Interview: Changing Tymz

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today? Matt;  I used to sing along to tunes growing up and a friend of mine Gary Cogley said to me you should sing in a band, so I started a cover band with some friends playing Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Dio, Queensrÿche and music like that.  As far as doing something else, I never thought about it, I always wanted to chase my dream, didn't ever give up, even when people told me to get a real job or say my dreams would never come true, I still pushed onward and having the team we do now feels like I am there. Timmy;  Pretty much my whole family . It runs in my family . Well, if I wasn't playing guitar and writing, I would still be involved in music . But, if not music at all, then probably mechanics, concrete or even pro arm wrestling . Bryan;  Music has been part of my life since I can remember.  My mother played piano at our church when I was very young and I sang while she played.  I began music lessons for school band in grade school and continued on.  I would probably still be in sales.  I have been in and out of sales my entire life from automobiles, cell phones (the very first cell phones I might add), radio advertising, moving services, office equipment to construction materials.  Tony;  My Father was a music teacher so my whole family was involved. As a tot I loved watching a guy named Joe Blake play drums in my fathers jazz band, and so I progressed quickly with my fathers guidance and the advantage of some good teachers Then after hearing Alan White of Yes I was inspired to go after this dream. Hard to think of life without music but a second passion is martial arts, and I did do woodworking as a career for 30yrs along with music, although glad to have put that career to bed! Eric;  I Broke my leg in high school football. I was 14 at that time, so I began listening to some rock n roll. The feeling rock gave me when I was down inspired me to pick up a guitar, I never looked back. If not music then probably Engineering/Design.   What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity? Matt;  I really like nature and watching animals, I really love to stargaze and dream of other worlds out there in space so I feel a connection to my Creator and that is where I get my inspiration from. Bryan;  I have studio so in my off time I love mixing and producing for other bands.  I also love outdoor activities such as golf, riding my Harley, camping and fishing. Timmy;  Well, other than spending time with my family and friends, working on/building and rebuilding engines . And working on guitars, and tinkering . I get into a "groove" when I'm doing those things, pretty much a rhythmic pattern . And then to build anything,is to unify and operate as one . A lot of the time, my thoughts just drift off into a new guitar riff . Tony;  Really into martial arts and that gives me endurance and discipline. Also building and Flying RC helicopters gives me an adrenaline rush and a freeing feeling at the same time  Eric;  Exercise, it gives me energy so I feel stronger and more confident. That energy transfers into some aggressive riffs and helps me on stage    How long has your band been around? The completed line up was finalized in Nov. 2019, although Timmy and myself started together in Sept of 2016. Matt and Bryan both came aboard sometime in the spring of 2017   Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music? We are based out of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in the United States. I really cant say how that may have influenced us musically. Our tastes in music have influenced us pretty much all in the same direction more than our environment.   How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you. Each of us came up with a good handful of ideas and we pretty much kept voting till it was down to “CHANGING”  Then I think it was Matt that suggested something after it, so we picked times, only changed the spelling to TYMZ based on the letters of our names. Well the name became more appropriate here in 2020 but we always had it in our heads that times are forever changing   Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played. Tony; My most memorable was a benefit for my late brother Pete. We had grown up playing Metal together so playing the benefit after his passing meant a lot as well as gave me the ok..time to keep rocken as I know that’s what Pete would of wanted me to do. The worst? An outdoor festival in Ohio, the bus motor caught fire on the way there. After finding a truck rental place that had something available, getting the gear off the bus on the truck, get there late and to boot after sound check there was a severe storm that drenched everything and cancelled our performance… ugg Bryan;  The best was a street party with about 5000 people mouthing the words to the music that we were playing.  The worst was a show at a small club that was booked by someone else and after walking in we knew it was going to bad.  A very old crowd that was looking for country and we were far from it.  Lasted about a half set and were told we were done.  LOL Timmy;  Battle of the Bands, at the Cannery in Nashville, TN 1991 was probably my best, got 2nd place . Worst, Concert Hall in Evansville, IN 1991 . Matt;  The best show I played, well there are two best shows, the first show that was the best, there were over 1,000 people at, it was a battle of the bands that a cover band I was in hosted and I set the whole thing up, it was flawless and the band I was in, Maskerade played our best show ever. Another great show I played was with the same band but there was no one there except the husband and wife owner and they danced for the two hours we played before we packed up and called it a night. It was a new town and we didn't have any advertisement so the whole thing was a bust, but it was still great. The worst show I played and it wasn't really that bad, the same cover band Maskerade, the drummer got up and walked out of the show in the middle of it over his girlfriend but luckily there was a great drummer friend at the show, his name is Rick Boast and he knew all the tunes we played for the most part so he filled in, so it didn't turn out that bad after all. It was kind of a blessing really. Eric;  Ripley Ohio, it had most people, we went on 2nd to last… it just rocked! We were firing on all cylinders .. the worst was my 1st show, an eye opener not even thinking about 3yr old stings, like oh .. these break?  Ahhhhh what we learn the hard way. So a broken string, no new strings and no back up guitar equaled off stage and out of the show   Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already? Matt;  The best show I played, well there are two best shows, the first show that was the best, there were over 1,000 people at, it was a battle of the bands that a cover band I was in hosted and I set the whole thing up, it was flawless and the band I was in, Maskerade played our best show ever. Another great show I played was with the same band but there was no one there except the husband and wife owner and they danced for the two hours we played before we packed up and called it a night. It was a new town and we didn't have any advertisement so the whole thing was a bust, but it was still great. The worst show I played and it wasn't really that bad, the same cover band Maskerade, the drummer got up and walked out of the show in the middle of it over his girlfriend but luckily there was a great drummer friend at the show, his name is Rick Boast and he knew all the tunes we played for the most part so he filled in, so it didn't turn out that bad after all. It was kind of a blessing really. Bryan;  Don’t really have a favorite but would love to play Harpo’s in Detroit.  Tony;  To many good ones to pick a favorite, and I’m with Bryan on playing Harpo’s in Detroit Michigan Timmy;  Don't have a fav venue just yet, per se, but would like to rock out at The Whiskey A Go Go, Ozfest, Bonnaroo, Rock on the Range, Lollapalooza, Jamborie in the Hills, Monsters of Rock . Eric;  Ozzfest. It has the Biggest and best Metal acts. Would love to be apart of that.   If you could play any show with any lineup who would be on the ticket? Ok, We’ll have to go with living and ones whom have past.   Ronnie James Dio, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Motely Crue, Megadeth, Halloween, Dreamtheater Avenged7fold and George Lynch.. Looks like we need a 2day event!!   What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band?  If you’ve got to the point of starting a band there must be some time and money already invested in a dream, so keep dreaming, never give up. Also take it serious, Be on time, know your part and practice your ass off. Work with like minded people and most importantly, enjoy, have as much fun as you can. If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be? Don’t waste time on something that you know isn’t going to work. Stick with the music, for that is your dream. Believe more, work harder, chase it faster so you can get there sooner. Don’t let anyone steer you off course.   Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? Matt;  Foundation, and you will have to wait until the new record is finished and you will see why. Tony;  A song called SHARK ATTACK, it evolved out of the last drum line I recorded with my late brother. So in a way it has him involved in the new album. Bryan;  Stand Up, probably because it is what I identify with in my life and how I try to live my life Timmy;  "My Own Hell", because there is always a way to turn a negative situation, into a positive outcome . Sometimes you have to go through hell, to get to heaven . Eric;  Foundations, a song we haven’t released yet. It’s a real challenge to play and I feel accomplished doing a song like that with the guys in this band. They are all so talented   Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most? A new one that we haven’t released yet,  Foundation… a lot of us really enjoy playing that. The drums in MY OWN HELL is a lot of fun. Honestly we enjoy playing all our songs.  I would say right now it is Stand Up is by far the most requested although Blinded an My Own Hell both are really getting some attention     What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music? Timmy or Eric and the guitars, then Tony will work with the rhythms and structure along with Timmy or Eric and Bryan rounds it out with his bass.The riffs and structures they come up with really taps into Matts soul as well as the rest of the band, we are a team and work to get it right, sometimes for Matt just hearing that one lonely guitar really can inspire a great melody line or lyrics.   What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?  Positive messages, inspiring and uplifting messages, that can be understood by all so maybe some-one will make some better decisions that can lead to a better walk in life.  Sharing that no matter how bad times get there is a light and a helping hand waiting for you.   Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?  Couldn't really say disagreements, but we all toss around ideas, and we are pretty close, so we tend not to let things go to our heads,. We may have differing opinions however one of the best things about our band is that we all have the same type of drive and the same attitudes remembering where we came from which gives us the humility to be a 100% committed team player. Makes it a joy to work through things as we move along   What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?  We will be working and focusing on our full 13track album, which the drums are finished and guitars are following in nicely. We hope to release that by the end of this year. Not really looking at shows right now but if something pops up we are ready. As far as spotlighting, we did a homemade pandemic video of Stand Up that will be ready to share with the world soon and our new record that will be coming out as mentioned by the end of the year. And can't forget your interview, We would like to share and spotlight that too as we thank you so very much.