Tyler Joseph

Tyler Joseph

Joseph performing with Twenty One Pilots in Munich, Germany in 2016
Born (1988-12-01) December 1, 1988
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
Years active 2008–present
Spouse(s)
  • Jenna Black (m. 2015)

Musical career

Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • ukulele
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers
  • bass
  • programming
  • accordion
  • drums
  • tambourine
Labels Fueled by Ramen
Associated acts Twenty One Pilots, Whittaker, Jocef

Tyler Joseph (born December 1, 1988) is an American musician and rapper. He is best known as the lead vocalist for the American musical duo Twenty One Pilots.

Early life

Joseph was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up with two brothers, Zack (also a singer) and Jay, and a sister, Madison. His mother, Kelly, was a math teacher in the Olentangy school district[1] before being named Olentangy Orange High School's basketball coach in 2013.[2] His father, Chris, was also a coach at Worthington Christian High School from 96–2005,[2] and is a school principal. Joseph played basketball from a very young age[3] and went on to play point guard for Worthington Christian.[4][5] In 2008, the basketball team placed second in the Division IV state tournament.[1]

After seeing a songwriter perform at a High Street club, he rejected a basketball scholarship offer from Otterbein University[1][3] and began playing music, after finding an old keyboard in his closet (a Christmas gift from his mother) and mimicking radio melodies.[1][6][7]

Career

Twenty One Pilots

Main article: Twenty One Pilots
Twenty One Pilots in 2014

Twenty One Pilots was formed in 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. Initially an idea from Joseph, he eventually called his high school friends Nick Thomas and Chris Salih to form a band.[1] He came up with the band's name while studying All My Sons by Arthur Miller, a play about a man who must decide what is best for his family after causing the death of twenty-one pilots during World War II, because he knowingly sent them faulty parts for the good of his business. Joseph explains that this story of moral dilemma was the inspiration for the name of the band.[7][8] On December 29, 2009, they released their debut, self-titled album and began touring Ohio. Followed by their second album, Regional at Best in 2011, which consisted only of Joseph and Dun.

Twenty One Pilots' third album, Vessel, was released on January 8, 2013.[9]

The band's fourth album, Blurryface, was released on May 17, 2015, two days ahead of its intended release date.[10] Joseph and drummer Josh Dun embarked on an international world tour in 2016, known as the Emotional Roadshow World Tour.[11]

Other projects

Tyler Joseph performing in his signature skeleton tracksuit

Joseph has had a solo project where he released an album entitled No Phun Intended. The release is still available for listening purposes on his PureVolume account.[12] The album was recorded in Joseph's senior year of high school, from 2007–2008, in his basement.[13] The song "Save", off the release, was redone and released as a free download for some time on Twenty One Pilots' official website before it was then pulled.[14] A song entitled "Whisper" from his solo career has also been released among the internet.[15][16]

In 2010, Joseph was featured in the song "Live" by the Christian rapper Joseph Michael Langston (better known by his stage name Jocef), who is a friend of Joseph from college, along with two other rappers, Juda and Alon. The song is the opening track to Jocef's debut album, In Search Of: L.O.V.E.[17][18] The track was co-written by Tyler Joseph and Jocef.[19] Jocef eventually returned the favor a year later by being featured on the song "Be Concerned" off of Twenty One Pilots' 2011 album Regional at Best.

In 2011, Joseph was also the lead star in Five14 Church's three episode mockumentary entitled "The (moderately inspiring tale of the) Longboard Rodeo Tango".[20][21][22] According to the mockumentary, Joseph was an intern at the church at the time.

In 2012, Joseph was featured in an internet-use awareness video entitled "What's Your Story?" by Mark C. Eshleman (the producer of many Twenty One Pilots' music videos) for an annual contest put on by Trend Micro, also called What's Your Story?[23][24] The room used in the video is the same room in which the original music video for "House of Gold" was filmed.[25]

On December 24, 2013, Christmas Eve, Tyler Joseph participated and sang "O come, O come, Emmanuel" at Five14 Church's Christmas With the Stars in New Albany, Ohio. The official video of the performance was uploaded to YouTube on February 14, 2014.[26] He also performed a magic segment with the church's host and emcee, David McCreary for the show.[27][28]

Joseph has also contributed to a few tracks for Five14 Church's worship albums by the gospel band, Whittaker.[29][30]

In December 2014, Joseph contributed backing vocals to the song "Sickly Sweet Holidays" by Dallon Weekes of Panic! at the Disco.[31][32]

Personal life

Joseph is a practicing Christian[33][34] and his faith influences the music he writes. He was homeschooled in his childhood.[3] He married Jenna Black on March 28, 2015, after being engaged since July 8, 2014.[35][36]

His first real exposure to music was the Christian hip hop group DC Talk.[37]

Joseph has a three-part tattoo that represents "something that saved his life".[38] Though it is assumed it deals with his Christian faith, Joseph has been specific about the fact that he doesn't want the meaning of his tattoos spread across the internet.[39] However, he has stated a few times that he is willing to tell people one-on-one if they decide to ask him in person.[38]

Both Joseph and Twenty One Pilots drummer, Josh Dun also have an "X" tattoo on their body symbolizing their dedication to their hometown fans in Columbus, Ohio. They received it on stage during their hometown show at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion on April 26, 2013.[40][41] Joseph's is located on his right bicep and Dun's is located on his neck behind his right ear.[42]

Although Joseph has said he does not frequently play video games,[43] he has indicated that he and Josh Dun favor Mario Kart 64 on the Nintendo 64 when they have spare time on tour.[43][44]

Discography

With Twenty One Pilots
As solo artist
Title Album details
No Phun Intended[12]
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Listen only

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "With debut album set for release, Columbus duo Twenty One Pilots poised to break out". The Columbus Dispatch. October 18, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Joseph named coach at Orange". ThisWeek Sports. June 11, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Alternative Press: Shooting Hoops with Twenty One Pilots". YouTube. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  4. "Worthington Christian High School: The Light 2011 Newsletter" (PDF). worthingtonchristian.com. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  5. "Tyler Joseph and Nick Thomas National Anthem senior night". YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  6. "Interview: Twenty One Pilots, part 1". Columbus Alive. April 27, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "MessiahPulse Interview: Twenty One Pilots". YouTube. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  8. "About twenty one pilots". Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  9. "Twenty One Pilots – Music, biography, Credits and Discography: AllMusic". Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  10. "SURPRISE! Twenty One Pilots Release "Blurryface" Early!". Radio 104.5. May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  11. "Tour". twenty one pilots' Official Website. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Tyler Joseph's No Phun Intended on PureVolume". PureVolume. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  13. "YouTube comment by Joseph's mother". YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2014. These songs were written in my basement in 2007–08, Tyler's senior year in high school.
  14. ""Save" (New version) on YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  15. ""Whisper" on YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  16. ""Whisper" on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  17. "In Search Of: L.O.V.E on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  18. ""Live" – Jocef (feat. Juda, Alon, & Tyler Joseph)". YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  19. "In Search of L.O.V.E on Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  20. "The (moderately inspiring tale of the) Longboard Rodeo Tango Episode 1". YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  21. "The (moderately inspiring tale of the) Longboard Rodeo Tango Episode 2". YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  22. "The (moderately inspiring tale of the) Longboard Rodeo Tango Episode 3". YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  23. ""Where Are You?" by Mark C. Eshleman, featuring Tyler Joseph". whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  24. "What's Your Story" – "Where are you?" on YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  25. "Twenty One Pilots: House of Gold (Original Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  26. "Tyler Joseph performs "O come, O come, Emmanuel" at Five14 Church, OH on Christmas Eve". YouTube. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  27. "Magic with David McCreary and Tyler Joseph". YouTube. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  28. "Five14 Church staff". Five14church.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  29. "New Albany Church music". newalbanychurch.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  30. "Tyler working out his part for new song 'INSTANT'". Facebook. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  31. Sharp, Tyler. "Panic! At The Disco, Falling In Reverse members team up for Christmas song". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  32. "Dallon Weekes: Sickly Sweet Holidays". Bandcamp. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  33. "Warrior News Winter 2012–13" (PDF). Worthington Christian High School. December 22, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2014. Joseph and Dun are both graduates of Christian schools, but their act isn't religious.
  34. "Twenty One Pilots: Masters of the Culture of Encounter". Word of Fire. January 7, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014. Twenty One Pilots is not a Christian band, but Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun are both believers.
  35. "Twenty One Pilots Frontman Gets Engaged!". Radio 104.5. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  36. "Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph Got Married!". Radio 104.5. March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  37. "FaceCulture: Twenty One Pilots Interview – Tyler (part 1)". YouTube. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  38. 1 2 "PSA: about Tyler Joseph's tattoos". Tumblr. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  39. "'I'm the ice cream, he's the cake. You get the whole thing with us': an interview with Twenty One Pilots". theedgesusu.co.uk. Retrieved July 2, 2014. We don't really like to answer it in interviews because it's meant to be more one-on-one. So if you would turn your phone off we'd be happy to answer it.
  40. "Twenty One Pilots Get Tattoos on Stage". YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  41. "Billy Hill's Tattoo TV Special – Tattooing 21 Pilots on Stage During Home Town Show". YouTube. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  42. "Twenty One Pilots Show Off Their Favorite Tattoos". MTV.com. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  43. 1 2 "Twenty One Pilots Candid Interview – Matt Pinfield". YouTube. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  44. "Packing the essentials for Amsterdam: N64, Kart and Party.". Instagram. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
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