At just 15 years old, budding talent Tyler Bragoli has already made significant strides in his career, showcasing an innate passion for music and an impressive work ethic. Rooted in an inspiring story of unwavering dedication, creative independence, and the pursuit of a dream fuelled by a supportive family and a deep love for music, Bragoli has set himself up as a promising act making waves in an ever-evolving industry with his unique sound and style.
From discovering his calling in music at an early age to navigating the challenges and triumphs of a burgeoning career, he shares candid reflections on his experiences, uncovers his inspirations, aspirations, and personal insights.
In this exclusive and insightful interview with Earmilk, have a glimpse at the heart and mind of this young musical sensation, whose journey is just beginning.
At what moment did you realize that music was your calling, and how did your family's influence shape this decision?
I was always fascinated by music documentaries and the journey to stardom of many of my inspirations when I was younger. I started singing at an early age, and when my family recognized my passion and dedication for music at just 6 years old, they enrolled me in vocal lessons as well as guitar lessons. I wasn't always the best singer, but I kept at it, always believed in myself, and continued to show up for the lessons. I'm really lucky that I have the full support of my parents and friends to keep doing what I love and pursuing my dreams.
How did the experience of going viral with your cover songs on social media at such a young age impact your approach to music?
Early on, at the age of 10, I started posting cover songs of my favorite artists on YouTube and Instagram for fun over 2 years. These videos gained millions of views, and it was soon thereafter that I was reached out to by many record executives and all of the singing competition shows. I was even asked to join a boy band in Europe under a major label. Undoubtedly, my social media virality boosted my confidence, as the significant support I received was evidence that people genuinely liked what I was doing. All of the support from my cover videos just served to add fuel to the fire and made me more excited every time to post another one. People began requesting songs that they wanted to hear, and I had the best time doing them.
Can you share more about your decision to remain independent and how this has influenced your artistic development?
At this point in my career, I want to remain independent so that I have no boundaries in any way by anybody or anything when it comes to the creative side of my music. Fortunately, I have the unwavering backing of my peers and family, and I've assembled a team of people who will see my career through to my desired destination.
What inspired the creation of "Star Baby," and can you describe the process behind its production in your bedroom studio?
At the age of 12, I built a simple recording studio setup in my bedroom, which made it very easy for me to experiment with ideas at my disposal at all hours. All of my music starts in my bedroom with a simple idea. I taught myself how to completely engineer and produce my own vocals and beats. However, because of this easy access, many nights I find myself working past midnight. One night, I was actually looking through a Dropbox folder of beats that had been sent to me. I get hundreds of beats sent to me every day, so I usually devote some time going through them every day, but I heard this one beat that just had this catchy melodic R&B sounding rhythm with these crazy drums on top. When I’m choosing beats, I first look for the melody in the music as well as the vibe of the chord progression. Second, I look for the catchy drums. But this was a sound I had never heard or worked on before, and I was curious to see where it would take me in terms of writing. I then imported the mp3 file into Pro Tools. And I got to work. That's where the magic happened!
"Star Baby" has been described as a melodic mission statement. What message do you hope to convey through this song?
I hope that when people hear the song, they will think of someone they consider to be their "Star Baby." In my case, the song describes an imaginary girl who is perfect in my eyes in every way. She's my star!
You've mentioned aiming for a long-lasting career in music. What does success look like to you in the long term?
Long-term success for me means building a fanbase of people who continue to support me and allow me to do what I love for the rest of my life. I have a large passion for music, and if I can write songs and perform them for fans who enjoy listening to it, I think the sky's the limit for my success, and anything is possible. I love making great music, and music that lasts, so I'm really excited to show everyone what else I've got and what I've been working on thus far. Since I love the journey and have guidance towards staying on the right path to my goals, I know that success itself will follow. At 15 years old, I am already quite mature for my age. Right now, I'm still coming up, but within the next couple of years, I see myself at the top.
How did opening for Ja-Rule in New York City impact your perspective on live performances and your connection with the audience?
Opening for Ja-Rule was an incredible experience because he's such an amazing performer and definitely someone I truly look up to and respect. Getting up on stage and singing my debut single “Star Baby” was a thrilling experience, especially because by the last hook, the crowd was singing the lyrics back at me. This was an amazing feeling, knowing that for the first time, my lyrics that just started from a bedroom idea, were being sung back at me on stage. I remember my Dad asking me if I was nervous right before I walked on stage, and to my surprise, there was not a nerve in my body. I was so excited to finally debut my single in front of a packed New York City crowd. I really love performing live, and I can't wait for what the future holds. The experience really introduced me to the world of live performing my music, and Ja-Rule was very encouraging of me, and the reaction to my performance was incredible. I can't thank everyone involved enough for that opportunity.
Can you talk about how you prepare for a performance to maintain such a commanding presence on stage?
I usually pop in some AirPods and listen to my favorite singers to pump myself up. I like to listen to a variation of many artists and genres. However, my go-to artists are Drake, The Kid LAROI, Travis Scott, & Juice Wrld. Although I do try to keep calm before going out on stage so that when the time comes, I'm ready to go!
Throughout your musical journey, have you encountered any celebrities or notable figures in the industry? If so, have there been moments where you felt starstruck or particularly inspired by these encounters?
In particular, I've gained support from many of my inspirations such as The Chainsmokers, Jamie Foxx, Ja-Rule, etc. Conversations with such established individuals I've looked up to my entire life always inspire me. They are always very supportive, and their feedback is always helpful. They remind me that they are always there if I need any guidance in the industry or artistically.
Your music embodies more than just catchy hooks. How do you approach the deeper aspects of songwriting and composition?
I'm still very young, so I haven't experienced many of the things that other more established and successful writers have, but I try to stay true to myself and keep the music real while still incorporating situations I've been put in during any past or current relationships I've had through my songs.
Being known as "the hardest working 15-year-old" in the industry, how do you balance your dedication to music with your personal life?
It's not uncommon for me to be in the studio until 2:00 am, where my Dad has to pull me out of the booth to go home. I really love what I do and find myself working around the clock. I don't necessarily consider what I do work because to me, I'm just having fun. During the week, my schedule consists of going to school from 7:30 am – 3:00 pm, and all around it, I'm constantly working on music. I love every aspect of it. Although, it's definitely difficult because I'm still in high school, so balancing my music and school work becomes difficult at times. Most days during the week, I'll have a full school day and then go directly to the studio for a 5-hour session. It’s also difficult because when my friends want to hang out, and I'm spending as much time as possible focusing on my music, it becomes a hardship. However, I know that my dreams will always come with sacrifice, and that everything will all be worth it in the end if I stay on the right path and be disciplined in my work.
With your rising fame, how do you stay grounded and true to yourself?
As much as I can be busy a lot of the time, I value my time with those closest to me as much as possible. I like doing the things that make me happy but also realize that success in this industry can be taken away from me in an instant.
How does your New York upbringing and the local culture influence your music and personal style?
I truly love growing up in New York. When it comes to making music, New York's busy and fast-paced environment matches my energy. It's great having access to world-class studios to record at as well as exciting venues to perform at. New York is so diverse; here, you are exposed to every style of fashion and music – it is very inspiring.
Can you share some of your non-musical interests and hobbies and how they contribute to your creativity?
When I'm not making music, I enjoy rating different pizza places across New York, hanging out with my friends and family, and going boating and jet skiing during the summer. I also enjoy playing a quick pick-up game of basketball with my friends every now and again. I can get quite competitive at times.
Are there any artists or producers you dream of collaborating with in the future?
A dream collaboration for me would be working with one of my favorite artists, Drake, The Kid LAROI, or Ryan Tedder. They are such huge inspirations to me, and if I got the chance to write, release a song, or anything in between with any one of them, it would be a dream come true.
In such a short time, looking at your journey so far, what has been the most unexpected challenge you've faced in your music career, and how did you overcome it?
One of the most unexpected challenges I've encountered so far, I think, was simply getting into the industry and making connections with trusted individuals. Not being in the music business, my Dad and I figured things out along the way. I'm still in the earliest stages of my career and I've made many mistakes so far and will continue to make more, but I think that's the single best way to grow and learn in the future.
Connect with Tyler Bragoli : Instagram
