Hello Taylor, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? I guess I was pretty much born into music! My dad had a band while I was growing up, and I remember jumping on stage to sing with at a very young age. My life has revolved around music for as long as I can remember! I have performed on my own most of my life. I grew up in a small south Texas town on the coast (Portland, Texas), and am a proud Texas Aggie graduate (class of 2016!). I have spent most of my life in and on the water, and I love to fish almost as much as I love to play music. I traveled a lot with my family growing up, so I definitely have a love for traveling as well. After living in Nashville for over 4 years, I decided to make the move back to my home state of Texas. I’ve always loved the Texas music scene, and felt like it had been calling my name!
How did you get into country music and how did you decide you wanted a career in it? As I said previously, my dad was a musician and that’s what truly pushed me into my music career. Both of his parents, my grandparents, played music and occasionally wrote songs. They didn’t pursue music as a career, but a hobby. My dad on the other hand, pushed music a little harder. He was in the same band since he was young and has the most incredible voice and ear for music. He never pushed me to play music, but I couldn’t help but want to do what he did. I was so drawn to it! With only a little help from my dad, I taught myself to play the guitar. He encouraged me to play gigs on my own, and before I knew it, I was playing all over south Texas! I started writing early, too, and decided I was going to venture to Nashville for a while to learn and grow as a person and as a musician/artist. A music career has always been my dream, I just cannot imagine my life without music!
Who are some of your musical icons? Well of course, my dad, but I’m also inspired by the musicians I grew up listening to. My dad is a lover of country music, and my mom is more of rock and alternative music fan. So I was inspired by them both! Some of the artists I grew up listening to that have always inspired me are: Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Pat Green, Matchbox Twenty, Keith Whitley, and Jo Dee Messina to only name a few. The list goes on and on! Since I really started my career, my biggest and current inspirations are Lee Ann Womack, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Randy Rogers, and Patty Loveless. There’s honestly so many – especially like some of my friends that I’ve met in Nashville who inspire me in so many ways!
What is the background story behind your brand new single “Bigger Than Texas?” Bigger Than Texas is an extremely vulnerable song I wrote about a heartbreak I experienced in early 2020. I had used the phrase, “I love you Bigger Than Texas” like the phrase, “I love you to the moon and back” in that relationship because we were both from Texas. We hit a rough patch, and had a short breakup. I was heartbroken to say the least, and it was a tough situation for both of us to be in. I was out at a bar in Nashville one night, and a mutual friend of ours said, “you know he’s thinking about moving back to Texas?”, and when I heard that my heart sank. I thought, ok, if he leaves, it’s definitely over. I went home that night, picked up my guitar, and started the chorus of this song in tears. I wanted to write something that he would know was about him if he heard it. I called my favorite co-writer and best friend, Karleigh Schmidt, and told her I had something. I asked her to finish it with me, and we had the song in a couple of hours. Sure enough, the first time I played it out, someone posted a video to their Instagram story, and he heard it. When we began to mend the relationship he said, “I still love you Bigger Than Texas, too”.
How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? . Honest, heartfelt, unique, fun, TEXAN!
What is your recording process like when creating and making new music? I spent a lot of time this go round focusing on writing before rushing out an album. It was really hard to narrow down my favorites for this record, but I loved having so many to choose from. I collaborated with my producer, James Cook, multiple times before jumping in, and bounced ideas back and forth with one of my co writers, Karleigh. I had a very solid idea of what I wanted before we got started. Once in the studio, you feel what’s right, and sometimes it takes you in a different direction than originally intended. The recording process is a time to really get creative, and it is SO much fun.
What are a few of your favorite venues to play at? I’d have to say my favorite is Brewster Street Icehouse in Corpus Christi, TX. I was lucky enough to perform there when I first started chasing this dream, thanks to my dad. It’s an awesome venue and one of the best in STX! I also really love playing at the music venues on Demonbreun street in Nashville. Its a different experience than playing for listeners. When you’re playing at a local area in Nashville, you’re playing for other musicians, industry professionals and other songwriters. Its really cool to build relationships after gigs at these venues and watch your friends grow in music, too. I love playing at venues near my hometown the most, because that hometown support always blows me away!
What is one of your favorite quotes? “If it were easy, everyone would
Is there anything else you would like to share? Thank you so much for including me in this!I truly appreciate it!
Taylor Tumlinson started singing and writing at a young age and taught herself to play the guitar at only 10 years old. She won the Texas State Colgate Country Showdown in 2010, and her appreciation for entertaining and playing on stage was kindled very fast as she opened for some of her favorite Texas musicians like The Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, and Jon Wolfe. Also in 2010, she traveled to Nashville to record with the help of her producer, Trey Matthews and enjoyed her first co-writing sessions with Matthews and Danny Green (known for his sit song with Chris Stapleton “Fire Away”).
Tumlinson received a lot of radio playing time and was nterviewed all over South Texas, and she and her local band played many venues around the Coastal Bend, including Brewster Street Icehouse. She attended Texas A&M University and after graduating, she decided to chase after her music dream by making Nashville her new home. She started making new friends with many skillful writers and musicians, co-wrote many songs, played regularly in writers’ rounds, and learned more than she could ever visualize possible.
She went back to Texas in 2020 and is getting ready to release a full-length record. Her soulful voice and rare lyrics draw music fans to her live performances and sessions on social media. Tumlinson’s voice has been described as being “mesmerizing,” “fierce and soulful”, and “strong with a good country sound” by different music bloggers. Her first two singles from her full length album, “Hold Your Horses” and “Bigger Than Texas” came out this year.
If you would like to find out more about this talented girl Taylor Tumlinson then make sure to check out all of her social media pages down below.
Hello Jarod, can you tell us a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician?
Yes! I was born and raised in Montana. I grew up playing baseball and fly-fishing as well as enjoying the Montana outdoors, skiing, hunting, rafting, etc. I played college baseball and really tried to turn it into a professional career. After that, I opened up a house painting company and a sailboat chartering company on Flathead Lake (Montana). I also coached high school baseball for a few years. To fast forward a little bit, I then spent some time in Texas where I owned a small baseball academy, and of course, got into the Texas Red Dirt country scene even more! After that, I lived in Boise for a short time where I started my first band, the JGrubb Band, and played all over Boise. My next move was Nashville after meeting a guy named Gary Tackett, Billy Currington’s first lead guitarist, who really encouraged me to make the move. I’m so glad he did!
What made you want a career in country music?
I’ve always been in music. My parents had me in piano lessons from 6 years old and I played the saxophone starting in middle school. I picked up the guitar in college and started writing songs. I spent a year of college in Texas and learned all the Texas country jams, especially Pat Green. I entered the Colgate Country Showdown and won our local chapter with 2 of my country originals. It was the largest chapter of the competition in the nation and I performed for 3,000 people! It was pretty nerve-racking lol. But, I did all that just for the love of it. It wasn’t until I got to Boise, where I felt like if I didn’t start a band, I would regret it. I really got some great encouragement along the way at the right times, especially from Gary Tackett, and I felt like I could have a shot in the country music business.
What is the background story of your debut song “Tiki Bar On The Beach?”
Tiki Bar was actually the very first song I wrote in Nashville. It really came out of just a songwriting exercise to get into the writing habit after moving. Usually, I don’t finish songs I start for workouts, but I did on this one and when I started playing it out live it got a surprisingly good response. I was surprised because I feel like it’s a very simple concept and song, but sometimes “simple” is honest and speaks to people even more than something clever would.
How did you come up with the name “Tiki Bar on The Beach?”
Having just moved to Nashville (when I wrote it) to chase the dream of being a country artist, the concept of chasing your dreams was fresh on my mind. So that’s what the song is about – not being afraid to take a risk and follow your heart. One of my dreams is to own a house on the beach. I thought of what that would be like and where I would hang out and it would be at a Tiki Bar on the Beach. Kind of like Cheers on the ocean. Like the song goes, if you asked me where I would be if I could be anywhere, “You could find me way down south, at the tiki bar on the beach.”
Who are some of your musical icons?
I just love musicians who are pure writers and can perform their own stuff stripped down – just themselves and a guitar or piano. Pat Green was huge for me in Texas, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor, Willie Nelson, John Denver, John Mayer and so many more. Lately Old Dominion too!
How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words?
Original. New. Beachy.
What are a few of your favorite venues to play at?
I have played around a bit here in Nashville. This past year I have landed at Margaritaville on broadway and Margaritaville Hotel. Those are my favorite spots! They fit my style, so I can play the Kenny Chesneys, Jimmy Buffetts, Jack Johnsons and of course my stuff like Tiki Bar. Hopefully, I’ll land at Tortuga Fest and Gulf Coast Country jam this next year.
What is your recording process like when making and creating new music?
I’ve really developed a specific process. Without boring you with all the details (lol); it starts with idea gathering – little snippets of musical thoughts that I put in my phone’s notepad or voice memo. Lots of those come from mowing the lawn. It takes me forever to mow the lawn because I’m always stopping. After that, I turn those ideas into verses or choruses. When I’ve got a collection of those I finish writing the ones I like and trash the ones I don’t. Then, I take time to learn and demo those before I write another batch. It’s a good cycle for me. I feel like it keeps me fresh instead of non-stop writing.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Thank you so much for having me on your blog!! I’ve been blessed with all the people I’ve met along the way who have influenced and helped me and I’m so grateful!
What is one of your favorite quotes? “I learned how to speak the same way I learned how to ride a bike – by doggedly making a fool of myself.” -George Bernard Shaw.
Jarod Grubb is from Northwest Montana. Grubb grew up close to Glacier National Park. His love of nature and stunning places grew to oceans, beaches and palm trees where he has found inspiration for his music career. After starting his own band in Bosie, Idaho, Grubb then moved to Nashville where he was played venues like Tootsies, 4 Corners Marina on Percy Priest Lake and Margaritaville Hotel. Played these venues along with writers rounds and getting mentor from Billy Currington’s lead guitarist Gary Tackett. Tackett had guided Grubb to his first producer and after that was his freshman EP. On July 9, 2021, Grubb’s brand new single “Tiki Bar on the Beach.”
If you would like to find out more about Jarod Grubb please check out his social media accounts down below.
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