Review: Tyler Baum ‘Into the Nowhere’
Jordan Hoban | February 10, 2022
Image pulled from www.tylaum.com
Tyler Baum is Tyler Baum. What more can you ask of an artist? He has a quintessential somethingness that can only be defined by the circular argument: “Tyler is Tyler.” He’s a living Lucasarts character; a Guybrush Threepwood for the people.
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Tyler Baum. He’s been a staple of the Charlotte, N.C. arts scene for many years, and a keen-eyed collector of the paradoxes of urbanization. While a mastermind behind the tropical mystery-theatre ensemble group Don Telling’s Island Mysteries, he’s also become quite a fine lap steel guitarist, and his new album “Zwulkabemipthfojnyd” shows off his chops while highlighting the ubiquitousness of music.
Recently I sat down with Tyler at a coffee shop called Borealé in Hobson County, N.C. He ordered a burnt caramel cortado with almond milk and sat with the gracefulness of a heron about to spear its prey. I ordered the pitch-black cold brew with a splash of soy milk and, in between sips, settled into a vinyl lined Eames chair and asked him a few questions about his career.
When you first learned to record music, was “Zwulkabemipthfojnyd” already in your mind?
Yep. It's all been in there forever, just waiting for the proper time to ooze out. Took about 30 years. There were big clumps of techno and grunge blocking it for a long time. Felt great to finally release it.
When did you realize guitars could both slide and strum?
I was walking with an uncased guitar and a jar of artichoke hearts a few years ago, 2014 or 2015. Something startled me and I dropped both items at the same time. I think it was a loud sneeze. The glass jar rolled down the guitar strings making a pleasant "Ffrrrrrrrrrlllllllllmmmmmm" sound. This intrigued me and I started to experiment with different tunings and different types of jars — olive, tomato sauce, relish, empty. Soon after, my cellmate told me that a guitar could also be strummed. He showed me a few chords and I thought that was very kind of him. One of the kinder things he showed me.
How did you come up with the title of your previous album?
"Thrift Store Shampoo" is the name of an animated film I made and I thought the soundtrack album should have the exact same name instead of something different. My life coach has since informed me that I was totally wrong in thinking that. Oh well. Watch the film here and think about what else it could have been called.
How has the Jane Siberry album “When I Was a Boy” influenced your creative process?
That’s an album I’m waiting until I reach my 60s to fully submerge myself in. I do listen to her theme for “Maniac Mansion” quite often. Might cover it on my next album.
What’s the big idea, Tyler?
The big idea right this very second is cryptoblock metaNFT chainweb 4.0 deluxe. Unfortunately, a different new big idea will be bigger by the time you reach the end of this sentence. Sorry!
Which music and films have defined your ability to dance?
"Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze, "Wilbury Twist" by The Traveling Wilburys, the disco dancing scene from "The Jerk" (1979), and the big Ewok celebration scene at the end of the original "Return of The Jedi" (1983).
Henri Nouwen once said, “The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. God loves us, not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love.” In what ways do you agree with his use of punctuation, and how could it have been better?
I'm a big fan of the ellipsis, the dot-dot-dot fade off at the end of a sentence. I use it a lot in texts like "Happy Birthday..." or "No soy milk, but they have almond milk...". It allows the reader to escape into a daydream world for a brief moment. Henri's use of punctuation is flawless and I applaud him...
How has your relationship with the changing cityscape of Charlotte,
N.C. influenced your approach to art?
I was hoping you'd ask this. Walking around Plaza Midwood, which is a Charlotte neighborhood that exists in perpetual flux, has influenced my approach to art. I wander aimlessly at my own comfortable pace while avoiding traffic and wild dogs. Things either change or stay the same there. I try to do both in my art. Change too much and people get confused, don't change enough and people forget about you. I'm comfortable with people forgetting that they are confused by my art.
Whatever happened to Saturday night?
I was afraid you'd ask this. The final episode of "The Golden Girls" aired on Saturday May 9, 1992 and things have never been the same…
Value Village or Sleepy Poet?
Sleepy Poet is a whimsical used mattress store. Value Village is a chain of thrift stores with a much better name. I like the alliteration. While I prefer thrift stores that aren't huge mega-corporations and have a connection with a local charity, they're okay for an old book
or some boxers every now and then. I've also thrift-dropped (leaving an item in a thrift store) a bunch of my "Thrift Store Shampoo" 7" records at the Value Villages in Charlotte. In the record section usually, but sometimes I'll put one in a nice framed photo of a NASCAR driver. I'll be thrift-dropping more until I run out. Keep your eyes peeled. Not just in North Carolina - in thrift stores all over the world.
How should a listener best experience “Zwulkabemipthojnyd”?
While waiting in line for a waffle at the Carolina Renaissance Festival!
We left Borealé and looked down the long path that led to the highway. It plunged on either side into a man-made waterway with runoff from the Chahoogan River rushing below. Tyler made a wry comment about the necessity of change as he picked up a quarter from the parking lot. He threw it into the river and watched as it quickly sank out of sight forever into the Nowhere.
You can hear Tyler Baum’s new album “Zwulkabemipthojnyd” on bandcamp and on your streaming service of choice. Be sure to check out Tyler’s mind bending website, which is open between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
