Dec. 15, 2014 By Kristin Whyte - @KristinMarie21
Water polo is not the only passion of Team USA member Tim Hutten — he's also inspired by music and is ready to dive in headfirst.
Hutten grew up in a musically gifted family and vividly remembers how his grandmother's voice and piano playing could bring a smile to his face. At age 12, he received his first drum set and found it difficult to walk away. Hutten spent hours hidden beneath his headphones, letting his own creativity run wild. He started a rock band in high school, played at his church on Sundays, and surrounded his family and friends with his music.
Eventually water polo became Hutten's main focus, but he hasn't let his love for music slip away. Whether he was off in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games, London at the 2012 Olympic Games, or playing professionally in Europe, Hutten always tapped into his musical background, giving each moment along the way a melody.
He travels with a Gibson guitar and a pen and paper close by, spending most of his down time writing. Long bus trips often turn into songwriting sessions — and when inspiration strikes, he takes the opportunity to escape. "I love the creative aspect of making music," Hutten says. "Nobody is going to tell you exactly what to play and how to play it."
He has written a song in every country he has lived so far — Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, and Australia, in addition to the United States — some reflecting on a positive summer, others after a tough loss. "It is a great way for me to express myself and take my mind off everything," he explains. Hutten's wife also plays a large role in his music, encouraging him to always make the most of every day. "It's cliché to say to 'lose yourself' in the music, but it's a good feeling when it happens, and it can have a great impact on everyone who is taking part in it," says Hutten, whose teammates often turn to his music for comfort. Fellow players and former roommates — Brian Alexander and Merrill Moses — know first-hand the effect Hutten has had on their team while abroad.
"His songs would fill the hallways of our hotel after dinner, so some of the guys would come over to our room to hear him play his guitar and sing," Alexander says. "It was a great mind shift and during long trips, helped some of the guys feel as if we were home and not in a foreign country." One of his biggest hits was a song called, "The Bone Crush Blues," which was dedicated to their grueling training schedule.
Hutten has provided his teammates with music and memories they often reflect on to this day. Both Alexander and Moses recall a highlight they will never forget: At the athlete village at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico, live performances were held each night. One night Hutten had the opportunity to take the stage and united competitors from all over the world with his own songs, while proudly representing Team USA.
Hutten has the support of his fellow players to pursue a future in music. "I honestly think Tim has the voice and musical skills to make it in the music industry," says Moses, who adds he's anxious for the world to hear what Hutten has to offer.
And he's already on his way. Hutten recently released his debut EP "California Kid." The five-track extended play is a true dedication to Hutten's personal journey and beliefs. After taking a listen, he has proven an incredible lyricist, keeping his words positive and his message clear. His acoustic vibe and soothing voice make for an easy listen yet celebrate adventure.
As an athlete, Hutten knows you have to work hard to achieve success, and with that in mind he's ready to earn his spot as a full-time musician — but not without creating a lot more memories long the way. "Traveling around the world to live and play in exotic places is hard to beat," Hutten says, adding that it's s provided him with musical material for a lifetime.
A lyric from the title track perfectly sums up Hutten's philosophy: "Just a California kid tryin' to have me the time of my life."
For more information, visit TimHuttenMusic.com.
This article will appear in the Winter 2014 issue of SkipShot magazine
