Building Me Up

The cover of Tim Butler’s latest album showcases a fun personality with its comic book artwork. One listen to the album and it is evident that this is a serious songwriter growing into his craft. With this album, Tim wanted to highlight the pop flair in his songs. He found an interesting a partner – his longtime friend and pop-songsmith, Cliff Hillis. The result is Tim’s most mature recording to date, That’s The Way You Want Me to Be. The album, released this spring, showcases Tim’s knack for pop songwriting. The highlights are: That’s The Way You Want Me To Be, Tryin, and Christine. The latter two showcase Tim’s pop prowess and his talent for harmonies. Other highlights on the album include: Will You Be Calling and One More Try, which reflect a little more intensity for Tim. “This album really highlights the pop flavor of my music and Cliff helped bring that out. I am really proud at the variety of music on the album and its potential broad appeal,” said Tim. “It’s a bit more mature than my last record, but it still has the general lightness of my songwriting. This record reflects me a lot more.” That reflection has been shaped by a journey through the Philadelphia music scene that began in 1995. Tim entered the Philadelphia music scene as frontman for the now defunct Hoppers 13. He began his music career in the 5th grade choir and from there he joined his high school music program. By college, Tim wanted to take music more seriously. "I didn't start writing music or playing guitar until I was in college. It just took off from there and I continued to learn. I tried out for bands and I was told that my voice was too trained, I sounded too nice," he said. Tim, however, decided to continue on and continued to learn and develop his craft. What appeals to many of his fans is his easy-going manner. They have enjoyed his energetic performances and the conversational nature of his songs. "I love to perform and be interactive. Many of my shows have a conversational feel to them, and I love talking and joking with the audience," says Tim of his onstage persona. In the end, however, Tim is just trying to be himself. "I don’t want to be cookie-cutter. I try to be myself. I want to be honest and true to me, and I tried to show that in my music." Tim currently plays music venues and colleges throughout the tri-state area. He has also appeared as a featured musician at several community events throughout the region. His music has also been played on several stations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.