I was determined to hate it. I was determined to put on my “huh…?” face and be totally turned off by the loud and sometimes protrusive lyrics that defined this artist. I was determined to hate it because it was too different and too far beyond the enclosed bubble that I live in.  Yes, the mission was to hate it! But I failed miserably. As the chorus of the first song began, a smile came across my face – and by the end of the third song; I was singing along, laughing out loud and enjoying this eccentric performer known as Tim Fite.

Tim Fite performed three of his songs in our Music Teen Reviewers and Critics workshop this spring, in a not particularly popular building on 8th Ave in Manhattan. The location isn’t important, because wherever Tim Fite goes, he seems to bring the excitement with him. He carries a pop out boom box, wears quirky clothing and delivers with his whimsical performances.

The first and second songs that Mr. Fite performed were “Big Mistake” and “Bully”. They were very much alike and defined what most of Mr. Fites music entailed. They were both full of distortions and a smooth heavy harmony. These distortions were created by pre-recordings of himself with help from a light back ground voice (named Sexy Leroy) that balances out the smooth ruggedness in Tim Fites lead voice. In the background of “Big Mistake,” the steady and consistent beats of the nylon string guitar gives a country feeling that is the foundation for the entire song.  The strings, along with Sexy Leroy, add brightness to what could have easily been a somber song. In “Bully”, unique sounds created by a paintbrush and a drumstick, mimicked playful tapping on a desk. When that conjoined with Sexy Leroy’s high voice under Fites distinct smooth ruggedness, a beautiful mystic feel is created.  Both songs were filled with harmonies, and beats that also gave the song a “strolling”, yet upbeat feel.

The next song that Mr. Fite performed was titled “All Right Here.” (It’s off his album Over the Counter Culture that you can download for free on his website.)  This song was filled with hip-hop beats, computed sounds and a juxtaposition created by strings that gave off sounds similar to violins. The song was sporadic yet rhythmic. This song in itself shows how diverse Tim Fite’s songs are.

I would recommend Tim Fite to anyone who enjoys something different. Although I was a bit skeptical at first, his performance convinced me of his talents. I would absolutely recommend seeing him live, since only then would you appreciate the quirky, sometimes non-sensible yet relatable lyrics. Tim Fite is a commendable artist and his diverse song combinations show how useless it would be to try and define his music when he revels in a genre fit only for Tim Fite.

Here’s a video about the making of his new record, Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t:

Check out Tim Fite’s video “We Are All Teenagers”: