Georgia native Tyler Lyle is preparing to share one of his most personal projects yet.
The Atlanta based singer, songwriter and producer, widely known as a cofounder of the synthwave duo The Midnight, will release his new solo album, “The Transcendentalist,” on Oct. 23.
During the interview, Lyle discussed creating the album, finding inspiration during a difficult chapter of his life and returning to the personal songwriting style that helped launch his career.
Lyle joined the conversation from San Antonio while touring with The Midnight. The band is currently on the second leg of its Time Machine Tour, with 26 shows remaining this year.
“We had a great time like we usually do,” Lyle said while describing the band’s recent Dallas performance. “Big lights, big sound, big crowds. It’s a blast.”
Work on “The Transcendentalist” began during the COVID 19 pandemic, when Lyle decided to teach himself how to produce a record. He initially planned to create a larger project about people crossing important thresholds in their lives.
The album’s direction changed after his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Lyle stepped away from writing for nearly a year as the couple focused on making it through her treatment.
When he later returned to the approximately 40 songs he had written, he realized the project was telling one deeply personal story.
“This is not ‘The Transcendentalists,’ plural. This is me. This is my story, and I should return to kind of a confessional songwriting approach,” Lyle said.
The album cover reflects that journey. Atlanta photographer Andrew Lee captured the image at Constitution Lakes during a hot and humid night shortly before the artwork was due.
“You’re going through the tunnel. You’re going through the dark patch, but there’s still light, and there’s still art that you can pose as an answer to why life is still worth living and why it’s still a beautiful journey, even though there’s some tough road ahead,” Lyle said.
Lyle spent three years attempting to record the album himself at his studio near Grant Park. After deciding the recordings were not capturing what he wanted, he invited several musician friends into the process.
The group recorded most of the album live in approximately three weeks, replacing nearly all of Lyle’s original demos. He said collaborating with other musicians brought fresh energy and joy to a project he had spent years developing.
At its center, “The Transcendentalist” explores life, death and the importance of being present. Lyle said his wife is now in remission from Hodgkin lymphoma.
“This is all we have right here in this moment, so we got to make it count,” Lyle said.
His wife, a producer and commercial director, also directed the music video for the album’s single “Pondicherry.” Lyle described her as a teammate who helped shape the project’s visual identity.
“The Transcendentalist” arrives Oct. 23.
The Midnight cofounder opens up about life, loss and creating “The Transcendentalist”
The Midnight cofounder opens up about life, loss and creating “The Transcendentalist”
