Songwriter Tyler Fortier wasn’t quite sure when the transition came, but at one point he left the scruffy world of punk rock to follow the path of American roots music. “I am horrible with genres; it wasn’t something that was thought out, it just kind of happened,” said Fortier, having recently completed his new record, “Pale Moon Rise.”
Originally from Vancouver, Wash., the 23-year-old guitarist/vocalist has been writing songs since the sixth grade, maturing as a solo artist under pseudonyms 11th Avenue Hopeloss and The Waverly Plan. Now a senior studying sociology at the University, Fortier plays acoustic shows throughout the Northwest, focusing on blues, country and classic rock. In 2006, Fortier set forth to record his first major album, “When the Sun Hits the Water,” and a year later he finished “Drunk,” a more “depressing, acoustic and down-tempo record.”
Fortier’s most recent work, the home-studio recorded “Pale Moon Rise,” is the first one to truly give him a sense of accomplishment. “There’s a lot more going on; it’s definitely more polished,” he said.
Apart from the creative success, recording the album was its own story. Due to a lack of equipment, the album took nearly eight months to record, when it could have been done in a single month. Tracks were recorded separately and at one point, Fortier was stuck recording in a circus tent pitched inside a freezing-cold steel hangar. Already working on a new folk album, Fortier hopes to re-record “Pale Moon Rise” in a live version.
Fortier’s mellow, effortless sound is led by his soft and sometimes tired voice. The pleasant hum makes for easy listening and provokes a reflective mood one might experience during a quiet night at the bar, hanging out and stuck in thought. “It’s more than I know/ It’s more than I wanna know/ The more that I see/The more I just wanna be free,” sings Fortier.
The generally simple tunes and structure are elaborated with the traditional Americana instruments: the 12-string guitar, harmonica, banjo, fiddle, pedal-steel, cello and the mandolin. A trumpet, saxophone and female back-up vocalist add spice to the album. The heavy list of instruments suites the stylistically colorful record.
A song will often stem from a single lyrical line, explained Fortier. “It’s always weird to write a song and to think about where it’s coming from. If I try to write a country song, it’s probably going to turn out to be a blues song.”
The age of digital singles has led listeners to quickly criticize records that float between genres because they are inconsistent, Fortier said. “People want one thing, so you have to stick music into genres.”
The musician has a tough time defining his genre, but feels his CD would be incomplete if a listener were to skip even a single track from the diverse group of songs. “They wouldn’t have the whole picture,” he said.
Music Reporter
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