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Hailing from Winston-Salem, NC, Tyler Nail is a dynamic Americana songwriter whose work captures the essence of North Carolina’s rich cultural tapestry. His songs deliver vivid stories with colorful clarity. His raspy voice, thick Appalachian accent, and busy two-finger picking style set his sound apart with notable distinction. Nail’s technique weaves complex guitar melodies seamlessly with his dramatic vocal delivery.

"North Carolina is a Mecca of troubadouring singer-songwriter brilliance...
Tyler Nail is undoubtedly a key player in the current chapter of this storied heritage."

-Aldora Britain Records

Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music
Tyler Nail Music

Tyler Nail is a wiry figure with a dark, prominent beard. He marches around club stages like he can’t bear to stand still. His voice is rough, loud, and unmistakably Southern. Playing two-finger style guitar, he weaves intricate compositions that carry rhythm and melody all at once. His songs are cinematic, built on vivid imagery and deep storytelling, reflecting on love, loss, and life.

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Nail’s story began in Winston-Salem, North Carolina – a city built on tobacco, now decorated with repurposed brick factories. He grew up in a log cabin his grandfather built, surrounded by dogwood trees and red clay. His mother sang in the church choir. His father played drums. As a boy, he banged out drum patterns on pots and pillows. It was here that Nail discovered music.

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At sixteen, he picked up his first guitar and started writing songs—not polished or pretty, but earnest. He wasn’t a natural singer. His early recordings were as rough as they come. But he kept at it, playing open mics and bars, learning his voice.

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From 17 to 21, music consumed him. He gained his first fans in a coffee shop in King, NC, and more in the clubs of Winston-Salem. He started playing in a local competition called the Winston-Salem Shuffle, where he became its most frequent winner. In 2011, he released his first proper album, Winter to Winter. That same year, he produced When I Go Away: A Tribute to Levon Helm, cementing his place in the local scene.

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Over the years, Nail released more albums, shared stages with Americana staples like The Hackensaw Boys and American Aquarium, and toured the country with his band, The Tyler Nail Trio. In 2016, the road came to an end. He stopped touring and the band disbanded. Nail stayed in North Carolina, releasing music quietly until 2019, when his double album Life Lessons marked a darker and louder chapter in his artistry.

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The pandemic tested his resolve but reignited his craft. His 2020 single “I Don’t Wanna Die Alone” spoke to a renewed dedication to songwriting, and life. In 2021, his DEVIL EP hinted at a fresh fire burning in his work.

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In 2023, after years of rebuilding and soul-searching, Nail decided to leave North Carolina. He moved far from the Carolina foothills to the little city of Providence, Rhode Island, to seek new inspiration. In Providence, he worked aggressively on music, sharing songs through Patreon and YouTube while expanding his creative team. During this time, he recorded Family, an album honoring his North Carolina roots, capturing the warmth and weight of home from afar.

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Tyler Nail’s catalog boasts nearly 300 songs. The Southern recluse-turned-wanderer writes with wisdom and craftsmanship, earning accolades along the way: winner of "Best Country Artist" at the Forsyth Entertainment Awards (2018), semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition and American Songwriter Road-Ready Contest (2024), and voted in the top 5 songwriters of the Piedmont Triad for multiple years.

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His humble beginnings in his grandfather's cabin led to packed-out music clubs in Winston-Salem. Years of hanging on to home led to the snowy streets of Providence, Nail's story is one of grit, exploration, and transformation. He is a Southern songwriter, a craftsman, and a heavy-hitting Americana artist, proudly representing his North Carolina roots through his art.

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