For many people, making music is a dream that seems unattainable. For BYU-Idaho student Tanner Averill, that dream is becoming a reality with the release of his debut album titled “Yesteryear.”
By day, Averill is a bio-med student at BYU-Idaho. By night, he is a singer/songwriter with a passion for making music that started when he was a young boy working at Ririe Reservoir.
“And I would just sit in the booth for 10 hours a day just collecting tickets when people would come in. And one day, I was just so bored because I had nothing to do,” Averill said. “So, my mom said, ’Hey, why don't you take your older brother's guitar and just teach yourself how to learn?’ So, I just took it up there and just every single day for 10 hours straight, I would just play the guitar and watch YouTube videos at home and then practice it when I was at work.”
Averill says his missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped encourage him to take his music career to the next level.
“My mission, though, was a big part of my music,” Averill said. “The first video I did just started blowing up. And everyone's like, ’You need to keep putting out more music.’ So, I started doing more hymns, and that eventually turned to, I'd start writing these own little gospel songs I'd make. And that's truly what inspired me to continue or, to do it as a career now because it works so well on my mission.”
Averill has recorded and released six songs, such as "If We Made the Rules" and "Bad Timing," at the recording studio called Teton Studios, which is owned and operated by his brother.
Averill will perform his first ever show in Provo, Utah opening for his friend’s band at the Velour Live Music Gallery on April 5.
“But I now finally and officially have my first gig down in Provo. So, I'll be opening for a friend’s band of mine, and, it'll be super fun,” Averill said. “I'm terrified, but also super excited. So, it'll be my first time performing my songs in front of people locally and everything, so live.”
You can find Averill’s music on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music, just search for Tanner Averill.