10 Questions With Tyler Reese Tritt

Singer/songwriter Tyler Reese Tritt has country music flowing in her blood, providing her with a deep connection to the genre.

Emerging from a musically talented family and learning from her father and country music legend, Travis Tritt, Tyler always knew that this was the path she wanted to take.
With a childhood dream to perform on stage someday, she is now seeing those dreams come true as she makes her mark on country music.

With a new EP on the horizon, Tyler drew from her personal experiences to write a collection that emphasizes her authenticity and originality. 

Country Now recently caught up with Tyler Reese Tritt at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville to discuss building a music career under the influence of her legendary father, her latest releases, the makings of her recent music video, and more. Check out our exclusive Q&A below.

How would you describe yourself as a singer and songwriter?

Definitely ’90s meets now. I love that old-school vibe and it’s making a comeback, which I love. I’ve always just loved it, and that’s always been my vibe and my style.

As the daughter of Travis Tritt, you are pursuing a career in the same industry as your father. Could you elaborate on how you’ve forged your unique path and established your own identity, while simultaneously honoring and upholding the legacy associated with the Tritt name?

Yeah, it was definitely difficult in the beginning, just trying to figure out my sound and really figuring out where I fit in. My dad’s got pretty big shoes to fill and he’s kind of a big shadow there. The more that I kept doing it, just going out, writing, recording, performing, really tailoring my sound to my audience, that’s what’s really helped me. I felt like that really got me to where I am now and really helped hone everything in.

What is the best advice you have received from your father?

Oh gosh, there’s so many. One of the main things he’s told me came from someone that had shared it with him.  It’s really been helpful, especially the first few times I’d go on stage when I’d get so, so nervous. He would be like, “hype yourself up, and psych yourself out. Before you go out on stage, tell yourself that you’re the best that there is.” I’d say things like “you’re better than Carrie, you’re better than Miranda.” Even though it was all in my head and I knew it was a lie because they’re amazing and they’re legends, I just told myself that. I’d get in the mirror and I’d be like “Yeah, you go girl. It’s going to be me out there and me alone. You’re the best at what you’re doing at this moment in time. You got it.” I get myself so psyched and in such a different mindset that it has helped me tremendously more than I can say.

Last year you released a song titled “Texas Hold Him.” What is the story behind this song?

Well, Jaida Dreyer and Melissa Peirce wrote it and it was so fitting because whenever you’re at school or you’re at church, the teacher or the preacher is usually going to say or talk about something that’s going on in your life. I was just leaving Texas from visiting my ex-boyfriend. We were kind of doing a last minute trying to see if we could work things out kind of thing. We couldn’t, but we’re still really good friends. I was in the car leaving and Jaida had pitched me all these songs. “Texas Hold Him” popped up and I just remember sitting through and listening and I was like, “Oh my God. It’s speaking right to me.” It was exactly what I was feeling at that moment, and I just remember sitting there in shock. So, I called her and texted her telling her that I needed that song and to not give it to anyone else. It was honestly a perfect fit.

Given the similarity between Beyoncé’s song title “Texas Hold ‘Em’” and your song title “Texas Hold Him,” do you see any connections or parallels between the themes or messages of the two songs?

Not really. I think other than the song title, they’re two completely different songs, which is great because I mean, she’s bringing in something completely different. It’s a whole different sound which is very unique. I didn’t even come up with the song title. Jaida Dreyer and all them had because it was already done and written. We had put out the song last year, so I like to say that we kind of got the ball rolling. Everyone was calling and texting me too saying, “Tyler, have you heard this? Have you heard this?” I was like, “Yeah, mine was first. By God, mine was first.” I was like, she can come in with the same song too, as long as everyone knows mine was first. 

You also released another song last year titled “Porch Light.” How did you know you wanted to record this song and make it yours?

I heard the sass to that one, and it was very much a Miranda Lambert vibe. It was right up my alley, just the attitude and the sass. I knew I had to do this one because everyone has that woman scorned ‘Billy Badass’ buried deep inside of her. This song and the music video for it really played into that. It was just so fun getting to go in and smash and break so much stuff. 

Are there any behind-the-scenes stories from the “Porch Light” music video that you would like to share?

There’s so so many. It was an all-day shoot and it was my first time ever filming a music video, so I really didn’t know what to expect. From everyone working on the set, to the outline, to the story that was already laid out, everything was amazing. It all came together and going into it was fun. We did all the acting parts. Then in the end, the director comes in and she’s like, “all right, we need to have a safety meeting.” I was like, “A safety meeting? What’s going on?” She’s like, “I need you to put on these goggles and we’re going to be breaking stuff.” I’m like, “We’re going to be breaking stuff?” They’re like, “Yeah, well, you’re going to be smashing mirrors.” We had to make sure that take was a good one. The other mirrors on the hallway, it was so funny because I’d walk through and you’re trying to be mad and knock the mirrors off, or the picture frames off the wall, but it was harder than I thought. All the girls on the set had gotten pictures of their exes and put their exes in the frames hanging on the wall to give me some inspiration. They were like ‘this is going to be a video for all of us.’ So the first time I walked through and tried to knock the pictures off, barely any of them fell. None of them broke. So I was just like, awesome. Luckily we were able to double take that, but for the mirror breaking, they were like, “this is going to be a one time thing, so you’ve got to get it right.” We were able to, and the whole experience was just so much fun.

You incorporated a line from your dad’s song “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” in the opening scene. Why did you decide to include his song and how did you choose which one to include?

That was the director’s idea. She had asked me if I had any problem with putting my dad’s song in the music video. I was like, no, not at all. I was like, “What song were you thinking?” She was like, “I was thinking, ‘Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares).’” It was perfect because when he pulls up in the truck in the beginning of the song, he’s getting out of the car with his lover and coming into me. He’s been drinking, he’s been drunk, and it was the perfect song to just tie it all in. It was also a little ode to dad, so I loved that idea.

Did your acting in the music video come naturally or did you find it hard to play the part?

I had been acting since I was little. I was with the agency and everything for a really long time, so I was really looking forward to the acting in the music video, and getting in front of the camera again. I think the crew was even shocked, because we had time set for each scene and we were just knocking ’em out. They were like, “Oh my God. You’re a natural.” Honestly, I was surprised because I really thought I was going to walk in there and fall flat on my face. I hadn’t acted in a hot minute, but yeah, it was really, really fun. 

Did you draw from a personal experience to fully capture the rage and upset emotions that the song narrates?

Oh yeah. “Texas Hold Him”  was about the first ex-boyfriend, and then I definitely channeled my rage for “Porch Light.” It definitely helped get in the right mindset. The people on set were like, “You just seem mad. You’re acting mad” I’m like, “You’re right. I am mad.” Then they step in and try to help get me in that mindset too, so they’re sitting there and they’re like, “this happened,” and “don’t you remember when this happened.” They were giving me all of these moments and things to hype me up. I was sitting there and I was getting even more mad, and then they were like, “Woah, alright calm down.” I was like “Well y’all are getting me all hyped up. I can’t help it.” So no, I was definitely able to pull from some of those moments.

Fans can keep up with Tyler Reese Tritt on Instagram @tylerreesetritt.