The Uncle Tims - Creator Spotlight

Photo courtesy of Gio Fraga

There's a difference between hiring musicians to play your songs and having a band. Aaron said Uncle Tims was formed when he stopped hiring other musicians to play his demo's and started changing his songs due to the influence of the other members. Prior to that, Uncle Tims was just Aaron and Sawyer. Sawyer and Aaron met in a loose high school band that Aaron referred to as "film class nerds" and distant acquaintances. Most practices were spent goofing around, fighting about names and not getting anything accomplished.

 However, Aaron remembers thinking Sawyer was much better than everyone else. He knew he needed to continue playing with Sawyer if he wanted to improve. Aaron and Sawyer bonded over Half-Life and Neutral Milk Hotel. They shared demos and attended local band shows together. It took a few "odd characters", a few awkward jam sessions and then Tyler and David came into the picture. Once Tyler and David entered the picture, the songs started to change. "It was exciting to see how the songs transformed around Tyler and David," Aaron stated. "

"We became a unit, and that's what truly creates a band."

Interestingly enough, the name "Uncle Tims" existed long before most of the band did. 

Photo courtesy of Chase Gardenhire

Sawyer has an uncle named Tim. He's a fan of '90s Ska and Punk and once joked that Sawyer should name his future group "The Uncle Tims". He also promised that if the band ever played a gig, he would wear a shirt that stated "I am Uncle Tim". Sawyer waited five months before even meeting the band's drummer or bass player. When Tyler first heard the name, he didn't like it. Regardless, the name stuck.

Their music is a reflection of the band itself in terms of being pretty unpredictable. Uncle Tims shifts from Shoegaze, Emo, Alternative Rock and Power Pop. At times they switch from bright melodies to heavy vocals and guitar riffs during the same show. Sawyer cares more about how others perceive their music versus defining what they sound like, regardless of whether listeners compare them to bands he has never heard of. Much of their music was created in Encinitas and the surrounding areas. Sawyer's first performance featured local band Bugstomp. He remembers being drawn to the dynamic between the crowd and the performers. 

Their Freaking Out EP later inspired early Uncle Tims tracks such as "Home Town" and "Can You Give Me an Answer". Since then, the band has experimented further; however, Sawyer still credits that scene as providing the initial spark. That connection is also why Uncle Tims prefers a full house party over a prestigious venue. Sawyer's favorite performance occurred at his third annual Halloween party. The band and their friends decorated the house with handmade corpses, skeletons climbing from graves and missing person posters featuring musicians on the lineup. The entryway alone was built from Styrofoam, paint, wood and a bedsheet. Their worst performance was memorable for entirely different reasons. Sawyer arrived in San Diego recovering from an illness only to find out how severely his voice had been affected by the illness four hours before performing. He drank tea and a full bottle of water en route to the show only to arrive and find that the show was delayed and that there was nowhere nearby with a restroom. A desperate attempt using a metal water bottle resulted in a great deal of the contents spilling onto his front seat.

After performing for an audience of approximately five individuals, the band returned to their vehicle, where Sawyer accidentally dented another car while attempting to exit a tight parking spot. He left his contact information, accepted defeat and began driving the 45-minute journey back home. A 1:00 A.M. In-N-Out stop eventually allowed everyone involved to laugh about the events of the evening. "Would I ever want a show like that again? Hell no," Sawyer said. "But experiencing situations like that is what brings you closer to your band mates." 

Photo courtesy of Wyatt Lynch

When asked to name their best song, Tyler hesitates. "That's tough for me to say right now because in my mind all our best stuff has yet to be released," he explained. The band currently has around 10 originals in their catalog, but only five have made it to streaming so far, with more on the way. If he had to pick from what's already out, Tyler points to "Trip to Saturn." "It shows a more poppy side that is going to be more present in our future works, and right now it is the most elaborate arrangement of all of the songs released," he said. The band is currently finishing four singles in their home studio, with "Trip to Saturn" leading the way as a power pop-oriented track. The band is preparing for their next Halloween show on October 24th. Based upon past shows, expect homemade monsters, a large crowd and, if he follows through on his promise, the actual Uncle Tim wearing that shirt.