Taking advantage of the town's proximity to the ocean, she began surfing at the age of 12. She competed in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) High School Division and earned fifth place in the state title while still in middle school.
At 15, she was given a cassette of Ani DiFranco's 1993 Puddle Dive by her half-brother's friend. She played the album constantly and it still has great sentimental value to her. It serves as a reminder of when her musical ambitions started to blossom.
Inspired by DiFranco's music and due in part to her nature of being a self-described "nosy kid" she entered her parents' room and began playing around with her father's old acoustic guitar. Although her parents were initially angry with her for "taking" her father's guitar, they eventually became supportive of her interest in music.
She began playing in front of friends at their homes and they encouraged her to begin writing her own material. One night, while performing for some friends, an employee of the production company The Moonshine Conspiracy, run by surf filmmaker Taylor Steele and professional surfer Chris Malloy, heard her and asked Tristan to appear in the film the company was working on at the time entitled Shelter. Tristan's song, Anything At All was chosen to be on the soundtrack.
Prettyman began playing in clubs and bars throughout San Diego County before being invited to join fellow San Diegoan, and future boyfriend, Jason Mraz on his national tour.
Prettyman spent the winter of 2004 in New York collaborating with producer Josh Deutsch who had worked with Mraz and Lenny Kravitz.
Prettyman is half-sister to Cody McClintock, an independent film producer.
She is signed to Virgin Records, and put out her first major label album Twentythree on August 2, 2005. Tristan credits her half-brother with much influence on her thinking and the title of her debut album pays partial homage to the "23 enigma". A perceptual concept which refers to the abnormally high occurrence of the number 23 in daily life as described in the book Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson, as derived from friend and fellow author William S. Burroughs.
Twentythree peaked at 24 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.
In 2008 Tristan released her sophomore album, entitled Hello.
Open Up Your Eyes
Tristan Prettyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything is living
Beauty full of light
Just the beginning
Stars in the sky
Perfectly positioned
Over deep blue seas
Lets go swimming
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
and let the light light come in
Open up your mind
All you gotta do is listen
The time is now
And that'll be our mission
Cause we can be the change
We can teach the children
All about the mother
And the love she's giving
Just open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
And let the light light come in
I know that if I believe
Oh I can do almost anything
Oh well that first step
Is the hardest
But how else are we gonna start this
How we gonna start this
Tell me baby, oh...
Whats it gonna be
If you wanna be the difference
Easy to see
Sky has no limits
Committing to the choice
Miles make the distance
That your love will go
When you put your heart in it
Just open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
And let the light light come in
Open up your eyes
And let the light light come and open up your eyes
And let the light light come in
Open up your eyes
And let the light light come in
Open up your eyes
And let the light light come
Tristan Prettyman's song "Open Up Your Eyes" is a call to action for listeners to take notice and appreciate the beauty around them. Throughout the verses, the lyrics describe the natural world with a sense of awe and wonder, highlighting the potential for growth and change. The opening lines create a vivid scene of a world brimming with life and light. The stars in the sky are "perfectly positioned," suggesting an order and harmony to the universe. The call to "go swimming" encourages listeners to engage with the world around them and not just observe it.
The chorus of the song serves as a repeated invitation to the listener to be open to the world and to experience it fully. By "letting the light come in," the singer is suggesting that the listener should be receptive to the beauty and positivity around them. The second verse suggests that by opening up our minds and listening to the world, we can make positive change. By teaching future generations about the importance of caring for the earth and each other, we can create a better future.
The bridge acknowledges that making change is not always easy. However, the singer believes that if we believe in ourselves and take that first step, anything is possible. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, reminding listeners to keep their eyes and minds open and to let the light in.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me
The world surrounding the singer
Everything is living
All things in the world are alive and full of energy
Beauty full of light
The beauty of the world is bright and radiant
Just the beginning
This is just the start of what there is to discover in the world
Stars in the sky
The stars shining above
Perfectly positioned
The stars are in an ideal location
Over deep blue seas
The stars shine over the vastness of the ocean
Lets go swimming
Let's dive into the ocean and explore its depths
Open up your eyes
Be aware of what's going on around you
Open up your mind
Be open to new ideas and experiences
All you gotta do is listen
Just pay attention to what's happening
The time is now
There's no better moment than the present
And that'll be our mission
This will be our goal or objective
Cause we can be the change
We have the power to make a difference
We can teach the children
We can influence the younger generation
All about the mother
All about nature and the environment
And the love she's giving
And the love and resources that nature provides
I know that if I believe
Having faith in oneself
Oh I can do almost anything
With belief, anything can be accomplished
Oh well that first step
Getting started is the hardest part
Is the hardest
Beginning any endeavor is difficult
But how else are we gonna start this
There's no other way to begin
Tell me baby, oh...
Asking a question of someone else, possibly a partner or loved one
Whats it gonna be
What decision will be made
If you wanna be the difference
If you want to make an impact or change
Easy to see
It's clear or obvious
Sky has no limits
There are no boundaries to what can be accomplished
Committing to the choice
Making a decision and sticking to it
Miles make the distance
Distance is measured in miles and represents the effort required to achieve something
That your love will go
The effort and dedication you put into something will reflect your passion
When you put your heart in it
When you are emotionally invested or committed to something
And let the light light come in
Allow positivity and hopefulness to enter your life
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Tristan Prettyman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind