We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyson Halford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyson, what do you want your legacy to be?
I really just want people to remember me as a good person. Humility has always been important to me. I may be a performer, but when I perform I am still the same person onstage as I am offstage. I never liked the idea of trying to be someone I wasn’t. I value authenticity when it comes to building my brand. I also work very hard on the musicianship side of things. I would like to be remembered as highly skilled in my craft, and as a genuine person.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a freelance musician, staying busy often means juggling multiple projects simultaneously. I perform a lot in the Atlanta Metro area when I’m not on the road. Restaurants, private events, grand openings, house parties, weddings, festivals and charity events keep me pretty busy at home. I’ve done a lot of weddings with Atlanta Wedding Band, I’ve also had the pleasure of playing a number of sizable events for the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, The GA House of Representatives, and the GA Senate. I fill my calendar with a lot of hired gun gigs mostly on guitar, sometimes on bass or keys with a band that needs a player. This often requires learning a significant amount of material in a short period of time. A couple of years ago I signed with Emanant Music Group and began releasing my music, which you can find on Spotify, Apple, or any major digital streaming platform. I spend a lot of time outside of shows writing, recording, and coming up with ideas. I have a home studio, and work from home quite a bit as a session guitarist, crafting guitar parts for songwriters, producers and music makers. More recently I have been touring the country with Highwaymen Show, a tribute to the Great American Outlaws, featuring the music of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. I get asked all the time “what do you do during the day?” There seems to be a preconceived notion by those who don’t understand how being a full time musician works, that there is no preparation outside of playing gigs, as if you just show up knowing your stuff. What they don’t see is the countless hours of outside time that goes into keeping the career alive. Time management is key. There are a number of other tasks that require attention outside of performing as well, such as pre-production, updating websites, designing and selling merchandise, booking shows, answering emails/phone calls, creating and posting content, and practicing your instrument. These are the things that keep me busy outside of playing shows.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There truly is an abundance of things to do in GA. I’m an avid outdoorsman so we’d have to go ride mountain bikes at Blankets Creek or Allatoona Creek, two of my favorite places to ride. Then we’d have to do some kayak fishing on the Etowah River. There is no shortage of great golf courses to play, and I like golf, so we’d play 18 at Bentwater Country Club which is in my neck of the woods. There is a thriving music scene in Atlanta and the surrounding areas, which is actually the reason I moved here after deciding to pursue a career in music. We’d probably spend the rest of the week checking out areas such as Canton Street in Roswell or Downtown Woodstock, getting some great food and catching a few colleagues playing shows. Then I think we’d have to finish the week by catching a show somewhere like The Tabernacle or The Fox Theater.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There have been so many people that have supported me along my way, and I extremely fortunate and grateful for each and every one of them. I’d have to say that my family has been my biggest support system. They have encouraged and cheered me on from the start.

   

Website: TysonHalford.com

Instagram: @tysonhalford

Twitter: @TysonHalford

Facebook: Tyson Halford Music

Yelp: Tyson Halford

Youtube: Tyson Halford Music

Image Credits
PMG Atlanta Jordan Wilson Photography

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