Soileau local musician

Ty Soileau: Content to rock out

Jazmin Farraj

Contributing Writer

Sleep-deprived after a long day at his nine-to-five, Ty Soileau walked into the coffee shop bleary eyed and silent. Commenting on how tired he was, Soileau bought a cup of coffee and went into the chilled air.

He was obviously cold. He laughed about not owning a jacket. In the life of an aspiring musician, the struggle is most definitely “real.”

Having attended McNeese State University for one semester in the fall of 2012, he decided he was more comfortable working a regular job and focusing on his music.

“I told everybody I don’t wanna end up at the plants…but in all reality, it’s probably for the best,” Soileau said.  

Soileau is a realist. He knows that he may have to settle if his dreams don’t pan out. For now, he is content in Lake Charles practicing as a bassist for two bands. The first band, a rock group named Mirages (formerly Mylestone), features his best friends: lead singer Hayden Bogard, Aaron Bivens on drums, Alec Savoie on lead guitar, and – the new addition – Ben Poole, whom Soileau says is an extra guitarist aiding the lead in being able to “move around and stuff.”

Previously, as Mylestone, the band wasn’t on the same pace, but now they are perfectly in sync; Alec will play a riff, the drummer and Ty will follow, meanwhile the lead will search through lyrics on his phone to match the tune they spontaneously create.

“Almost unreal,” Soileau remarks on the synchronization of the band.

As The Sky Burns, Soileau’s second band, hails from DeQuincy.  He joined the band with his Mirages mate Alec, along with a duo of duos: The Poole brothers, Chris on drums, Ben on guitar, and the two Dustins, lead vocalist Dustin Doyle and Dustin Ortego, the “screamer.”  Another Chris (this time Chris Burge) rounds out the band as a second guitarist, along with Soileau on guitar and Alec as a synthesizer and keyboardist.

Soileau was never a fan of metalcore music – until a fateful Vans Warped Tour experience where he found himself snuggling into a pit full of screaming, hardcore fans. Soileau now understands the hype.

Tagging along with Alec on trips to visit As The Sky Burns members, Soileau watched the band and slowly became a  passionate fan, while Alec practiced with the band as a then “temporary” member.

It was then that they decided to take it to the next step.  After talking it over with Alec in private, they decided to officially ask the group practice organizer, Chris Poole, if they could become permanent members.

Of course, they would have to split time between Mirages and As The Sky Burns.  Poole was elated to find out that Soileau and Alec craved the As the Sky Burns experience.

Now, spending equal energy on both bands, Soileau is content to keep practicing while snatching up any opportunity to play a show.

Someday he plans on moving to either Austin, Texas, or Seattle, Washington, as the music scene is much larger and “cooler,” but for now he’s absolutely fine with his friends, his job and his eclectic interest in music ranging from Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake to Frank Turner (folk-rock artist), Mumford & Son’s and Flogging Molly (Celtic punk band).

Check out Mirages on Twitter: @Miragesband, Soundcloud at soundcloud.com/hayden-helms, Facebook at facebook.com/miragesband and As the Sky Burns on Facebook at facebook.com/ATSBradio and on their Youtube channel ATSBradio.