Country singer-songwriter Tyler Rich has officially released Leaving California, the second half of his ambitious double album, out now via ONErpm. Following this spring’s Hello California, the new installment completes a 20-song journey that captures both the freedom and vulnerability of Rich’s life and artistry.

The project was years in the making and, according to Rich, was never intended to be two albums.

“Originally the entire album was going to be 18 songs called Leaving California, and it was going to bookend with "Hello California" as the intro track and "Leaving California" at the end,” he explained. “But then 18 songs turned into 19, then 20. It had been so long since I’d put out music that I couldn’t imagine releasing them all at once and immediately feeling like, ‘Alright, cool, what’s next?’ So I decided to break it up. First half in the spring, second half in the fall. Technically, it was supposed to be one album, but spacing it out felt right.”

You can listen to Hello California below. 

The result is a double album that feels more expansive, intentional, and revealing than anything he’s done before. After leaving his major label, Rich admits he wanted to show a fuller version of himself.

“When you’re only releasing a couple songs a year, you don’t realize until you step away and look back that thematically, it all kind of feels the same,” he said. “I’ve written so many songs about different topics – real life moments, struggles, being sensitive, being vulnerable – that fans never got to hear. My main goal with this project was to finally show those other sides of me.”

That honesty and range are clear across the Leaving California tracklist. Standouts include the title track, the summer-ready “When?,” and “Damn What a Woman,” inspired by his wife, actress Sabina Gadecki. The heaviest moment comes with “Never Knew,” a song rooted in Rich’s personal experiences with family members struggling with addiction.

 “It’s probably the heaviest lyric I’ve ever written,” he told Fandom Daily. “The whole idea is written from the perspective of the addict, but also from the perspective of the person with the addict. The idea is like, ‘I’ve always loved you, I just never knew how to.’ It’s pretty tough, and I know now that it’s out, there will be tears and a lot of really special bonding with fans over that song.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tyler Rich (@tylerrich)

Rich has already seen how these songs take on new meaning once they’re in the hands of listeners. He pointed to Hello California’s “Give Up to Get It,” a song about the sacrifices of touring, which fans have embraced in unexpected ways.

“I thought it would only ever resonate with musicians,” Rich admitted. “But then I met fans who connected through military service, trucking, jobs that keep them away from home. That’s the beauty of music – you write it from your perspective, and then it becomes something bigger when other people find their own story in it.”

That sense of connection also fuels lighter tracks like “Made Up My Mind,” which Rich co-wrote with Michael Tyler and Lalo Guzman. The upbeat anthem was inspired by the moment he met Sabina.

“When I moved to Nashville, the last thing on my mind was a relationship,” he said. “I was focused on my career. Then I met her, and suddenly none of that mattered – my mind was made up for me.” He laughs about fans telling him the song already has “line dance energy,” joking that while he won’t be the one choreographing, he wouldn’t be surprised if someone on TikTok does.

Beyond the music, Leaving California feels like a personal milestone for Rich, who has embraced independence after years navigating the industry.

“Music’s tough...the competition is endless, and it’s a world of ‘no’s until you finally get the perfect yes,” he reflected. “I deal with self-doubt and imposter syndrome like every artist, but little Tyler – the kid who started playing guitar in Yuba City – would just be proud I kept chasing it.”

For fans, the takeaway is clear, this album is as much about them as it is about him.

“I hope they walk away feeling inspired and alive,” Rich said. “I hope they feel like if they ever saw me in public, they could just walk up and give me a hug because that’s how much we’d know each other through the music.”

With Leaving California now out in the world and his tour underway, Tyler Rich is entering a new era – one built on honesty, connection, and songs that refuse to be boxed in.

Photo Credit: David O'Donohue