New Album!!
Greater-than
A live recording of mostly new songs available on most streaming sites.
Tyler, all on his lonesome, supported by a hometown crowd. Wonderfully captured by John Switzer. Warm Fuzzies all 'round.
"Greater-Than captures the essence of nostalgic and folk-inspired storytelling, weaving together heartfelt narratives with evocative melodies that transport listeners to introspective and reflective spaces" (Jenna Melanson, Canadian Beats)
"Tyler Ellis's Greater-Than album offers a portrait of a near-perfect folksinger (he admits, in song, to being a “John Prine wannabe”) doing what he does best: a lone man with an acoustic guitar, leading singalongs and relentlessly charming a full house of fans, with expert songcraft and fine sense of humour, live onstage at Toronto's renowned Free Times Cafe." (Lenny Stoute, BTW This Week)
New booklet!!
Lyrics and liner notes for Greater-than and the 2019 release, Well seasoned
Lyrics for 35 songs and some extra whatnot
To get a copy of this limited edition booklet send 10 bucks and your mailing address to
Northernblissmusic@gmail.com
Northern Bliss Music, 21 Fenwick Ave., Toronto, ON, Canada, M4K 3H2
2024 Juno nod.
Contemporary Roots Album of the Year Juno nomination for Julian Taylor's “Beyond the Reservoir”, recorded and produced by Saam Hashemi (who did the same for Tyler's 2012 release, Northern Bliss). Julian closes the album with Tyler's song, 100 Proof.
Roots Canadian Folk Music Award 2023 Single of the Year nomination for Tyler's song "100 Proof" recorded and released by the most wonderful Julian Taylor. Julian's version of "100 Proof" has over 600K streams on Spotify alone (June '24). The single is also included as a bonus track on Julian Taylor's new record, Beyond the Reservoir (Howling Turtle, 2022) and available on a limited edition 7" vinyl.
“[100 Proof] in my book sits proudly next to any recording by Johnny Cash: a man’s life cleverly summed up in a song, wonderful sentiments to close an album such as this one.”
(Rocking Magpie October , 2022)
“Tyler Ellis wrote it, and I just loved it. I believe he’s one of Canada’s strongest songwriters, in the folk realm. I really love his songwriting.”
(Julian Taylor in conversation with Howard Druckman,Words and Music magazine, SOCAN October , 2022)
About
"humor, humanity and a wonderfully heartworn, poetic muse about life in the Great White North." (Toronto Star)
If you like your songs with a little tongue-in-cheek yet with their finger firmly on the pulse of the human condition, then Tyler Ellis is for you. “Tell the soundman to mix it for my mom; she likes to hear a lot of me.” (Music as Usual)
Tyler Ellis has worn two musical hats for a long time. Two wonderful musical hats. On the one hand, a critically acclaimed, award winning singer/songwriter; on the other, an award winning music teacher. With the 2019 release of the double album, Well-Seasoned, Ellis confidently throws both hats into the ring. His wry, thoughtful songs about love and life in The Great White North comfortably rubbing shoulders with his songs about the seasons, Venn-Diagrams, and counting to ten.
Over the years, Tyler has shared a lot of music with a lot of people. Whether writing ditties for CBC Kids (Days of the week song); co-writing with The Julian Taylor Band; talking about music education on CBC Ideas (Ballad of the Tin Ears); presenting university lectures on the joy of singing (“Bad Singer/Good Singer with author Tim Falconer); hosting the long running Riverboat Monday Open Stage; performing shows solo and with his band, The Eddy Line; his many years of conducting a 75+ member junior elementary choir; or, just working on his craft, for Tyler it’s always just “Music as Usual”.
Awards
Juno Award 2024 Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for Julian Taylor's “Beyond the Reservoir” which closes with Tyler's song “100 Proof”
Canadian Folk Music Award 2023 Single of the Year nomination for Julian Taylor's release of 100 Proof.
Folk Music Ontario Songs from the Heart Award 2019 for the song "Gone" co-written with The Julian Taylor Band
Toronto Star Readers’ Choice Music Instructor Diamond Award 2019
Discography
Better than the real you (1992)
Straid Hill (1994)
Horseshoes and Handgrenades (1998)
Tyler Ellis Live (2004)
Straid Hill (Remix 2012)
Northern Bliss (2012)
Well-Seasoned (2019)
“Your Smile” (single) ~ on Stir it up Someday compilation (2020)
Greater-than (2024)
Kudos
"The best music teacher to ever walk the earth" (Posey)
“[Tyler's song 100 Proof, recorded by Julian Taylor] in my book sits proudly next to any recording by Johnny Cash: a man’s life cleverly summed up in a song, wonderful sentiments to close an album such as this one.”
(Rocking Magpie October , 2022)
“Tyler Ellis wrote it, and I just loved it. I believe he’s one of Canada’s strongest songwriters, in the folk realm. I really love his songwriting.”
(Julian Taylor in conversation with Howard Druckman,Words and Music magazine, SOCAN October , 2022)
"Tyler Ellis' voice is like smooth silk graced by a warm sunbeam on his track 'Your Smile'" (Joanne Clayton, chef/owner of Relish Bar)
"John Prine... with Crazy Horse playing backup." (Mitch Potter, Toronto Star)
TORONTO SINGER'S FIRST DISC POURS OUT WRY WITH A TWIST. Ellis, ... has put together an outstanding debut record that measures up with humor, humanity and a wonderfully heartworn, poetic muse about life in the Great White North." (Mitch Potter, Toronto Star)
"You're going to love this." (Bob McAdorey, Global Television)
"Ellis has a gift for songwriting and a wonderful sense of humour." (Midland Free Press)
"A fine singer / songwriter fronting a kicking band." (Lenny Stoute, Toronto Star)
"Fabulous!" (Kathryn O'Hara, CBC)
"A collection of wry disarming songs." (John Northcott, CBC)
