Tyler Childers: The Wandering Hillbilly’s Quest for Sound and Soul
Tyler Childers, the acclaimed artist who has redefined modern country music, is currently in Nashville, not for a permanent move, but for promotional duties. He’s recording snippets for digital and radio, a far cry from the quiet life he leads in his Kentucky cabin with his wife, singer-songwriter Senora may, and their young son. This grounding is crucial, as Childers’s career has skyrocketed as the 2017 release of Purgatory. He’s graced arenas and stadiums, earned Grammy nominations, and become a pivotal voice for a generation of Appalachian, Southern, and rural people who finally feel seen and understood through his evocative lyrics.
His latest album, Snipe Hunter, is a testament to this journey. Described as a “wanderer’s album,” it encapsulates Childers’s extensive searching, playing, hunting, and exploring that have shaped his career.This masterpiece defies genre conventions, offering a life guide filled with wisdom and on-the-road diaries. it explores how to navigate both literal and metaphorical wilderness, honoring tradition while simultaneously challenging it. Whether dreaming of India, traversing Australia, or simply exploring his Appalachian backyard, Childers is a constant traveler, “Gump-stumbling” through the world in search of companionship, spirituality, guidance, and the desire to share his learned experiences.
Childers emphasizes the collaborative nature of his work, with his trusted road band, The Food Stamps, integral to this sonic expedition. The album also features production by Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn and mixing by Shawn Everett, known for his work with artists like Kacey Musgraves and Alabama Shakes.”It’s observations from a traveling hillbilly,” Childers explains. “Huntin’ our sounds and trying new things to find it, and hunting our path. It asks, in so many different ways, what are you looking for?”
This question has been a driving force throughout Childers’s 34 years, leading him to explore beyond the confines of his Baptist upbringing. As a teenager, inspired by the Beat Generation, he embarked on a motorcycle trip with his uncle to Lowell, Massachusetts, the birthplace of his literary idol, Jack Kerouac. Kerouac, who had become a “rock star” to Childers, profoundly influenced him, especially the writer’s blended spiritual practice of Buddhism and Catholicism. Discovering Kerouac’s on the road at Borders, with its promise of “sex, drugs, and jazz,” was a pivotal moment. Childers’s current 27-date tour, aptly named “On the Road,” even mirrors the iconic cover art of the book. “Kerouac was my frist real permission slip to be a spiritual wanderer and say it’s okay to do that, and that it doesn’t automatically mean you are on your way t
