SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — When Antwane Tyler started playing the music he loved on stage, he was curious about one thing: "So, as I'm stepping into the country genre, which is a predominantly white genre, are people going to really like this hip-hop kind of saucy twang that I have in some of my songs or are they going to be like, 'this isn't country.'"
He's finding his answer, in this full house at the Oxford Saloon in Snohomish - his hometown.
This up-and-coming country artist was born in Tacoma - and raised by adoptive parents mostly here in the Northwest. He is breaking the barriers of both country and hip hop, with music that reflects a powerful mashup of influences from Johnny Cash to Waylon Jennings to Tupac - with roots firmly planted right here in Washington.
His latest single, "Homesick" is blowing up on streaming channels and social media - and the song’s shoutout to the Cascades and a certain PNW area-code got a lot of comments.
"And I mention, I grew up in the 360, so many people around here love that lyric because you just don't hear it anywhere in music, you just don't hear it that often,” he said. “I love how those mountains are blue, it's one of the reasons I love Washington so much.”
"Homesick" is also inspired by his grandpa and fishing buddy, who gave Tyler his first guitar when he was 8 years old.
"He's like the reason why I'm pushing for this music," he said. "I know that he would be so proud to see myself and especially tonight (with) my dad and my brother-in-law, all sharing the stage."
During the show at the Oxford Saloon, Tyler's dad plays harmonica, and his brother-in-law plays in another band. As the crowd sings along and requests encores, it’s clear Antwane Tyler’s unique country sound has a huge fan base at home and he hopes it grows beyond the Evergreen State.
"As I think to the future, the impact that I want to make is I want to be able to inspire anyone and everyone that listens to my music,” he said.
At the end of the show, the artist tells the crowd he's a little choked up and thanks both his grandpa, and Snohomish for the night. Antwane Tyler would happily put up with being 'homesick' to live his dream of packing stadiums and introducing the rest of the country to his brand of country - born in the Pacific Northwest.
"It's all new to me. I'm going to just take it take the bull by its horns,” he smiled.
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