From Vine and TikTok, Holder finds his way to the Buffalo Iron Works

By Lindsay DePietro
(Image above: From artist’s Instagram)

Tayler Holder has been a prominent figure on social media since he was a young teenager. Now he’s coming to the Buffalo Iron Works in a different role, as a country music singer. 

Holder, social media sensation and blossoming country star, will be playing the Iron Works Friday (July 18, 8 p.m. ) for one of his energy-filled performances.

Holder originally gained popularity on Vine, and then became a significant figure on Musical.ly before blowing up on TikTok and amassing over 19 million followers. 

Holder grew up in Alvarado, Texas, but moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his social media career in 2018. Country music came later. 

“Being a country artist has always been a dream of mine when I was younger. It was always my goal to pursue that career, but I grew up in a small town. People think I’m from L.A., but I’m not,” Holder said. “I grew up on country music, new and old.”

When Holder began his music career in Los Angeles, he started off with making pop and R&B songs because “that’s what the environment down there was.” He had no passion for those genres of music, nor was he content with his life in LA. 

John Galbraith, Holder’s photographer and best friend, has played a significant role in building Holder’s career and continues to help manage a heavy portion of it.

Galbraith first met Holder in L.A. in 2022 at the very beginning of his country music pursuit. Galbraith began to take pictures and videos for Holder, helping with his social media content. 

Holder said he ended up getting the opportunity to go to Nashville to perform a song at the CMA (Country Music Association) Fest. Very shortly after, he decided to make the move there to pursue his passion for country music. 

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“Time in This Truck,” from 2024

Galbraith made the move with him. They have been business partners and best friends ever since. 

“I was there for him in ways no one else could be,” Galbraith said.

“He has grown so much. When I met him in L.A., I could tell the environment was just not the best for him there. He’s gone from just doing things for likes and views to really caring about people,” Galbraith said. “Tayler is a completely different person now.” 

“I’m really focused on my country music career right now,” Holder said. 

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“Dyin’ Flame,” released last November.

He described his songs as “mediocre” when he first started out, but said he has really locked into his country career the past few years and his songs just keep getting better each and better.

Holder has also dabbled in acting, starring in the TV series “Dirt” in 2018. He said acting has been another passion of his, but that he’s extremely busy right now and “does so many things.” Although he isn’t sure when he will get to pursue acting again, he aims to one day do so.

As far as Holder’s influencer era goes, Holder said he mostly does social media as promotion for his country music career now, but he still creates “funny videos here and there.”

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A Tayler Holder TikTok from when his single, “Dyin’ Flame,” was released last November.

He said he’s trying to transition all of his social media fans over to being fans of his music. 

Holder said social media has been both “a blessing and a curse,” explaining that people just think he’s some influencer from L.A. and it feels like “he has to prove himself.”

Holder said fans can look forward to him touring in the Fall with Canadian singer Cameron Whitcomb.

Merchandise will be available for fans to purchase at Friday night’s show, including special “Dyin’ Flame” merch that is only brought out for his shows. Other merchandise is available on his website.

Tickets to Holder’s Iron Works concert are $30, and attendees must be 18 years or older. The doors will open at 7 p.m.