Tim Lyre Explores Vulnerability on “Spiral”

Tim Lyre describes his sound in three words: honest, interesting, and moody. It’s a fitting summary for Spiral, his latest album, a carefully structured journey through vulnerability, self-awareness, and the messy, cyclical nature of growth. Spiral isn’t just introspection for its own sake; it balances mellow, reflective confessionals with lighter, more playful moments, while bringing together a diverse roster of collaborators from Nigeria, Uganda, and the UK. It’s music that’s personal but expansive, grounded in real experience yet willing to experiment. 

In this conversation with Culture Custodian, Lyre opens up about finding his voice, curating meaningful collaborations, and why, even in chaos, there’s a path to becoming something more.

Before we dive into Spiral, let’s go back to the beginning. What first drew you to music, and how did you discover your voice as an artist?

I’ve really been around music my whole life. I grew up in a family of church choristers, organists, and choirmasters, so I learned to appreciate and read music pretty early on. I started playing the piano when I was about 10, so music has always been there for me. But I didn’t really start making my own music until around 2017 or 2018, during that SoundCloud era that was taking off in Nigeria. That’s when I began experimenting and figuring out my own sound. I uploaded a few early tracks and projects, like Three Strains and Indigo, just testing the waters.

My first proper project was a small EP, and from there, I connected with my current label, Outer South, which is an independent label where we do everything ourselves. Since then, it’s been a steady journey. We released the first album, Worry, in 2022, and now this second album, Spiral.

In today’s music landscape, there’s often talk about listeners not paying attention to lyrics anymore. How do you approach writing vulnerable, introspective songs about mental health and growth when the focus seems to be on hooks and instant gratification? 

I think the most important thing, from an artist’s perspective, is to really be sure of yourself and confident in what you’re doing. Like you said, there’s already so much music out there, so I never want to sound like anybody else. I always try to think differently when I’m making music and focus on being as unique as possible.

When it comes to writing lyrics, I just try to be as honest as I can. A lot of my favorite artists approach music that way, acknowledging that life is full of a wide variety of experiences and emotions, it’s not just one thing happening all the time. I try to draw from as many of those feelings and moments as I can. I believe that kind of honesty is something people can still relate to, even in a landscape that sometimes seems focused on instant gratification.

You’ve assembled an impressive roster of collaborators spanning Africa and the UK – from Show Dem Camp to BOJ, BINA., and Joshua Baraka. How did you curate these partnerships, and what did each artist bring to the exploration of vulnerability and self-awareness on the album?

It was really about finding the right balance. Like you said, a lot of the album is introspective, but I didn’t want the whole thing to just feel heavy or overly melancholic. It was important to balance those moods because, at the end of the day, you still want people to have fun both making and listening to the music.

That’s actually how I approached structuring the album into Side A and Side B. Side A has the more mellow, introspective tracks grouped together, while Side B is lighter and more fun. That separation helped me maintain a clear thematic and sonic flow without losing variety.

Also, before narrowing it down, I had around 30 to 35 songs shortlisted that could potentially make the album. When it came time to choose the final tracklist, I knew I didn’t want one long, unfocused project. I wanted it to feel intentional and easy to enjoy, whether someone listens to Side A or Side B on its own, or experiences them together as a whole. It was really about creating that balance and cohesion across all the diverse sounds and contributions.

Was there a particular moment or experience that made you realize you wanted to be more open in your music? 

Honestly, I think I’ve felt that way since I first started making music. It’s partly because of the artists I grew up listening to. I always tell people my favorite artist is Aṣa. I don’t know if you’ve listened to her music before, but she’s probably one of the most honest songwriters to come out of this country. Even with her first album, I knew almost every song by heart. That really set the standard for me. I knew that if I was going to make music, I wanted it to feel personal and real, like you’re talking about things you’ve truly experienced.

That mindset has always been there, but over time, I think I’ve just improved a lot. They say if you spend enough hours doing something, you inevitably get better at it. I’d say the biggest difference between my early SoundCloud days and now is how much more confident I am in my writing, production, and even my vocals. I’m a much better singer now. I know how to use my voice better. And I like to try different things, whether it’s rapping or singing.

The album title Spiral could represent decline or growth, spiraling down or spiraling upward. How do you see this metaphor playing out across the album, and what do you hope listeners take away from following this journey with you?

Yeah, it’s really both sides, just like you said. A lot of people instantly associate the word “spiral” with a downward spiral, and I’ve had that conversation with a few people who see it as purely negative. But for me, it’s more about an unraveling of yourself as a person.

Over the past two or three years, I’ve been through so many things, just experiencing life. I wanted to document that journey honestly on this album. Spiral felt like the perfect name because there are definitely lows in there, but there are highs too. It keeps going around and around, you’re constantly unraveling, but at the same time, you’re evolving and growing because of it.

That’s really the core message behind the album: even if things feel chaotic or out of control, there’s a way to navigate all of that and come out stronger. It’s about making sense of the messiness and using it to become a better version of yourself. That’s what I hope listeners take away from it.

What comes next for Tim Lyre? Where do you see yourself heading creatively from here?

Right now, my main focus is still on the album. I want to keep pushing Spiral for a while. I have a few more visuals I want to release, and we’re also planning a deluxe version of the album. There are some special features that didn’t make the main release, and I’d really like to find the best way to share those with everyone. That’s something we’re working on figuring out.

I’m also excited about performing more. I have my second headline show in London coming up on September 25th, which is big news for me and anyone who’s been following my journey. Beyond that, I just want to keep recording, keep evolving creatively, and do more shows so I can really get myself out there. The goal is just to spread the music as far as I can and connect with as many people as possible.