New Interview: Tyler Tester on Turning Pain Into Purpose and Building His Sound From the Ground Up

Before the streams, before the uploads, before anyone pressed play, there was a kid in Wilkesboro trying to find his place. Now, that kid is stepping forward with purpose. Tyler Tester isn’t chasing trends. He’s building something honest. Raised between Wilkesboro and Boone, North Carolina, Tyler turned years of feeling like an outsider into fuel. What started as quiet perseverance has grown into a catalog of instrumental music rooted in faith, family, and resilience.

In this interview, Tyler opens up about the moments that shaped him; from learning to mix beats on BandLab to sharing his work on YouTube, from nearly giving up to finding strength in his wife’s belief in him. He speaks candidly about loss, fatherhood, and the track he created for his daughter at birth — a song that carries more than melody. It carries promise.

His production style leans into emotion and atmosphere, but the intention is simple: let people know they are not alone.

Inspired by stories of starting from nothing and pushing forward, Tyler represents a new wave of independent producers building from the ground up; self-taught, self-driven, and deeply connected to why they create.

This is not just about beats.

This is about purpose, perseverance, and the sound of someone refusing to quit.

Tyler Tester is here.

You grew up in Wilkesboro and Boone, North Carolina. How did your environment shape the way you connect to music today?

Growing up, I felt like an outcast a lot of the time. That shaped me in a big way. I never wanted anyone else to feel like they were alone or that nobody cared. Music became the way I could reach people and let them know someone understands.

What first drew you to producing instrumental music, and what made you decide to commit to it seriously?

I’ve always loved music. Watching other people do it professionally and seeing how it allowed them to provide for their families really inspired me. That’s what made me want to take it seriously. My friends, and especially my wife, had faith in my ability to mix beats. Their belief gave me the courage to step into it and commit to doing it professionally.

You’ve spoken about personal struggles and perseverance. How does music help you process those experiences?

Music has always been an escape for me. It helps me deal with real-life problems and get through rough times. When I’m creating, I can process everything calmly and pour all that energy into the music instead of letting it weigh me down.

Your wife played a big role in encouraging you to believe in your talent. What did that support mean to you at that stage of your journey?

It meant everything. Knowing that my wife, whom I love dearly, believed in me and saw how much this mattered—not just for me, but for our family—meant more than I can put into words. Her support pushed me to keep going and take myself seriously as an artist.

You started creating and mixing beats on BandLab. What was the learning curve like, and how did that platform help you find your sound?

The learning process was tough at first. But after a while, I realized I had a knack for mixing when I really focused and stopped just trying to throw sounds together. BandLab helped a lot because the templates are easy to work with and manipulate. That gave me room to experiment and shape my own sound.

Your music focuses heavily on emotion and atmosphere. What do you hope listeners feel when they press play?

Emotion and atmosphere are just my style—I wouldn’t have it any other way. When people press play, I hope they feel like someone out there cares about what they’re going through. I want my music to help them through hard times and remind them they’re not alone.

One of your most meaningful tracks was created for your child at birth. Can you share what that moment and song represent for you?

That was the happiest moment of my life. My wife and I went through two or three miscarriages, and it was hard on us. But we didn’t give up. When our little girl was finally born, I was overwhelmed with joy. That song represents all the love, relief, and gratitude I felt in that moment. She’s our rainbow child, and that track holds my unconditional love for her.

Faith and family seem central to your life. How do those values influence your creative process?

My faith keeps me grounded and reminds me that there are people out there who need help and encouragement. It pushes me to keep creating music that might reach someone I can’t physically be there for. My family reminds me why I started and why I keep going. Their support shapes my music because I want it to reflect the love and strength they give me.

You’ve mentioned being inspired by Eminem and stories of starting from nothing. What about that mindset resonates most with you?

What resonates with me is the idea of starting from nothing and building something through hard work. I’ve had to scratch and claw my way through struggles and hard times to get where I am. That mindset of not giving up, no matter what, really connects with me.

As an independent producer building from the ground up, what keeps you motivated to keep going?

Being independent keeps me humble. I know I could still be trying to get here, but someone believed in me and gave me the opportunity to do what I love professionally. That belief and confirmation light a fire in me. It pushes me to keep growing and proving that their faith in me was well placed.

What can listeners expect from you next as you continue to grow and evolve as an artist?

They can expect more of my original instrumental work, but I also want to grow. I’d like to start learning how to write lyrics and maybe even sing on my tracks. I haven’t had the proper guidance yet, but that’s something I’m working toward. Down the line, I hope fans will hear that new side of me, too.