Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler McClellan.
Hi Tyler, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Accidents at Sundown started as an idea well over a few years ago, when I was in another band playing a lot of shows. It took that project going into hibernation for me to start writing songs again. It was a huge mixed bag of feelings, so I started labeling my songs by months until I had a full album. It took about a year to write and six months to record all instruments. But then I realized I didn’t want just me, I wanted a bunch of amazing musicians I had met while playing gigs for my previous band. So I called up 12 people, eight ended up being on the album. There is normally 1-2 people per track depending on what the track called for. I asked each person to use their imagination and record something they thought complimented it. In some cases, I got to take out a guitar part or bass part I had previously recorded because they came up with something so good. This was a way for us working musicians to get through covid too, it was healing and cathartic.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Covid-19 hit and none of us were able to play live anymore. The previous band I was stopped playing for the second time, a couple of months into covid. I had just turned my bedroom in my parent’s house at the time into a “studio”. A 10×12 room with 8 ft ceilings and I just bought a new 18 channel interface, built a recording rack, got studio lights, and set up my drum set. It was where I recorded all of my parts, all the drums, guitar, bass and vocals that are still on the album were recorded in that room. Then I went to record between teaching music remotely. From March-September, I had recorded the entire album, and in October I brought on the collaborators. Most of them talked to me about how fun it was to be able to record a project remotely and how it made them feel like they were a part of something again. Even through Covid, it didn’t stop us.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Accidents at Sundown was my brainchild, I had always wanted to write and record a whole album myself and I always wanted to really make it a story. The idea behind the upcoming album is that there are four friends at a funeral, their 5th friend is deceased and they know deep down that friend wasn’t the best of them. In fact they were pretty awful, but they don’t deserve to go to hell. So the album takes you on a journey through their trials and tribulations of their flaws, then trying to save their friend from eternal damnation. The EP we just released, “Coming from a Bleeding Heart” (02-19-2021) is part of the full-length album. We plan on sending out sms messages for those who want to sign up, where each day we learn something new about the characters and their journey. Almost like reading a book, but instead you get to communicate with the actual characters. We want this to be a completely immersive experience. We pride ourselves on the theatrical side of things on and off stage. In our upcoming music video on 03-05-2021 on concord couch concerts where it will premiere, we get to meet our first friend Anthony(Tony).
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can visit our LinkTree site where you can always find the newest videos, music, merchandise, and the sms messaging coming soon! https://linktr.ee/accidentsatsundown
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://linktr.ee/accidentsatsundown
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accidentsatsundown/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCclQR0ov3PoC4Np5FHYdAgw
Image Credits:
1. Amber Forrestall Photographer 2. Amber Forrestall (Original Painting), Tyler McClellan (Band Logo/EP Name)
