TYLER HILTON

I like to read really good books - anything that's really great, whether it's fiction, non-fiction, how-to, or whatever.

In general, I'm pretty shy and nervous about a lot of things. For me to get on stage for the first time took so many times at an open mic before I finally got on stage and did it.

The acting thing is the side benefit of becoming a little bit well known with my music.

My favorite part of touring is when I see girls that I've been talking to on my site and then meeting them in person. I can't believe how well the fans get along together. Everyone just seems to be really cool.

Kids think books are cool, especially when they see that people they think books are cool are reading.

Whether or not I would be able to be an actor without the music I'm not sure, but I feel pretty lucky to do it.

My family was all musicians. We jam all the time.

Music is what I do naturally.

I grew up doing theater and music, and in fact, I spent more time doing theater, and I'd do music when I could.

I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No one really dug it. It was very Americana and had a lot of folk elements in it.

'The Storms We Share' has been a project that I've been working on for so long.

I have come to terms with the fact that it's called pop music - that's what I play, and that is what I write. I think it is a pretty broad category.

Just true to form with life sometimes - what you're trying to do doesn't necessarily work out, but what ends up happening can be a lot better. I just relax and say whatever is going to happen - happens.

I didn't see myself doing TV. It's time-consuming.

The reason I like doing these acting projects is because no matter how much acting I do, I'll always have music in my life. I love having both.

I base my roots and history in old blues, old country and old bluegrass, and I like rock 'n' roll, and somehow it all came together, and that is what I am playing now.

I love North Carolina.

When I got signed, I wanted to be involved in a charity, but it was hard because I didn't know which problems to start with.

Most entertainment careers aren't going to end in fame.

Getting on stage, for me, was a huge thing when I first started. And back in high school, everyone was in rock bands and I was a singer/songwriter. It just seems kind of lame.

I was a good student. My mom is a teacher, and her side of the family is all teachers. She put a big emphasis on getting good grades.

I never was strutting through the hallways like, "Yeah, I'm a singer/songwriter." That's never a cool thing to do - to be the brooding guy.

A lot of people can figure out the social media aspect of it, or the merchandising aspect, or whatever and get enough momentum to start a career. To sustain it, you have to keep writing and you have to keep creating.

I don't know how to make magic. For most songwriter's that has only happened once or twice, and I don't know how to re-create that. I know that there are some tricks and tools, but the magic is the amazing part.

I went from living with my parents, to being signed out of high school. I have never, not had a boss, or someone else responsible for me. It is really cool as an artist to have that freedom.