Tim Young has wanted to perform his whole life, so it is no surprise that he performs his life. Tim’s music is like experiencing Tim’s raw moments. Drink in his new song Lavender has he takes you on the journey of one of his breakups. When Tim isn’t singing about men who smell nice, he is partnering with organizations like The Trevor Project and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute as he works to making the world a little more supportive for the LGBTQ+ community. Please read on to learn more about Tim and all his projects in our exclusive interview below.

Where are you based?
I’m based in Brooklyn, NYC.

What inspired you to get into music?
I have always been drawn to music. It’s my earliest memory. As a baby, I’d crawl up to the stereo and clap my hands to the beat. The first time I saw a stage, I was three or four, I knew that's what I wanted to do. I did a talent show on that stage, and basically never left.

How would you describe your music style?
In a few words, my style is pop rock. In more words, I describe it as alternative pop meets atmospheric rock.

Through your music, what message do you want to convey to listeners?
I want my listeners to feel seen, then quickly transported to the place where I am singing. All my songs are written and produced with the intent of recreating a moment, a feeling that I lived. Often, those times were lonely and confusing. I hope to help anyone having a similar experience to make sense of it more quickly than I did.

Your most recent single, "Lavender," is poetic. What served as the story's inspiration? What distinguishes this song from your earlier ones?
I wrote Lavender after a breakup with a guy who was obsessed with the scent. Every time I smell it, I remember everything, the joy and the pain of that relationship. It’s hard to describe that feeling, so I didn’t try to do it with the lyrics. I produced the music to sound like how it felt. The lyrics resemble the way I repeatedly questioned the relationship: “Is this real?” Interestingly, my previous single, Numb, is about the same relationship, but from an earlier point when we almost broke up (a pattern emerges). Numb is a straight-up lyric-centric tune, where I grapple with how the decisions he made seemed so easy for him, and I was left feeling, well, numb.

Where do you normally get your inspiration for your songs?
My inspirations tend to come from a specific place and time, usually an experience rife with sensory overload. I like to translate my thoughts into the sonic production. The sound of my songs are just as vital to the context as the lyrics.

We've noticed how you've organized events for The Trevor Project. Could you tell us about your involvement with them and why they are important to you?
I haven’t directly organized events for the Trevor Project, but I take any opportunity to contribute to events that benefit the Trevor Project, often in the form of concerts. The work they do is exceptional and vital. Growing up gay in a Christian environment, I did everything I could to fly under the radar. If I could have escaped earlier, I would have. Many queer youth have no choice but to escape the situation they are in, and having a resource like the Trevor Project when they have little or no support could be the very thing that saves their lives.

You recently did an event for the Marsha P. Johnson Institute in support of the Black Transgender Community. Can you tell us a bit about the event and what made it special?
I partnered with a group called Ciao Evento that does these super fun pasta-making parties. We wanted to do a special Pride party for the month of June to bring together queers and allies to make a meal together and party with me and my band. We all agreed that we wanted to donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity that benefited the queer community directly. The event happened to coincide with Juneteenth, so it was a no-brainer regarding where to send our donation. I’ve donated to the Marsha P. Johnson before; I believe in what they do and wanted to continue supporting them in bolstering our Black Trans family.

The Black Transgender Community is one of the most heavily targeted committees. What would you like the lay person to understand so that this community can be treated better?
I find there’s a lot of misconception concerning what it means to be silenced, and who is being silenced. The people being silenced are the ones whose lives are being taken simply for being who they are. The people being silenced are being kept out of voting booths, being denied life-affirming care, being scape-goated and degraded by majorities who choose to be blind to their humanity. Being silenced robs a person of their personhood. Remaining silent when you see this happening to someone is a danger all its own.

How was your pride month?
Let’s just say, it was very proud lol. A little Pride miracle happened. My next release, Supernova, set for July 27th got a blessing from above. I don’t want to say too much as we are still discussing the details, but you can look forward to a very visceral collaboration with a legendary performing arts group.

What guidance would you offer to emerging artists?
Release the idea of perfection. That held me back for so long. Probably connected to my Christian upbringing, but I refused to show anything that wasn’t perfect yet. Which meant I never released anything. People love to see the process, watch the growth, encourage the development. Don’t deny them that experience. There is so much power in the vulnerability of sharing your work, so get it to a place where it gives you goosebumps, then release it into the world. No one is going to care that the guitar line should have been bumped up 1dB.

Any shoutouts to any non-profits you are currently working with or would like to promote?
I’m just going to bring it back to The Trevor Project and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. These are dollars that directly help the most beautiful and vulnerable people among us.

Do you have any exciting new projects you would like to share?
Oh yes, my next single, Supernova. The track will be released on July 27th, and the music video on August 10th. The video is a short film that I created, the culmination of years of work, and my most ambitious release yet. I cannot wait to show this baby. Hope to see you there!

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
Sure has. Roller skating became a huge part of my source of joy and sanity. I got a dog, and he is pure sunshine. I started performing a live show on Instagram just to keep sane and bring people together during the panpan. That show ended up becoming a multi-residency production that I perform all over New York City weekly. You can check my Instagram for dates, and you better come say hi next time you’re in NYC.

What is your motto in life?
Grow or Die. This was the motto I made for my roller skate gang that I formed during the personal pan pizza. You’re either growing or you’re dying. So stay curious, keep learning, keep exploring, keep moving. Life is in motion.

To learn ore about Tim Young, please follow him via the links below:
Instagram: soundsliketimyoung
TikTok: tiktok.com/@soundsliketim
soundsliketimyoung.com

Photography by THEGINGERB3ARDMEN.

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