The Reckoning: Tyler Rich Finds Clarity and Redemption in ‘Made Up My Mind’
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Tyler Rich’s “Made Up My Mind” is the sonic representation of a clean break and a firm commitment—the exact moment a lifetime of ambiguity snaps into focus. Released as part of his ambitious independent project, the Leaving California double album, this track showcases Rich’s signature blend of radio-ready country-rock sensibility and sincere, conversational lyricism.
The Artist:
Tyler Rich is a Northern California native who has successfully bridged the gap between West Coast pop-rock polish and Nashville’s lyrical heartland. After years in Los Angeles honing his craft and eventually moving to Nashville, Rich secured success with his RIAA Gold-certified singles like “The Difference” and “Leave Her Wild.” Now operating independently, Rich uses his music—split into the Hello California and Leaving California installments—to explore self-discovery, heartache, and ultimate redemption, often incorporating a modern rock edge that nods to influences like Bush (whose song he notably covered).
The Review:
Co-written by Rich, Michael Tyler, and Lalo Guzman, “Made Up My Mind” is built around the classic country trope of a woman changing a man for the better, but it’s delivered with an appealingly crisp, propulsive urgency. Rich’s vocal performance is earnest, relaying a life formerly tangled in regret: “Been the good man, the bad guy / I’ve chased down some trouble / Yeah, that devil on my shoulder / Led to one too many lonely nights.”
The production, handled by Lalo Guzman and Brad Hill, is bright and punchy, driven by acoustic guitar rhythms, powerful drums, and electric guitar textures that give the track a satisfying lift without crossing into overly heavy territory. It’s custom-built for highway drives and windows-down anthemic singalongs.
The core message—the complete, sudden nature of transformation when the right person arrives—is encapsulated perfectly in the chorus: “Just a kiss and it was over / You were hoppin’ on in and coming over… Didn’t know what I was doing with my life / But girl, you made up my mind.” Rich himself described the song as that moment you “walk away from the wreckage and find something worth running toward.” While the sentiment is familiar, Rich’s delivery is so committed and the melody so instantly catchy that the track rises above cliché.
“Made Up My Mind” serves as a definitive statement of clarity, showcasing Rich’s evolved sound—a confident fusion of acoustic honesty and polished, rock-inflected production that is highly successful in the contemporary country space.