Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Perry Jr of Perry Project.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
Over 20 years ago (2003, 2004), I sat in my small apartment bedroom in the small Mojave desert town of Ridgecrest, California, with a dream to record an album and hopefully one day be a working musician. So, I bought my first guitar with money I earned from my job at Little Caesar’s Pizza. It was a rough start as I have never even tried to play the guitar in my life. It was a painful awakening that had me questioning that maybe I was just not cut out to do this, but I persisted because I quite enjoyed it. I got obsessed with music with bands like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Tom Petty and Motown. I later discovered Brit-Pop as it blew up in the ’90s and 2000s with bands like Oasis, Coldplay, Travis, Keane, and Editors. I realized I would not just listen to this music. I would analyze every note, especially vocals and lyrics, and replay these artists constantly to find new meaning. After talking to my sister in Washington, who lived near Seattle in Bremerton, I decided to quit my job, pack my bags, leave friends and family behind, and set out on a musical journey. I knew to make music a reality. I needed to move somewhere where I had an audience. Except there were a few big problems, I didn’t know anyone there, I was broke, I barely played for more than ten people, and the fact is, I still had no real guitar skills but still somehow managed to keep writing songs on the few chords I taught myself how to play. After moving to Bremerton, I got a job as a bus boy in the restaurant of the Seattle Art Museum, or “SAM,” as the locals called it. To get there, I would have to take the ferry from Bremerton almost daily, but this was fine, as long as I was in Seattle. While in Seattle, I met some amazing people, auditioned for a couple of bands, and played no reality shows, only open mics at the Manette Bar in Bremerton. One day while looking around the city and seeing that I had no means to support myself anywhere if I wanted to live the city life, I decided I needed to make a drastic decision. I wanted to go to college, but to do that, I would need money. I heard that the government was about to pass the new GI Bill, so I immediately started researching which branch was right for me. I decided to move back to California, say goodbye to my family and friends, and join the US Air Force. After being stationed in Tampa, FL, my music passion was still alive. I would spend hours a week attending and performing open Mics, writing music, and practicing. When writing songs while playing my electric and acoustic guitar, I always envisioned my project to have a full band: Drums, electric guitar keys, and some strings (quite an imagination, I know, but it kept me playing). At the beginning of 2013, I started the long journey of recording my first album in the city I recently moved to, Minneapolis, MN.
As an independent musician, I had limited resources and knowledge to accomplish everything on my own. Thankfully I found an awesome producer and just as awesome engineers @f5soundhouse. After submitting over 50 demoed songs, we narrowed it down to 11 songs and decided to co-write one more song, making the album 12 tracks long. The album “Can’t Steal Soul” was eventually released in 2014. In 2019 I released a follow-up album titled “Regardless of Everything, Are You Okay?” Upon completing this album, I realized the over 2 years it took to create, and I feel like I’ve been through so much creating it. I couldn’t help but think of the many people who have been through so much more, yet they are still standing and pressing on. I would ask them: “Regardless of Everything, Are You Okay?” This year (2022), I released a 5 song EP titled “Liars, Fires.” This EP had me stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something different without sounding too over the top. I realized that vocals and melodies were my strength, so I focused on those and had other musicians step in for the instruments on this one. To this day, I have played dozens of shows around the Twin Cities, and my songs have been played on hundreds of college radio stations. One of my songs was also featured on a PBS special in Minnesota. Today, I am focusing on what is next in my music project and have already started on concepts. I still hold a full-time job while still creating what my number one passion is, music. Sometimes I feel that music is the car I am working on in my garage. No one understands why I do it, why I show it off when I think I am done, and why I keep putting other cars in my garage to work on again. I think this can sum up what internal success feels like—working on something because you love it.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. When I tried to record my 2nd album, I created a Go Fund Me, and no one donated to it. On the one hand, I could have promoted it better. On the other hand, I could work 2 jobs and earn money myself. I decided to work 2 jobs to fund my 2nd album. I also remember some of the recording process taking so long because of schedule conflicts and trying to save up enough money for another studio session. My 2nd album I recorded off and on for over 2 years!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create music. More specifically, Indie-Rock with some pop elements thrown in. I am proud of my mind for not giving up on this silly dream of creating music. What sets me apart is my dedication and perseverance.
We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Finding something or someone that you truly love without compromise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.perryprojectmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tperryjr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerryProject
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/perryproject
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCplQs1Vzt3F36WceH-UO_wQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/perryproject
- Other: https://linktr.ee/perryproject
Image Credits
Tom Smouse Lauren Perry Taylor Gottschalk
N
September 8, 2022 at 5:31 pm
This young Man is an inspiration to all who read this. I can say Tracy is self taught and self made. Please take the time to listen to his Music he truly is talented.