Country singer-songwriter Tyler Rich last week released his sophomore album, Hello California. This 10-track independent project tells the story of a California native who found his voice in Nashville. It’s the first half of a double album, with the second half set to be released later this year.
I first became aware of Rich when Sirius XM’s The Highway played his debut song, “The Difference,” in 2019. A few months later, the singer released “Leave Her Wild,” which went to No. 1, and I went out of my way to get an interview with him.
In 2021, Rich released “Better Than You’re Used To,” and in 2024, he released “All Small Things” and “Home We Choose,” both of which appear on his sophomore album.
I’ve long been a fan of Rich’s songwriting and ability to create fun, upbeat songs with a profound message. While Rich’s beautiful wife, Sabina, is a muse for much of his music, they, like the rest of us, go through stuff, and he masterfully captures it and puts it in a song.
Rich hails from California, and when he met his wife, even though she was a Polish girl from Massachusetts, he stated, “She very much gave me a California vibe. I wanted to write a song about how I felt when I met her.” And that is how the title track, “Hello California,” was conceived.
He continues writing about his life with the song “Gets Me Every Time.” His wife also inspired the lyrics “about those sweet little moments and sweet things in a relationship that keep you excited and looking forward to the next moments.”
“Cigarettes (Lie to Me)” compares a pack of cigarettes to a person you keep going back to, even though you know they are no good for you.
“Give Up to Get It” is one of those profound songs that talks about what you miss and what you give up to pursue your dreams. It’s not just about musicians or actors; it’s also about truck drivers, police officers, and single moms and what they sacrifice to make others’ lives better.
“It took me four months to meet my first-ever nephew,” Rich said.
The singer proves he knows what’s important in life with the fifth song on the record, “All Small Things.” The words Makin’ that money won’t make you a livin’/ Time runs out, but you can make it count/ With the right kind of memories/ You can have it all/ In the pictures up on the wall show that he gets it.
While you can jam to almost every song on Hello California, “Whiskey Go Bad” is a proper party song, like something you might hear in a pub. But even that song has a special meaning. Don’t let that top-shelf whiskey go bad; drink it while you can still enjoy it. Celebrate today.
The most energetic song on the record is “What Do I Know?” where the songwriters channeled feelings from the past as they questioned what they thought they knew about someone. When they got in the studio, they felt the song needed more “angst.” After the first chorus hit, they turned it on. When performed live, the song is “in your face,” like Rich’s fans are accustomed to.
Conversely, “Right Tonight” is the most minimally produced song on the record. The lyrics use driving around as a metaphor: If we want to speed up, we could leave right now/ If we want to slow down, we could turn around… Maybe it’s your second or third date, and it feels right.
The most somber song on the record is “Drive Me Home.” While not a traditional love song, the sentiment of having someone in your life to see after you if the walls crumble and the house burns down, the meaning of “Drive Me Home” is clear.
As the California boy finds himself in Nashville more often than not, he realizes that home is more than a place but a feeling of belonging. In the song “Home We Choose,” the words We’re all looking for some somewhere to be found/ A steady place where we can plant our roots/We’re all lost until we find some solid ground/ A front porch step where we can set our boots/ Whether it’s states away or two doors down/ A place that’s old or new/ We all got a hometown and a home we choose show that everyone is looking for a place to put down roots.
The singer’s ability to write music that matters is unmatched by others from his generation. He explained, “I spend an incredible amount of time trying to make music that makes people want to dance and have fun but also makes them feel something else, which I feel is so missing from music these days.”
Rich’s Hello California Tour will kick off on March 20th. Special guests Jonathan Hutcherson, Clayton Johnson, and Erin Kinsey will join on select dates.
Stream Hello California here.
You can follow Rich on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.
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Rich hails from California, and when he met his wife, even though she was a Polish girl from Massachusetts, he stated, “She very much gave me a California vibe. I wanted to write a song about how I felt when I met her.” And that is how the title track, “Hello California,” was conceived.
He continues writing about his life with the song “Gets Me Every Time.” His wife also inspired the lyrics “about those sweet little moments and sweet things in a relationship that keep you excited and looking forward to the next moments.”
“Cigarettes (Lie to Me)” compares a pack of cigarettes to a person you keep going back to, even though you know they are no good for you.
“Give Up to Get It” is one of those profound songs that talks about what you miss and what you give up to pursue your dreams. It’s not just about musicians or actors; it’s also about truck drivers, police officers, and single moms and what they sacrifice to make others’ lives better.
“It took me four months to meet my first-ever nephew,” Rich said.
The singer proves he knows what’s important in life with the fifth song on the record, “All Small Things.” The words Makin’ that money won’t make you a livin’/ Time runs out, but you can make it count/ With the right kind of memories/ You can have it all/ In the pictures up on the wall show that he gets it.
While you can jam to almost every song on Hello California, “Whiskey Go Bad” is a proper party song, like something you might hear in a pub. But even that song has a special meaning. Don’t let that top-shelf whiskey go bad; drink it while you can still enjoy it. Celebrate today.
The most energetic song on the record is “What Do I Know?” where the songwriters channeled feelings from the past as they questioned what they thought they knew about someone. When they got in the studio, they felt the song needed more “angst.” After the first chorus hit, they turned it on. When performed live, the song is “in your face,” like Rich’s fans are accustomed to.
Conversely, “Right Tonight” is the most minimally produced song on the record. The lyrics use driving around as a metaphor: If we want to speed up, we could leave right now/ If we want to slow down, we could turn around… Maybe it’s your second or third date, and it feels right.
The most somber song on the record is “Drive Me Home.” While not a traditional love song, the sentiment of having someone in your life to see after you if the walls crumble and the house burns down, the meaning of “Drive Me Home” is clear.
As the California boy finds himself in Nashville more often than not, he realizes that home is more than a place but a feeling of belonging. In the song “Home We Choose,” the words We’re all looking for some somewhere to be found/ A steady place where we can plant our roots/We’re all lost until we find some solid ground/ A front porch step where we can set our boots/ Whether it’s states away or two doors down/ A place that’s old or new/ We all got a hometown and a home we choose show that everyone is looking for a place to put down roots.
The singer’s ability to write music that matters is unmatched by others from his generation. He explained, “I spend an incredible amount of time trying to make music that makes people want to dance and have fun but also makes them feel something else, which I feel is so missing from music these days.”
Rich’s Hello California Tour will kick off on March 20th. Special guests Jonathan Hutcherson, Clayton Johnson, and Erin Kinsey will join on select dates.
Stream Hello California here.
You can follow Rich on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.
– – –
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.
