“True Strength is not the absence of vulnerability, but the acceptance of it.” - Tim TateTim Tate, a 29-year-old factory worker from Akron, Ohio, had spent years grinding away at a job that paid the bills but didn’t fuel his soul. One day, he realized it was now or never to chase his dream of making music, so he started writing and producing songs late at night after long shifts at the factory. With no formal training and against all odds, Tim pours his heart and soul into his music, determined to prove that it’s never too late to pursue a dream. Just like Rocky Balboa stepping into the ring, Tim faced skeptics and setbacks, but his relentless drive and raw talent couldn’t be denied. It wasn’t his right hook, but his vulnerability that was his super power, as he's quoted as saying “True Strength is not the absence of vulnerability, but the acceptance of it.” His music, forged in the fire of life’s hardships, resonated deeply with others who felt they were past their prime. Tim's story became a beacon of hope, showing that no matter where you start, it’s never too late to fight for your dreams.

“When I moved back from Australia, I wanted to take the music and work I had been putting in the last year and share it with those back home. My buddy was making music, and we decided to put on a show at his college. I set up everything: the setlist, orders of performance, and all the nuances and particulars of the show. Finally, we got to perform it. One of the moments that resonated with me was when one of the members of the audience, whom I had never met before, was crying to a song I performed. I knew if I could make a stranger cry in 2 minutes from a song I created, I was on to something. After the performance, I was so energized by the crowd and environment and being able to share ideas and thoughts I had for years while being able to put them somewhere. Once the afterparty kicked off, I couldn't tell you what was going on during it. All I could think of was the music, the set, and the next time I could perform. A pretty girl was talking to me, but I couldn’t even entertain the thought of spending time with someone other than the music. I was coming up with melodies and writing at the party. I went up to my set mate and best friend at the time and said, ‘Let’s go make music,’ and it was disappointing for me because he didn't want to go for the exact reason I didn't want to stay.”

Music is more a way of life for Tim rather than a simple pastime. From starting a band, creating, and performing his first song in 4th grade to writing songs in study hall as a teen, Tim found something from an early age that he loved, and it loved him back. Stepping out of his comfort zone, Tim moved to the land down under to see the world and decided to take music seriously for the first time. It was time to find his sound. Fortune favors the bold, and that bold and brash confidence allowed Tim to make waves for himself. Tim tells us a defining story from when he was in Australia: “I was at the studio where I worked and volunteered when one of the operators of the venue told me there was a competition going on at this club, which was a big outdoor venue beneath the studio. He said they only had one spot left, so I jumped up, ran downstairs, got in front of the judges, and without asking, proceeded to start performing my song that I had just made upstairs moments earlier. I ended up singing three songs. I got the last spot in the show and was the last to perform. The judges were like many others: surprised at the abilities of someone with no catalog but intrigued by the abilities that I possessed. After the results started to come in, I was 4th, just out of the top 3. I was crushed. My entire team was distraught. One of the judges came down from the table and told me how great I was and how she appreciated me as an artist. She loved my style. ‘But if you felt that way, why did I lose?’ I asked. She said the politics of music got in the way. The record labels didn't want someone on the show who was better than the musicians they had signed to their label. She told me my future was so bright and not to let it discourage me. ‘Promise me you won’t let this stop you. Just promise me you won’t give up.’”

Tim has always been keen on making a positive impact on the world around him. No matter if he's walking through a grocery store or working at a factory job, he has the uncanny ability to make those around him smile and laugh. “The thing about me is it's not about me. I share music because the people who have shared music with me in the past have impacted my life in a way that I can't quantify. Certain artists saved my life with their music, and it's my responsibility to pay it forward to those who come after me.”

Tim has no one favorite type of music. He appreciates the different genres for what they are and has been quoted numerous times as saying, “Good music is good music; no matter where it comes from.” One can hear the different genres influence his own sound. “Going into creating my first EP, the plan was to do what I've always done because I didn't know any better: leaning on old producers to make beats and to let them dictate the speed and quality with which I work. Depending on others for your success is a detriment to your own potential; learn the craft yourself. I took the onus to put my future in my own hands, and I started making my own beats. Through this process, '“Tim Tate The EP was born.” An EP that is conceptualized, produced, written, and performed by Tim Tate.

Tim was born into a household that appreciated all different types of music. “My first interaction with music was from my mom, who showed me Earth, Wind & Fire, Elton John, Barry Manilow, The Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles. Then my sister furthered my music education with Panic! at the Disco, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, The Killers, and Paramore. The first time I chose music I wanted to listen to on my own was when I heard 'Day 'n' Nite' by Kid Cudi on the bus coming home from 6th grade. My mom couldn't afford to get me an iPod, but this kid Sander, God bless ‘em, would let me listen to his iPod to and from school every single day and never once denied me access. Thanks, Sander.” As Tim has gotten older, artists that have influenced him are Kid Cudi, Phil Collins, Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Coldplay—the list is truly endless. “I am obsessed with the craft and the creation of music that can impact strangers from all backgrounds from all parts of the world. I am no different than anyone who took the time to read this biography. I am a lover of music first and foremost. I just dared to dream. As a wise one said “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. -Arthur O’Shaughnessy”-Willy Wonka.