No Pulse, Only Breath: Understanding the Creative Rhythms of Tyler Kline

The creative life and artistic philosophy of composer, audio engineer, and radio host Tyler Kline unfolds at the intersection of structure and surrender, sound and silence, motion and stillness. His work integrates composing, engineering, and curatorial listening into a unified practice shaped by patience, attention, and trust. Influenced in part by the concept of wabi-sabi, Kline embraces imperfection and impermanence, allowing breath, resonance, and performer agency to guide musical form rather than strict pulse or metrical control. This approach finds clear expression in his piano work TATTOO, which eliminates traditional pulse orientation and asks performers to measure time through listening and embodied awareness. Grounded in intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and openness to experience, Kline’s practice prioritizes authenticity over innovation and presence over spectacle. His music invites listeners into a slower, more attentive mode of engagement, valuing intimacy, sincerity, and the quiet rhythms of lived experience.