At 6'4", Tyler Hilton sauntered into 1515 like a tall drink of water to chat with Buzzworthy last week. With his angular features, perfectly coifed just-rolled-out-of-bed hairstyle and laid-back attitude, Tyler is probably best known for his role on One Tree Hill or for playing Elvis Presley in Walk the Line. (His next film, Charlie Bartlett, hits theaters this week.) But he really has just one thing on his mind: music. Here's what he had to say about his movie, his music, his need to be a total badass and his potentially dangerous infatuation with Jack White.
Buzzworthy: Tell us about your character in Charlie Bartlett...
Tyler Hilton: I play this guy named Murphey Bivens, a high school bully and pot dealer. He's just a real d---, beating people up and filming it. He's just a really sadistic person who ends up partnering up with the lead character and helping him sell drugs. It's a cool part.
BW: Why did you find him intriguing?
TH: I think a lot of guys wanna be that James Dean badass. When I first read the part I was like, "Whoa, this is such a cool part, I could never get this. I'm not good enough, I'm not cool enough, I'm just not badass enough." At the time I had my head shaved into a mohawk 'cause I thought I was gonna be in the studio and didn't think anyone was gonna see me. I went to try out and they were like, "Keep the mohawk for the movie, we love it." I couldn't believe I got it.
BW: What was it like working with co-star Robert Downey Jr.?
TH: Really cool. When I found out he was in the film, I just got so nervous. I first met him at this read-through we did in L.A. and I was so star-struck. He was just making everybody laugh 'cause he was just, like, so free and does whatever he wants and dresses in all these weird colors. And I was like, "Oh my God, that's Robert Downey Jr.!" Afterwards, we had some cigarettes outside together and talked about music. It was killer. I really dug the guy. The whole time I was so star-struck. I felt like such a dork in front of him 'cause he's, like, so hip.
BW: Did you learn a lot from him?
TH: It wasn't specific things. It was an overall vibe of confidence. I want to get to his level of confidence, where I can walk into a room and be, like, whatever I do is probably gonna be funny. He'd just walk in and try things. Most of the time it was funny, sometimes it fell flat but, at the end of the day, it was, like, whatever, he's Robert Downey Jr.
BW: Did you get any inside scoop on his upcoming movie, Iron Man?
TH: Nah. He got the part after we filmed Charlie Bartlett. I saw him at a screening for Charlie Bartlett, maybe eight months ago, and he'd just got the part. So I said congrats, but I didn't hear anything about it.
BW: Your stint on One Tree Hill ended, but is there a possibility you'll make an appearance again?
TH: I doubt it. I love everyone on the show but now I'm busy with my new record and I really want to get back to touring. I can't imagine doing it again, but you never know.
BW: So, yeah, what's going on with your new album?
TH: I guess I'm, like, halfway done. I've been working on it on and off for two years. What's taking so long is conceptually I've always thought I've had the songs and vibe that I've wanted but -- and I don't mean to say it like I think I'm amazingly special -- I can't find another record as an example of what I want this record to be. I can't find a template. And that could be a good thing or a bad thing. I really want it to be rock'n'roll and lively and have so much energy but I also want it to sound rootsy and acoustic. How to blend those two things in just the right way has been hard. I'm trying to wrap it all up, but I feel like I have a really good thing going here.
BW: Are there any cool collaborations?
TH: I'm trying to get the tracks finished the way I want them before I start asking people to sing on them. I've got a lot of ideas but I don't want to say anything yet in case it doesn't work out. I have a whole list of people I would love to work with ... but I kind of want to make that the frosting.
BW: Can you at least reveal your #1 dream collaboration?
TH: Yeah, it'll never happen, but my dream collaboration is with this guy that lives on my street just, like, a mile down. I've never met him but it's Jack White from The White Stripes. I think he's the coolest. And he's recording in the studio right next to me, but I've never bumped into him.
BW: That's how things happen though...
TH: I know! But in my mind, he's the coolest kid in school and I don't think I'd have any leverage to go up to him and be like, "Hey, Mr. White. I'm Tyler Hilton. Would you like to sing with me?" But if I did meet him I'd want to smoke a cigar with him, drink some wine and play some music on his porch.
BW: Maybe you could make it happen by knocking on his door and then leaning up against the wall like it wasn't you...
TH: I should! But I'd be worried he'd beat me up like that Von Bondies dude. I gotta be careful, he's a big guy. [Laughs.]
Comments