Tyler Stone (formally Tyler Suarez) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, artist, activist, and teacher from Connecticut. Tyler has always had a strong affinity for music and musical expression—starting to play guitar when he was four years old. Tyler formed his first giging punk band ‘Punk Side’ in fifth grade and has worked with many well-known, talented musicians since then. From performing with Kenny Rogers and Jonathan Edwards to recording with the Grammy Award-winning producer/musician Jim Pugh, Tyler is a versatile and experienced musician.
After years of collaborating, in 2015, Tyler decided to find his own sound and released his first solo project, “Demos… Songs with a Meaning.” Continuously writing and performing original music, Tyler is duly committed to spreading powerful, political, and existential messages through art and activism.
Tyler’s musical atmosphere is very fluid. From blues and jazz to experimental and indie alternative, Tyler has always been more interested in creating artistic and conceptual projects rather than sticking to a specific genre. Tyler's songs become more than just three minutes of music; they become pieces that expand upon and elaborate on the themes and messages within a project. Actively studying music and education, Tyler believes that “music picks up where words leave off.”
With both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Science in Music Education from the University of Bridgeport, Tyler keeps himself busy teaching guitar at SoundWave Music Studio and working as a K-4 General Music/Vocal teacher. Tyler also holds numerous certificates from other universities, including Berklee College of Music and Yale University.
Ever since losing his Aunt, Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, Tyler has been an activist for gun violence prevention and inspiring change. Tyler is a member on the Connecticut Against Gun Violence Executive Board and the founder of the online community organization Connecticut Students Demand Action. Tyler was the lead organizer of the March For Our Lives event in Hartford, CT, which drew nearly 15,000 people together to the Connecticut State Capitol on March 24th, 2018 to call for change. Tyler continues to empower others and demonstrate the power in each and every one of our voices.
In June of 2018, Tyler signed his first record deal with the independent label, Little Village Foundation. “Little Princess,” the song Tyler and his grandfather, Joseph Cyr, wrote to grieve, honor, and continue the legacy of Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, was featured on the student protest compilation album “Raise Your Voice.” With this collection of voices from across the country, one singular voice emerges: one of love, sadness, empathy, and a profound call for change. To celebrate its release, Tyler performed at the 2018 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco, California.
Tyler continues to venture into numerous other creative realms, sculpting ideology into actuality.