It seems months since I last wrote a song. Between recording the new album, work and juggling my personal life, I’ve been sitting in a major writer’s slump with no signs of progress. Well, this Sunday I slept in, woke up and made a pot of coffee and went to my balcony with my writing journal in hand. I sat in the sun for a couple hours with nothing but my thoughts and a pen.

Nothing is final, nothing is complete but I did get a jump start on three possible songs: The Ramblin’ Kind, Explode and Constant Bending (all tentative titles). Above are a few Ramblin’ Kind verses directly from my journal. Read them out-loud and and imagine its potential. It was a good weekend- no doubt.

Sifting through the pictures from my trip to Wyoming, I found this beautiful shot of the Popo Agie River. The Popo Agie is a small river that runs through the middle of Lander, WY and I had the opportunity to wade my feet in the water and sit on the shore like I use to as a child. This time, I repeated the lyrics of my song Popo Agie to myself while I sat in the place of its inspiration. I guess I wanted to relive the days and see how accurate my words were in relation to the actual. See for yourself:

POPO AGIE
by tyler stenson

I can feel the Lander wind,
Coming up beneath me again.
But to the north there are billionaires
That lay between the millionaires and
Their buildings stretch to touch the sky
In the bigger world on the other side of the middle-
of Popo Agie.

Running down the crooked miles,
I could feel the muscles tire.
I could bend my tongue and sing
The words of Pioneers
(They’re coming up between my teeth).
And all at once their melodies
Turn to fields of industry and
The California air to black
So the movie stars are moving back to the middle-
to Popo Agie.

These are places,
Western spaces and
I go back there just to taste it.
Feel a warm night,
Mixed with fireflies
Where I can feel the Lander wind
Coming up beneath me again.

POPO AGIE live at ORMF 2006 (the 2007 recording is on the way!)

The Portland Songwriters Association puts out a Quarterly Newsletter that highlights the latest and greatest in the PSA. This most recent update was a very warm surprise for me and a great way to start the weeks of June. The newsletter featured a wonderful report on the Top Ten Showcase and then published the results of the Quarterly Lyric Contest! I wanted to post the Top Ten article in full so click here or on the image above to read the article. I sincerely enjoyed reading Tom Arnolds’ and Dan McIlhenry recap on the PSA Winner’s Showcase and thank them both for his kind words.

Tyler Stenson closed the show with a wide array of his own material. He took us back to re-listen to the selections he played as part of the competition and filled out the rest of his set with some equally grabbing songs. Tyler takes advantage of the limelight when he performs, drawing audiences into his songs.

At times he’ll slow his phrasing down to a near standstill accompanied by a whisper and then dramatically bounce back powerfully working his voice and guitar through the next pass. It’s exciting to hear him share his poetic, image rich songs. PSA wishes [you] the best with your singing and songwriting!

Tom Arnold and Dan McIlhenry
-PSA Board Members

There were many great artists involved so I encourage you to read the article and check out some of the other writers when you get the chance! In the meantime, below are some links to the PSA Newsletter!

PSA Newsletter Cover
PSA Top Ten Article (cont’d)

Published Lyric Contest Results

Thank you PSA for publishing such a nice article and hosting such a fun contest(s).

The results for the Portland Songwriters Association Quarterly Lyric Contest are in! I’m extremely proud to announce that my song Whistle Stop has been selected as the winning lyric submission. I am very proud of this song in particular and what it has to say; therefore, I’m honored for the recognition and what it has brought to me and Lander.


Click to read the lyrics to Whistle Stop


Whistle Stop by Tyler Stenson

Portland Songwriter Association Showcase Nov. 8 2006
I played at the Portland Songwriter Association’s Showcase last Wednesday at Mississippi Pizza. Great job to all of the other performers- a lot of great talent! It was a fun night because this was not a showcase of vocal or instrumental talent. Though those aspects were judged, the night was for the craft of songwriting itself. The showcase consisted of ten performers and their two songs. I chose to perform my two personal favorites- Babysitting the Cowboy and …Better Be Us All (below). Each performer was judged. Each person was unique with a whole different definition of music and songwriting as a craft and art. I was very impressed and inspired by the songwriter’s talent’s and therefore honored to find out that I was named a finalist for 2007. What does that mean?

Well, as I understand it, 30 performers are now 6 and the final Showcase is in February where the winner of the Portland Songwriter Association’s Songwriter of the Year is announced. I wouldn’t mind that title.

Each performer was allowed on accompaniment so a special thank you to Jeremy Seitz for his performance. I can honestly say that was one of my favorite performances ever and I owe a lot of it to Jeremy’s vocals and harmonica. Thanks man- great job!

Stay tuned, cross your fingers and sample the featured songs below. Jeremy and I will see you in February! Peace.

Babysitting the Cowboy
tyler stenson 2006

…Better Be Us All
tyler stenson 2006

An interesting man I know
Has the music in his bones.
He writes the songs
But he can’t stand rock n’ roll.
His name is on his right hand
As he hides behind a wall
-Somebody’s gonna make it (but you know it better be us all).

Older brother?
He’s the dreamer of some dreams so
He stretched out the gray and made it green.
I can see myself in him
(I’m just a little bit too small).
Somebody’s gonna make it (but you know it better be us all).

Little brother you are not the only one!
-Just don’t get burned in the Oklahoma sun.
You’re trying to get to heaven and
I’m just trying not to fall.
-Somebody’s gonna make it (but you know it better be us all).

I’m a music maker
Trying to make a dream
But getting there is as endless as it seems!
So, I’m gone to California
(Even if I have to crawl)
Because somebody’s gonna make it (but you know it better be us all).

So, when I get to California,
I’ll be giving you a call
Cause somebody’s gonna make it (but you know it better be us all).