''I'm learning so much about myself as an artist, and just learning a lot about singing and performing,'' says Tylan Greenstein. Of course, none of that is new to the 38-year-old, who spent the last decade as part of the queer folk group Girlyman alongside Doris Muramatsu and Nate Borofsky. But Greenstein had never worked as a solo artist until a few months ago. ''Doris and I grew up together so we just kind of came of age as this duo, we always sang together.''
Girlyman is now on ''an indefinite hiatus,'' says Greenstein. ''If we get back together, it'll be for a reunion kind of thing. It's such a great band, and such a great project, [but] we all reached the point where it was really obvious that we needed to do other things.'' Muramatsu and Borofsky are working with the band's drummer JJ Jones to develop a children's album.
Tylan
(Photo by Chloe Jackman)
Over the past year Greenstein moved from Girlyman's base in Atlanta to Northern California for a new romantic relationship. But professionally her focus has been putting together her debut solo album, One True Thing, which she'll release using just her first name. ''I figure it's uncommon enough of a name that people probably won't get me confused with anyone else,'' she teases.
''I have been wanting to make a solo album for a long time,'' she explains. ''I have a lot more songs than I've been able to put on Girlyman albums because there are three songwriters in the band, so I sort of had this backlog of songs that I really loved that I wanted to record.'' The official release date is June 18, but fans can preorder it for delivery now from her website, or buy a copy when she performs at Jammin' Java this Saturday, April 13.
The new sound is a bit more serious and pensive than typical Girlyman -- more rootsy Americana than ''poppy, three-part harmony'' folk. ''I think that's always been part of my contribution to Girlyman -- a little more serious,'' says Tylan, adding with a laugh, ''but I wouldn't say it's brooding. It's not all serious.'' '
Tylan performs Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m. Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., in Vienna. Tickets are $15. Call 703-255-3747 or visit jamminjava.com.
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