20 Years Later, It’s Still All Mightier Than The Sword. Talking With Ty Bru In 2025
Q: Please introduce yourself to the readers and what made you want to become a musician?
Tyler “Ty Bru” Brueilly is the name, I’ve been writing and performing music more than half my life, European Tour in 2005, Carolina To China Tour 2008–2009, 8 solo albums under the belt and a handful of collaborative albums with the likes of Ed E. Ruger, Tenacious and Marshall Alexander.
I got into making music because I realized at a young age the power that lies within the realm of music. The power and liberation it gives both the writer/performer of the songs as well as the listener. Music is an emotional support system, it can supplement your feelings, or help you fight the feelings that need to be understood and then overcome. Music can comfort, strengthen and at it’s most powerful point, revolutionize.
Q: Who has been your most influential teacher or mentor?
Every time I’m asked this, it’s a different answer. Just different points in my life clarify who helped get me to this point. Stereotypically, I say my father. I wouldn’t have said that maybe a year ago, but I probably would have said it five years ago. Things like this are also so subjective.
I recently finished directing and programming the second annual Mightier Than The Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival in my hometown of Asheboro, NC. There were a myriad of obstacles that hit us through the planning process and all through the event itself. I mean hindsight shows us how successful and strong the event was, and how enjoyable it was for the attendees and how big of an impact it was for our city and the filmmakers who participated. However, a few times I spoke openly with my wife and expressed my feelings on how I didn’t think I could go on with it and how I felt like this was way over my head and drowning. Of course,e she helped me out of that way of thinking and she is the foundation of my strength, yet when we were wrapping up, I was asked a question by one of the visiting filmmakers from out of state where I get this determination, love and compassion from. “I learned determination from my father. I learned to love from my mother.
I learned the compassion from my wife. It’s a team effort, always.
It takes many many hands to help get something from your head into an actual real thing out in the world and we did it y’all.”
So in a nutshell that determination was the most influential aspect that I appreciate at this very moment in my life.
Q: What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
I like how you ask about favorite and not best. Folk is my top. Followed by Hip Hop/Rap. Then I can get into some really classical kicks. Right along with folk is bluegrass, which I learned a heavy appreciation for while I was a student at Appalachian State University in the Blue Ridge Mountains of N.C.
At its inception I enjoyed some country rap, I felt it was a great blend of genres, but right around COVID times it quickly it evolved into a majority of despicable songs and artists that use it as an outlet for their propaganda, racism and hatred, but unfortunately, there is a market for that and has been rightfully coined hick-hop.
I love a captivating movie score or soundtrack too, no matter the genre, if it aligns with the visuals, I am mesmerized. Big-budget films from India get it right almost every time. The Spiderverse animation joints do too, but when it comes to straight-up scores, I love the French composer ROB, solely based on the work he did for the GRETEL AND HANSEL in 2020.
Q: What would you say is your greatest weakness as an artist?
Time management. My gauge for that is still stuck in my 20s. I feel like I can do the same level of work at the same pace as that, then I get frustrated when I cannot. I am married with two children and I feel confident that I take care of those responsibilities, but it also doesn’t match up with the time I feel like I have. I have about 45TB worth of footage and photographs that have yet to be edited and a dozen albums that are in various stages of completion, but every day I feel like it’s manageable to finish them! I hope I snap outta that soon.
Q: In terms of the overall composition, what is your favorite song and why?
‘Set Adrift On Memory Bliss’ by P.M. Dawn. It’s the perfect blend of sampling something from the past with something totally opposite. A true Yin and Yang feel, but you also don’t notice that it is, because it flows so perfectly. I was fortunate to meet Doc. G early on in my career and spoke with him many times on the phone for advice and such. He was even on my debut album in the interlude.
Q: What kind of music artist would you classify yourself as?
This may sound cliche, but it’s Ty Bru music it’s the gnere; RUSTRACT BOOMBAP. The elements are getting more and more vast and untrackable. It’s Rob Zombie meets Kanye West meets Bob Dylan and Lord Huron. It’s grimy and it’s beautiful, it’s unpolished at times and so clear at others. When I started my first myspace and reverbnation music page I coined it ASHEBORO GRIME, but since then I just call it all RUSTRACT.
Q: Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
One of my business partners, Ed E. Ruger, although it was actually a sub-level of the music industry that we ended up creating together, of course with the help of many others. Working at a fully independent level with so many of the industry’s mainstays and up-and-comers, we saw first-hand the lifelong struggles that could come with a few years of the grand lifestyle, we quickly understood that it would be easier for us to become professional athletes than to consistently excel in what is known as “the industry” and it was never due to lack of talent.
It was always because of our determination (there’s that word again) to stick to our code and our guns, and know when to holster them, take them on or off the safety and when to shoot, things like that don’t usually mesh with the industry, they 9 times out of 10 want to mold you into what they want, and even in the rare case that they don’t, the pressure for you to do so from outside variables really is suffocating.
Still to this day, it’s tongue in cheek when I say I am in the industry. I’d also like to credit Jonathan Coleman, Derrick Holder & Westtopher for inspiring me on this level as well.
Q: Would you agree that it is very important to learn, study and understand old music and music history?
I had the privilege to speak with hip-hop pioneer, Chuck D in NYC many years ago and he dropped some heavy knowledge on me about this. He expressed the importance of learning the culture of all art and how/why it’s made, he went on to say it didn’t necessarily have to be before one takes the plunge into creating their own music, but something that is an ever-evolving process through one's life. I totally agree with this.
Q: Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
I’ve performed over 2,000 times all around the world. My favorite overseas being a coliseum show in Changshu, China and my favorite stateside being our legendary run at Greene Street, Greensboro, NC, that was a special time.
In 2024 I only performed twice, I made a conscious decision to step away for a while, and focus on other aspects of my career, the reason being is that most of these venues give 0% f*#ks about you and what you do. They treat most musicians like trash, charge them to perform many times, then charge them for water to drink and rush them on and off stage for set up. I will always be loud about this until something changes.
This year however we have a very special concert event, our label turns 20 years old this year and we are having a two-day festival to celebrate that anniversary. May 23 & 24th 2025 at the historic Sunset Theatre in Asheboro, NC. We are looking to have as many acts from the Mightier Than The Sword Records run as possible and just have fun with it for what might possibly be one last time.
Q: What’s next for you?
I’m heading back to Hollywood in February, and my debut film, ‘Shucks’ is having its long-awaited premiere at the world-famous TCL Chinese Theatre. This is something I’ve been submerged in for the past 7–8 years, as a supplemental form of creating. Dipping into film-making has been critical for me to use that artistic spark for something else when the music tip begins to drain me. I also composed the score for the 49-minute film, so I am able to become more prolific in that aspect as well. This will be the fifth time my film work has been shown at that theatre. Along with ‘Shucks’ the music video I shot for ethemadassassin will be showing as well as my music video for ‘Do That’
Q: How did you come up with the idea for your Music video, ‘Do That’?
It was kind of spur of the moment. We were already shooting my video for ‘Leo’s Whiskey Bar’ that same day, so we had several actors already in time-period costumes/clothing. I spoke with the director, Odell Payne (which was also the producer of the song) about the possibility of shooting a second, very quick, improve-type video if we had time. Thankfully we already had the location approved, thanks to the fine power couple owners of Nannie Mae’s Cafe and Bakery, a block away from Leo’s. Brandon Shepherd, Brian Hart (Blaze Belushi) & Mike Williams all showed interest, so on the way walking from Leo’s to Nannie Mae’s we talked about a quick storyline that would go with the song, which is basically a song about how easily an ass could be kicked if they pushed the right buttons. You know, one of the foundations of hip hop, lol.
So we came up with the idea of sticking someone up for a watch that they thought was stolen from them, only to find out it was a cheap version of that watch and the dude got stomped for no reason. The cinematography was wild dope thanks to Odell and the acting was really convincing IMO. Natural lighting was great from the windows and we had a hell of a lot of fun, probably took an hour max to do. I love working with those guys.
Q: Do you have any advice for young music makers like yourself?
Stack up your work. Create and create and create and create some more. When you find yourself in a slump, focus on your social media and business aspects.
Find a main source of your income that isn’t based on art. That could be a 9–5, that could be a bread-winning partner or spouse, that could be a handful of hustles that make sure you have a roof over your head and food to eat. When the time comes that your artwork income is more than that, transition. But you also have to realize that time may never come, but stacking up your work is important. Make it as timeless as possible. I’m currently still using, pushing and promoting work I did in 2007 and there is a demand and reception for that, I promise.
Most times an artist isn’t appreciated until after their death, so look at it for a possible way for your children to benefit from it, if there’s enough out there that you own.
Q: social media profiles:
https://www.facebook.com/therealtybru
