Tyler Ballgame's meteoric rise to fame is nothing short of astonishing. Just a year ago, his Instagram posts were dominated by flyers for gigs in tiny LA bars, accompanied by cameraphone footage that hinted at a raw, unpolished talent. The news of his London debut was met with skepticism, as if the city itself was oblivious to Ballgame's existence.
However, things changed dramatically over the course of 12 months. A video of him performing live at an LA bar called Fable began circulating online, and by the time he arrived in the UK for Brighton's Great Escape festival, he had signed with Rough Trade. Critical acclaim poured in, with Ballgame being compared to a who's who of music legends: Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Jim Morrison, and Tim Buckley.
The media couldn't get enough of Ballgame, drawn in by his intriguing backstory and hippy-friendly philosophy. A Berklee College dropout who spent years holed up in his parents' basement, struggling with depression and a voracious appetite for marijuana, Ballgame underwent a "spiritual awakening" thanks to Eckhart Tolle's work – also championed by Kendrick Lamar. He also revealed that Tyler Perry was the inspiration behind his stage name, drawing on his drama background.
Ballgame's vocal style is a beautiful blend of straightforward elegance and theatricality. His voice can sweep from a bruised, brooding croon into an emotive falsetto with ease, and there's a noticeable actorly relish in its delivery. The result is a sound that's both deeply personal and slightly artificial – as if Ballgame is deliberately courting comparison to his 70s heroes.
The lyrics are confessional and open-hearted, tackling themes of love, loss, and depression. However, it's the production that really sets For the First Time, Again apart. Recorded live using old-fashioned analogue methods, the album features a warm, punchy sound that's redolent of 70s singer-songwriters like the Lemon Twigs. The vocals are swathed in reverb and slapback echo, evoking the John Lennon of Mind Games or Walls and Bridges.
While Ballgame's songwriting is occasionally jarring, the quality of the material is undeniable. The album is a masterclass in melodic craft, with gorgeous melodies on tracks like Deepest Blue and Waiting So Long. Even the most stagy moments – and there are a few – can't detract from the sheer catchiness of Ballgame's voice.
As with any debut, it's hard not to feel that For the First Time, Again might be more a starting point than a fully formed album. Still, given the quality of the material, it's hard not to get swept along by Ballgame's talent. As he takes his first steps towards stardom, one can't help but wonder what the future holds for this 70s-obsessed singer-songwriter.
However, things changed dramatically over the course of 12 months. A video of him performing live at an LA bar called Fable began circulating online, and by the time he arrived in the UK for Brighton's Great Escape festival, he had signed with Rough Trade. Critical acclaim poured in, with Ballgame being compared to a who's who of music legends: Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Jim Morrison, and Tim Buckley.
The media couldn't get enough of Ballgame, drawn in by his intriguing backstory and hippy-friendly philosophy. A Berklee College dropout who spent years holed up in his parents' basement, struggling with depression and a voracious appetite for marijuana, Ballgame underwent a "spiritual awakening" thanks to Eckhart Tolle's work – also championed by Kendrick Lamar. He also revealed that Tyler Perry was the inspiration behind his stage name, drawing on his drama background.
Ballgame's vocal style is a beautiful blend of straightforward elegance and theatricality. His voice can sweep from a bruised, brooding croon into an emotive falsetto with ease, and there's a noticeable actorly relish in its delivery. The result is a sound that's both deeply personal and slightly artificial – as if Ballgame is deliberately courting comparison to his 70s heroes.
The lyrics are confessional and open-hearted, tackling themes of love, loss, and depression. However, it's the production that really sets For the First Time, Again apart. Recorded live using old-fashioned analogue methods, the album features a warm, punchy sound that's redolent of 70s singer-songwriters like the Lemon Twigs. The vocals are swathed in reverb and slapback echo, evoking the John Lennon of Mind Games or Walls and Bridges.
While Ballgame's songwriting is occasionally jarring, the quality of the material is undeniable. The album is a masterclass in melodic craft, with gorgeous melodies on tracks like Deepest Blue and Waiting So Long. Even the most stagy moments – and there are a few – can't detract from the sheer catchiness of Ballgame's voice.
As with any debut, it's hard not to feel that For the First Time, Again might be more a starting point than a fully formed album. Still, given the quality of the material, it's hard not to get swept along by Ballgame's talent. As he takes his first steps towards stardom, one can't help but wonder what the future holds for this 70s-obsessed singer-songwriter.
, on one hand its amazing that someone from la is making waves in london and getting compared to music legends like roy orbison & john lennon 
. but at the same time, it feels a bit manufactured - like he's trying too hard to fit into that 70s vibe 
. and yeah, his songwriting can be kinda jarring at times 
, but i do love how melodic his voice is & the production on "for the first time, again" is really special 
The fact that he's got this hippy-friendly vibe going on is actually kinda refreshing - it feels like he's not afraid to get all emotional and vulnerable in his music 
. And I love how he's paying homage to the 70s with that analogue sound - it's like a breath of fresh air in an industry that can sometimes feel too polished. 
Still, I'm a bit curious to see if he'll be able to sustain this level of quality on future releases... maybe we'll just have to wait and see how he evolves? 
his voice is like wow so emotive & soulful!!! did he go to music school or something? i mean, he sounds so polished but also super raw at the same time... like what's up with that? 
Can't wait to see what he comes up with next!
this dude is like a reincarnated Roy Orbison or something! The way he croons and belts out those tunes is straight fire 
I mean, I was skeptical about his rise to fame too, but now I'm totally sold 
the production on For the First Time, Again is STUNNING 
that warm analogue sound is giving me all the 70s vibes 
and Ballgame's lyrics are just so raw and honest it's like he's speaking directly to your soul 
can't wait to see what he does next! 
. And I gotta say, his lyrics are really relatable - who hasn't struggled with depression or felt like they're stuck in a rut? 
His sound is so eclectic and cool, blending different styles into this unique magic 
.
. Bring on the next album, Tyler - I'll be counting down the days until we get our hands on it 
!
. The kid's got talent pouring out of every pore! His voice is insane - I love how it can go from all emotional to this huge, sweeping sound. And have you heard his lyrics? So raw and honest. It's like he's sharing his innermost thoughts with us 
. But what really gets me is the production on the album... it's so retro-cool! Like, I'm totally here for that 70s vibe 
It's like he's speaking straight to my soul. For the First Time Again is definitely not just a debut, it's an introduction to something special. Can't wait to see what he does next 
- there's something special about his voice and songwriting style.
. It's cool to see an artist using their platform to share their personal struggles and triumphs, and I think that's part of what's making For the First Time, Again so resonant with listeners.
Last year he was playing tiny gigs in LA and now he's got Rough Trade backing him up and everyone's obsessed 
His sound is so 70s-inspired, I love it! It's like he's channeling his idols and making them proud 
And let's not forget the songwriting: it's catchy, melodic, and confessional 
like he's trying too hard to be iconic 
anyway, gotta check out his album For the First Time, Again and see if it lives up to the hype 
. The production on For the First Time, Again is pure magic