Its been a over a year since I wrote the bio that used to be on here. I think its time to update…A lot has changed since August 26th 2007. It is now September 5th, 2008.
A year ago I was in Mexico with my dad, 18 hours down in a little place called ‘Scorpion Bay’. I got really good surf and got real good sick. And had a real good time with my dad. I came home, and I went to straight to New York. I mixed the record, that would later come to be called ‘Hello..x’. It came out April 15th, 2008. It did better than I could have ever imagined. Before this record, was a record called ‘twentythree’. It came out in 2005 and sold 2,000 copies the first week. I was ecstatic! My goal for ‘Hello..x’ was 10,000 the first week. I sent out mass emails, blog’s and bulletins to friends, fans and family. ’Hello..x’ sold over 18,000 copies its first week. WTF? It didn’t hurt that the first single off the album, ‘Madly’ was the iTunes free single of the week either. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my friends, fans and family. ‘Hello..x’ was number 2 on iTunes for over a week. Every time I went to check on it, there it was…number 2, day after day, I thought my screen was stuck? How could this be? My brother kept saying, ‘that is my sister! my fricking sister!’. Everyone was stoked.
With a great first week on our hands, it was time to roll up our sleeves and dig in. My record label, suggested we go on a promotional tour visiting radio stations, doing interviews and playing songs for the radio peeps to give them a chance to witness me and my music up close and personal. Since there are a zillion girls on the scene these days, everyone wants to know what makes me different. I’ve met a lot of musicians, a lot of girls, a lot of guys. A lot of people for that matter. Aren't we all different? I figured when it comes down to it, I hate explaining myself. People should just listen cause they like the music, cause they connect with it. Not cause its cool, or because someone has featured it on a gossip blog. Though all that helps, but really…its like when you meet someone, you have to hang out with them for a minute before you get a feel for them and what they are all about. The promo tour was a way for me to go and meet people, shed a bit of light on my personality and music. And let people decide for themselves. Actions, interactions, connection, conversation, and a little time…speaks louder than words, ad campaigns, gossip columns, album covers, etc…
Though spending my summer visiting radio stations was the last thing I wanted to be doing, I'd rather be surfing...but, looking back I realized how much it has helped. By taking the time to connect with people, go to radio stations, meet program directors, play events, correspond with fans, hang out after the shows…I become one less cd on a desk, one less artist that has that one song you like on the radio..i become a real person and on the same level as everyone else...living in the moment, takin it all in, and never not learning about the world that surrounds me.
So this is where I am now. I have 3 records under my belt, have toured all over the world, with a lot of amazing bands and after 7 years am finally into my very own tour bus. Which is where I am writing from now. I'm sitting in the front lounge, we are driving through Oregon. I’m eating frozen fruit from Whole Foods that I bought a couple days ago, but didn’t have time to eat, cause I flew home to surf, so I froze, but am now eating, and realizing that frozen cantaloupe and honeydew might be my new thing. Run on sentences have always been my thing, mostly because I think I just like seeing how many words I can get in to one sentence before I loose my breath :)
I still think music is a lot like love. Sometimes its love at first site and other times, it hits you when you least expect in. I found the most amazing love in the last year. And its true what they say; when you know you know. And its mind-blowing. True love and everything it entails and is capable of, is hard to understand, until it happens to you. All I know, is that everyone deserves it. And I am thankful for it. But now having found love, love that feels so right everywhere in my life. I realize it was neither what i expected, or unexpected. It was a little of both. Which brings up another interesting point, I guess just the fact that in life, sometimes its neither what we expect or least expected. Its like a garden, different plants, different seasons. Good years, bad years, good soil, bad soil, droughts and floods. That is life for you, up and down, all around. Timing. They say, is everything. I still believe as long as i listen to my heart, my music will reach who it needs to reach and i will go where i need to go. Everything in moderation. Honesty is always the best policy and patience is key.
Life is all about a time and place...we arent here to figure it out, just here to be open to it. These days i am still all about learning, writing, asking myself, who i am? and what is the purpose for all this around me? how does it shape me? Bend or break me? What does it say about me? Oh what a hipocrisy! Didnt i just say we aren’t here to figure it out, just be open to it? Yep, that alone, says something right there about me..
I'd still rather send a postcard.
Or a text...I hate talking on the phone
Im now 26.
The number 23 doesn’t follow me around too much anymore, but still pops up from time to time to say hello. I still live in San Diego. I still surf. My mom and dad still surf more than I do. They rule. My brother returned safe from Burning Man. One day I hope to join him.
I love the ocean, the salt and the surf. Its probably the one thing I miss when im away. I’m addicted to the wax and sand that gets stuck on and between my toes, carried up the stairs and somehow, over time, ends up in my bed. Miss my Hybrid Highlander, I hope I remember how to drive when I get home. I missed most of summer being on the road, but I still layed out in grass fields across the country, mostly in backyards of music venues we were playing... I even brought my favorite Nixon beach towel, just to remind me.
I love a glass of wine here and there or a frosty brew on a hot day. I miss sleeping in my bed, with the windows open. I can’t wait to wake up really early, get coffee and go look at the waves. I like taking part in random acts of kindness and conducting positive energy to those around me. I take pride in striving towards being one of the best friends any of my friends will ever have. Taking care of family and friends come first, then myself, then music and my fans. Living alone was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself. I’ve learned that a strong foundation is necessary in the attempt to live out your dreams.
I have huge amounts of love and appreciation for the life i have been given. Thanks for reading all of this, its my attempt at yet again a new and improved, updated journal-like biography. Right here right now.
'Once pigeonholed as a wispy beach babe, Tristan Prettyman has evolved into a bit of a blues mama on Hello.'-Entertainment Weekly
'Hello….x has evolved into a much more bluesy and soulful sound, adding a little a dash of rock and country here and there....The thing I love about Tristan is how her lyrics are from the heart, true to herself and her own life.' - ZME Music
[Tristan’s songs are] “salted with a bluesy defiance and her own throaty whisper, making these crank-up-the-volume choruses on songs like “Madly” all the tastier.” – Marie Claire
i LOVE your music!! everything that you write is so beautiful and it really speaks to me and its TOTALLYYYY what im going through in my life right now!!!! :) thank you for your music and pleaseee pleaseee pleaseee keep on putting out music!!
glad to see your out performing again.....would love for you to listen to my songs and give me your opinion from a writer's point of view. im a huge fan too ! hugs Hope
Really great sound you have here...we wish you all the best with your new CD!!! Thanks for the add and the friendship....We would like to share with you....Mi Pais....My Country.......Honduras!!!! Watch this video to see the beauty of Honduras...Original song by Fernando Bianchini....Enjoy!!!!
Thanks for adding me and the team , Hope to see you at an event soon stay in touch if your down to join us and perform let me know we could set something up.
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