The Moss
Salt Lake City, UT
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About the Artist
Whether he’s living in his van in Santa Cruz, surfing in France, working on a horse ranch in Montana or paragliding in Utah, Tyke James is one nomadic individual, a rolling stone who does indeed gather The Moss, the band name under which he’s written and performed a unique brand of alternative rock, as a teen first in O’ahu, Hawaii, and currently in Salt Lake City. “Moss grows on every continent,” explains the singer/songwriter/guitarist about the origin of the band’s name, though he has often described it as the result of an experience on acid. “It’s not to be confused by its cousin algae. It’s neither commonly noticed nor loved, but it’s everywhere, it’s ubiquitous. All the things you’ve heard about moss apply to us.” The Moss broke through with the four-song Insomnia EP, leading the way with more than 25 million streams, the title track – which Tyke describes as “a bittersweet song about codependency, the point in a relationship where you feel incomplete without the other person” -- has landed on Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart with major support from Sirius XM’s Alt Nation. Other highlights of the past year include well-received sets at Las Vegas’ Life Is Beautiful and Idaho’s The Festival at Sandpoint. Their latest irresistible single "Your Way" "is about how everyone has certain ideas on how life should be lived but they’re all just ideas, and you shouldn’t listen to everything people tell you," shares Tyke James. With an eclectic sound that echoes both ‘60s surf-rock, the pure melodic joy of the Beatles, reggae’s danceable island rhythms and a hard-edged ‘90s emo aesthetic reminiscent of the Replacements, U2 and Vampire Weekend, The Moss take their cue from the outdoors, both Utah’s towering peaks and Hawaii’s tropical surf