Every so often in music history, an artist comes along that pivots the trajectory of the current popular sound. In 2025, we have Dallas, TX artist Tye Harris doing just that. Harris’s unique combination of skills as a songwriter, pianist, and opera singer, merges hip hop and classical music in a way that has been captivating audiences around the globe. Raised by a family of music enthusiasts in Oak Cliff, Tye was introduced to the world of music at a young age. His mother loves to recall the story of seeing him catch on to a piano lesson impressively well as a toddler. A fond memory that they now see as a foreshadowing to his future success performing with the classical instrument. Shortly after high school, Tye had the opportunity to choose between athletic, theatrical, and music scholarship offers. Unlike the majority of his peers, Tye decided to take a chance on himself by choosing the path less chosen, studying opera. “The path was kind of set for me. In high school when I started doing the choir thing, it was different. It was something I wasn’t use to, nobody around me was use to. I went to Carter High School, we don’t have a good reputation. Everyone who comes from that school either blows up from something they’re not supposed to be doing, or being an athlete. But I chose another route. When I got to ACU (Abilene Christian University) it was a bit of a culture shock. I liked doing music, and I liked singing opera, but I didn’t know where it would take me. I didn’t see it. My background was totally different.” Despite being outside of his comfort zone, Harris went on to excel in studying music theory, ear training, and other aspects of music that constantly perfect his ability to audibly connect with listeners. Tye Harris spoke exclusively with Texas Trend Magazine about his latest work, and taking a look into his unique form of artistry has everyone tuning in.
Dallas + Houston
Word of Tye Harris has been spreading like wildfire. A seemingly overnight success to some has actually come from years of dedication. Tye was known for making music and selling cd’s back in high school, writing and producing songs has been a heavy part of his life for several years before the world knew his name. Over the last year, it seemed every video Harris dropped garnered more listens than the last. Much of Tye’s music is placed in especially high regard by Texas music lovers who recognized the songs he played on the piano to be noteworthy hits from local artist like Lil Keke and Beat King.
Although the music being played is familiar, audiences are constantly in awe experiencing the songs they recognize in a new way. Tye’s lyrical delivery is icing on the cake as he delivers meaningful connections with strong vocals and southern flare. Harris says he does this out of respect for the Texas culture, staying authentic to the roots of where he’s from and all the great artist connected to the great state. “LIL Keke, Paul Wall, you know, that’s Texas culture. Pimp C, Bun B. I love Texas culture period, whether its Port Arthur, Beaumont, Houston, I love all that, it’s just Texas for me.”
There’s no telling when a new Tye Harris project will drop, but every time is a surprise worth waiting for. The creative process behind it is beyond his doing, as Tye gives God credit for his ability to create. “God just sends a message and the next thing you know it’s on paper or on wax. I get to searching my emotions sometimes. I’m a mental health advocate too so a lot of that stuff from depression, I’ve been through all that. Suicidal stuff sometimes then out the concrete comes a rose, next thing you know I done put it on wax. Sometimes I working out and a song comes on and I think you know what, I can play that. For example, ‘Knuck If You Buck’, my old lady is an AKA. That’s like one of the top sorority fraternity songs, when that comes on everyone just gets crazy. I was thinking I can play that, next thing you know somebody pissed me off somewhere and I’m writing.”
Breaking Stereotypes
Tye hasn’t wasted the spotlight for selfish gain or mere popularity, but instead, has used his platform to spread meaningful messages of family, mental health, and other meaningful topics that provokes thought, spreads laughter, and grabs heart strings. Tye has made it clear that he does has no intention to make songs about street violence or other stereotypical hip hop topics. Harris spends a lot of time writing about personal life experiences and ideas that push for deeper thinking and sentimental value. “I definitely put all my business in the streets. Sometimes it might be cryptic messages in there to where you don’t know if I’m talking about me. But 92% of the time I’m talking about myself. I can only speak from my own experiences sometimes it might be a tad bit of imagination in there for creativity purposes. My Momma get on me all the time like ‘why’d you tell the world we were on food stamps and shopping at Levines for school uniforms?’ But she’s from the generation where we don’t put out business in the street, but when I’m expressing my art I’m expressing it from my own psyche from my own emotional standpoint. I know if I bottle it up I will end up going back where I was years ago so I let it all out now.”
Writing songs on things that aren’t spoken of widely has opened the door for Tye to be a face of advocacy for mental health, and add more depth to expand rap music beyond the glorification of street life. “My background is real inner city Dallas, Oak Cliff. We glorify the wrong things sometimes, and I don’t think its because that’s what we want to glorify, I think its a bit of shared trauma that we gravitate to. Although I understand sharing trauma, being relatable, and that resonating with certain folks, I just think sometimes we oversaturate it, and we keep pushing it deep down into our minds all the time. I’m a firm believer that too much of anything is not a good thing, and it’s just always something negative. Although I can do that, although I’m real good at it, I don’t think we give ourselves, and this is any community, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for being multifaceted. That street guy that can sell the most dope and push the most keys might be a math wizard.“ His views on being multifaceted definitely shows through his layers of talent. Being transparent and authentic with himself is a big part of what makes his music so relatable. “I let it all out. Most of the time it resonates with someone, they’ll let me know. I like looking at my dm sometimes and I’ll see people telling me their whole life story in the comments and telling me how much it meant to them. Message me crying sometimes, at the end of the day, it’s my testimony and if my testimony can give someone else the spirit like we’re in church then I did my job.”
All 2025
Tye Harris’s approach to making music is undoubtedly a motion to be recognized. His ability to tell stories and intertwine connections while playing the piano makes for a heavy sensory experience whether in person or through your screen. His has a long list of impressive collaborations that include Calvin Fleming, Chalie Boy, Paul Wall, and Mo Legend. When asked who he’d like to work with next, he didn’t hesitate to mention another well-respected Texas name. “I’m open to work with anyone, but I’m going to shoot for the stars, I really wanna work with Meg Thee Stallion. She’s a Texas legend through and through.” Hopefully that’s a collab we get to hear sometime this year as Tye continues to flourish in the music scene. Stay on the lookout for upcoming shows that will not be your typical concert experience. Tye will be hosting recitals in the near future that he assures will be a classy night of fun and entertainment. “It will be a Suit and Tye event. Formal dress code. We’re gonna be grown and sexy. We’re going to sit down, and I’m going to play the piano for y’all. All the music that I’ve been doing since last year plus things to come. I want to take it from Dallas to Houston. A DJ will be there, we will turn it up a little bit, a little black forces energy, but demure. We’re gonna keep it classy you know, but still showcase that we’re multifaceted.”
