The Passage Project
Just as storms are defined by the energy they absorb as they evolve, The Passage Project, too is defined by the energy it absorbs from an ever-changing array of musicians and talent that join its recording sessions and performances around the country. At the center (the eye) of The Passage Project is Tyler Unland whose soul and inspiration lies in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Having written and recorded his first songs at the age of 15, Tyler’s concept of a band was to keep the core sound of the music constant, but to continually change those with whom he writes and performs, allowing the band and its music to be fresh, open to new ideas and talent and always evolving. When you listen to the unique sound of The Passage Project, you will understand why some of the musical legends of our time not only show an interest in Ty and The Passage Project, but play on the band’s first CD.
With their roots in the Rockies of Colorado, the band just completed recording in the cradle of American popular music, Woodstock, N.Y. amidst some of the most renowned musicians in the world. With legendary drummer and producer Jerry Marotta aligning forces with them for several months in the studio, The Passage Project is more refined in its hallmark blend of robust beats, melodies, and soaring instrumentals and now move toward the long awaited release of their first CD in the Spring of 2008. Special guests on the album include: Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, John Lennon, Pink Floyd), John Medeski (Medeski Martin and Wood), Danny Louis (Gov’t Mule) Ben Combe, Michael Bernier (avante-stickist), and many others! Engineered and mixed by Roman Klun.
With close to fifteen years of drumming, Tyler is the backbone of TPP, providing grooves that get people dancing before they know it. He has studied funk and jazz drumming under the highly regarded Steve Smith at Berkley College of Music in Boston, MA. Despite the sounds that ring out of his monstrous percussion set-up,
Tyler amuses crowds with his stage presence, always connecting with the audience.
Despite being a great drummer, Tyler is an exceptional composer and engineer. He has sold music commercially to subsidiaries of Clear Channel and he is a member of BMI (organization for composers/songwriters). He has also attended the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, AZ where he studied extensively with Ghery Fimbers and is proficient or certified in Logic Pro 7, Ableton Live 5.0, Pro Tools, Final Cut Pro, BFD Komplete, Reason, and Atmosphere.
Tyler’s musical inspirations are Sound Tribe Sector 9, Bonobo, Elliot Lipp, Bela Fleck, Radiohead, Lotus, Rage Against the Machine, The Roots, Prefuse 73 and Common.
