DU philosophy major Tyler Gale, known as Typhoon on all streaming platforms, just released his new single, “The Sunshine Shop,” on Oct. 27, as an intro to his upcoming album.
Music has always been a part of Gale’s life, whether it was dancing to “Beat It” by Michael Jackson in the car on the way to school, or trying to produce his first rap in seventh grade. When asked at what age he started taking music seriously, he replied with “it’s always been for fun, it’s still for fun.”
While he aspires to make a mark in the music scene, he’s someone who enjoys variety.
“Legends I admire have honed in their craft, and rapping is pretty much all they do,” explained Gale. “That’s not me. I have a lot of other interests that I don’t plan on turning away from.”
Before thinking of the concept of “The Sunshine Shop,” Gale had put the finishing touches on his album—yet to be released—which he viewed as a story of his life. Before planning his album release, Gale quickly realized, “there was no beginning to the story.”
The album delves into Gale’s upbringing and his journey toward autonomy, but “The Sunshine Shop” narrows the focus to a significant influence in his life: cannabis.
“Smoking weed was something that brought me out of my childhood and, for better or for worse, gave me a different outlook on life,” said Gale. It initially led to a “self-absorbed sadness,” prompting deep contemplation and songwriting.
“I remember laying in my bed listening to ‘Circles’ by Mac Miller, just feeling however I felt, which wasn’t something I really did a lot,” said Gale.
These new feelings led him to spend much time thinking about life and eventually writing about it. “The album itself tells my story of trying to skirt away from social conformity,” he said.
Gale highlights the fact that as we grow older, this becomes an increasingly harder task. “‘The Sunshine Shop’ is just the first part of it. It will all make sense when the rest of the album is out,” Gale said.
The name “The Sunshine Shop” is a hypothetical cannabis dispensary that represents Gale stepping away from his childhood, away from the comfort of ignorance and toward the mindset he has now, which is exemplified in the rest of the album.
The track kicks off with a lively energy, reflecting Gale’s persona. Before the beat drops, listeners hear Gale’s voice saying, “I need a 3.5 or something to elevate the mind,” 3.5 representing the number of ounces in an eighth of weed, for those non-smokers among us. As he starts rapping, intricately woven rhymes, with lyrics like “watching Teletubbies dance with my momma on the sofa making blankets out of strands” evoking his childhood innocence.
Interludes of background vocals complement the overall vibe between verses. In these breaks, a dialogue unfolds between Gale and his hypothetical budtender, with Gale questioning, “Hold up, I thought this shit was supposed to make me feel good?” This conversation represents the unexpected impact of weed and the melancholy he experienced.
The upbeat rhythm persists as Gale’s lyrics seamlessly flow, reminiscent of Mac Miller’s style. His reflections on childhood are apparent throughout the song.
Gale wants people to “feel like a kid again” when listening to the song.
The song concludes with advice about pursuing happiness and not letting one thing, like music, dominate one’s life, ending with the line, “smoke another bowl, let the good vibes pass me.”
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