for bass at a church in Malibu with some of the Lifehouse guys. He asked me to come down and meet Ryan (lead singer) in LA at their place, by the way did mention I was only 19 years old? Crazy! I almost turned away when he answered the door because he looked like he fell off an Oklahoma tractor, his style was horrific. He played me a few songs and it was undeniable. He was so talented! So we decided to start a band. I brought in a few musicians from bands I played with, he brought in a few friends and the rest is history. We started writing several songs together, it was so fun recording the first album, and on the second album I have several songs as well. The only negative experience I had was I lost a lot of confidence about my voice. I was told several times by a certain member that my voice "was bad" and that I "couldn't sing" and it took years to overcome that bullying of sorts. But I'm so happy that happened because it helped me become stronger. I'm so thankful to have learned so much about the music industry good and bad from that experience.

7. You have also written songs for a number of artists. What collaboration has been the most fun or most rewarding for you?

There's so many. Just recently I wrote with Capital Cities, I'm a huge fan of "Safe & Sound" and we all feel like we wrote a hit! Joy Williams of the Civil Wars was incredible, we wrote several songs together. Ke$ha was my demo singer before she was famous. She sang on 12 of my songs. We wrote several songs together for her as an artist, and she is so talented. Michelle Branch, Lenka, Meiko and Ben Lee are some of my favorite collaborations too.

8. Who would you still love to work with and why?

Paul McCartney or Bob Dylan hands down. Two of the greatest living songwriters still alive and either one would be a dream come true. Paul obviously is pure genius. He writes great melodies, lyrics, he plays every instrument, a master at recording. Bob Dylan a great lyricist, poet and all around king of cool. I think we would have a poetic field day together.

9. Your music has been featured in several commercials, TV shows and movies. Do you still get excited when you hear one of your songs on TV? What's been the coolest show to be a part of so far?

I still get very excited when I hear my songs on TV shows or movies! There's so many, I'm so proud of all the commercials for Target, Apple, Toyota, Google, Verizon, and all the trailers. "Hills To Climb" my single on my new album The Year was featured in trailers for "The Judge" and for the movie "When The Game Stands Tall" and NBC Promos! When I heard the song blasting in the theaters it was so exciting!! Almost every song off the album The Year has been placed in a commercial, tv show or movie. I feel so thankful and blessed that it's getting such a huge response. I never expected it to happen.

10. How has your music grown since you started playing and writing songs?

It's grown a lot! Musically, by learning more about chord progressions, lyrically by getting more poetic and learning from the masters like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, writing hooks learning more from the greats. The more songs I write the better and better it gets with each passing year. At this point I probably have written over 1,000 songs.

Who are your biggest influences?

Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Radiohead, Flaming Lips, Nirvana, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon.

Thus far, what's a favorite memory or something quirky that's taken place (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?

I remember back in my OneRepublic days becoming friends with Katy Perry. I asked her out on a date and she came over to my apartment at the time to leave from there to go on a date. I asked her where she wanted to go, I named some "fancy" restaurants in LA and she said "let's go to In-N-Out burger" and it was hilarious.

When we were recording the first OneRepublic album I asked her to come over and we were actually filming it that day so somewhere there's a video. She came in and put a pillow under her t-shirt and said "Tim I'm having your baby" and instantly the attention was off all us and on Katy. Pretty funny.

If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?

I think there's a lot that needs to change and it will. The major label system needs to change with the times. I think a lot of focus is on radio, I love radio, but there's a whole other world out there. TV/Film and commercials are so amazing! I wish the majors could jump on board more with promoting artists in this form. I also think streaming has overcome music sales, major labels need to start becoming more creative on how to create revenue for the artists and themselves through streaming, or they will be left behind.

Is there anything in particular that you'd like people to take away from listening to your music?

To be uplifted and not torn down. I want people to feel strength and love and happiness from my music. After listening to my songs, I want them to feel something, to relate it to their own lives, to feel empowered, to feel beauty, to feel love. I want them to think and discover more about themselves through my music.