BIO
When Tyler Okun was 5 years old, his aunt purchased him his first acoustic guitar due to his resounding dreams of being like the rockstars his dad would play for him on the radio. After a few lessons, Tyler broke off on his own and started teaching himself how to play the hits of Green Day, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and ZZ Top with little to no formal training. During this time, his love of being on stage really took shape as he performed comedy routines in his school talent shows. Tyler amazed everyone as he was so calm and relaxed on stage. At 5 years old he performed 15 jokes. At 6 years old he was doing 26 jokes. It was truly special. No cue cards here for young Tyler. All memory from practicing with his dad. At 5 years old Tyler was also cast as a spokesperson for a consumer product and from ages 5 – 8 he was in national Television commercials. He had to demonstrate the product and say specific wording and Tyler was so amazing. The cameraman called him “One Take”. He was that good. He was a natural on the stage and in front of the camera at that point. At ages 7 Tyler played the guitar and sang for the first time at the same schools’ talent show. He played and sang Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top with his new Electric guitar. Tyler was off to the races! Tyler would go on to perform at each year’s talent show. At Age 8 he performed with his younger brother Ryan who was 5 and had seen his older brother in so much at that point and could not wait to join him for a singing and dance routine. At age 9, Tyler chose to go back to joke telling one last time for that talent show and that would be his elementary school’s final performance.
Once Tyler got to High School, he began participating in the school’s Choir and Musical Theatre shows. He was able to land a multitude of lead roles where he was able to showcase his Acting, Dance, and Singing abilities. Those roles included. Bert In Mary Poppins, Prince/Beast in Beauty and the Beast and Horton the elephant in Seussical. He enjoyed all three years of High School performing as a lead.
This led Tyler to realize that he wanted to not only play the guitar but sing as well. He started writing his own songs at the age of 14 with the song “Serenity”. With this song, about his first love, Tyler realized he could convey his feelings in deep and moving ways through the medium of music. He would continue to develop these talents throughout the rest of his teenage years through performing his original music at his high school’s talent shows and numerous venues across the city of Buffalo.
During this time Tyler auditioned for Buffalo’s Idol contest and was a finalist.
Tyler then started college as a Musical Theatre major. Once again, he received numerous lead roles and was able to further develop his training in acting and singing.
Some of those roles were Incognito where Tyler played Multiple roles, Next to Normal where he played Gabe and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson where he played the guitar and acted in the role of the Bandleader. He also assisted the pit (music).
During a college break, Tyler never stopped bettering himself. He loved the musical “Newsies” and knew they were auditioning this musical during his school break at JCC Rochester CenterStage Theatre. Tyler was cast in the lead role as Jack Kelly. His performance was breathtaking. His vocals were trained, and he showed why he was chosen with a performance of the ages. His solo of the song Santa Fe is on YouTube with 706 views at present.
Then Covid-19 pandemic occurred and put a halt on his schooling, and he was left with nothing apparently to do. But Tyler knew he now had an opportunity to finally develop into the recording artist he was destined to be.
He started his own recording studio in Buffalo where he worked 25 hours a week to write, produce, and record over 100 tracks over the course of the initial wave of the pandemic. He also produced music for several other artists as well. During this time, he released an EP, numerous singles, and a full-length album called “Last Man Standing”. Tyler has struggled immensely with mental health issues at times, and he found that writing about it both gave him catharsis, as well to connect with others with a shared experience.
Tyler's Music is influenced by pop-punk and rock music. However, Tyler makes an effort to utilize other genres as well to distinguish his sound as truly one of a kind.
At only 22, Tyler had done so much but knew he had to make a move for his ultimate goals. He needed to go to a specific place to better showcase his talents. He packed all his belongings and moved to NYC to both study acting at Marymount Manhattan College as well as now being able to perform his music here for his musical hopes and dreams. Tyler is now performing regularly across NYC at venues such as Berlin Under A and the Delancey. He has been a headliner at The Browery Electric. He also enjoyed performing at Manhattan’s Apple Fest and was in a production of Uncle Vanya where he is both acting in the role of Telegin and composing an original score for it.
Justyn W. Brodsky from Artist Reach wrote this about Tyler’s last EP “The City”. “Tyler Okun comes out to the forefront with unwavering talent behind the mic and gives it all without any reservations.”
Tyler has released the single “Evermore”, a song that truly encapsulates Tyler’s signature anthemic vocals and raw instrumentals.
“Evermore" is about a personal Mental Health struggle in Tyler’s life. He remembers laying at the front door with paramedics working on him. He did not see them…he saw demons. Tyler knew he was in for the fight of his life. “Evermore” portrays this battle.
Tyler reports that it’s been a culmination of countless hours in the studio writing, recording, and producing to create a musical rollercoaster that expands on what rock music is and can be.
From all perspectives, Tyler strives to create a positive impact on the world through his message in his music and hopes to give others the strength to persevere through any personal battle they may be facing.