DJ TySki: You can have a bad day and the music can turn it around – American Press

Tyler Greymountain said he fell in love with the world of DJing in the late 1990s. His passion for using turntables and creating mixtapes took him places he never expected.

Known for years as DJ TySki, he is the afternoon host for Hot 103.3 KBIU-FM and performs at venues across Lake Charles.

Originally from Utah, Greymountain, 42, has lived in southwest Louisiana for 17 years. He is part of the UTE tribe, based in northeastern Utah. The University of Utah’s mascot, the Runnin’ UTE’s, is named after the tribe.

Greymountain said he first heard a DJ Rectangle mixtape in 1997 and was immediately hooked.

“I always thought it was so cool to see how DJs manipulate music,” he said.

When a friend received a pair of turntables for Christmas, but didn’t know how to use them, Greymountain borrowed them. He began collecting albums, performing at house parties, and making mixtapes, a practice that would bring him opportunities later.

After graduating from high school, Greymountain left Utah and began traveling to powwows around the country and in Canada, meeting different tribes. He eventually landed in Marksville, Louisiana in the early 2000s to participate in a powwow for the Tunica-Biloxi tribe.

Greymountain said he planned to spend a weekend in Marksville, but after winning first place in a drumming competition he stayed for a few days. During this time he met Crystal Williams and the two developed a connection.

“Next thing you know, I moved to (Elton),” he said. “We’ve been together ever since.”

Greymountain and Williams have two daughters, Shai, 15, and Ty-Leah, 16.

After moving to Elton, he worked with the Coushatta tribe. Around 2010, he revived his passion for being a DJ. On a trip to Utah, he brought his gear back to Louisiana and began performing at birthday parties and various bars in the area. He said he wanted to tap into the radio industry and do mixing shows. He started making mixtapes and sending them to radio stations in southwest Louisiana. The station formerly known as Hot 97.9 KQLK-FM responded and allowed him to do mixed shows at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

When the radio station changed format to a classic country genre, Greymountain was approached by the program director of Townsquare Media to be an on-air host on 92.1 KISS-FM. He became the station’s weekend host and became the mixer for 107 JAMS, KJMH-FM. When KISS-FM switched to a rock format, Greymountain switched to weekend on-air personality on 107 JAMS, replacing weekdays when needed.
In 2018, Greymountain moved to Cumulus Media, becoming the afternoon on-air host for Hot 103.3, a Top 40 station. but that he hopes to do so soon.

Being an on-air personality wasn’t something Greymountain expected when he started working in radio.

“All I wanted to do was mix shows,” he said. “The opportunity came up and someone saw that I could be an on-air personality. It feels good. You talk to whoever’s listening there. It could be a person or up to a million.

Greymountain said his family always goes to powwows when the weather permits. Most powwows take place every year and there’s plenty to see along the way, he said. The Coushatta Tribe holds its annual powwow the second weekend in June, while the UTE Tribe holds powwows on July 4th and Thanksgiving weekends.

“It’s Native Americans representing different tribes who come together and celebrate life within the circle,” he said. “We just share the experiences we’ve had while traveling, while connecting with old friends and making new ones.”

Greymountain continues to DJ for various clubs, including Blue Martini at the Golden Nugget Casino and during McNeese State University football games and men’s and women’s basketball games.

Most of Greymountain’s family still live in Utah. The last time he visited them was during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. His family traveled there by motorhome to avoid staying in hotels or using toilets public.

Greymountain was in southwest Louisiana during Hurricane Rita in 2005. He said his home was unaffected by Hurricane Laura’s landfall in 2020, except for blackouts current. Her family dropped Rita off at the Coushatta Casino Resort and drove Laura to an RV park in Terrell, Texas.

The hospitality of the people stands out as one of southwest Louisiana’s greatest qualities, Greymountain said.

“Everyone is so friendly and open,” he said. “Nobody really stops you. It’s what I’ve come to love in South and Southwest Louisiana. Everyone is ready to help you.

Greymountain said he was amazed at the power of music and how a DJ can control a crowd.

“You might have a bad day, and the music will turn things around,” he said. “Or you can have a good day, and the music will make it even better. It’s just a journey.