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.
War Out Of Peace
Tristan Prettyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you should stay, when you should go
But you don't
Rehearse the lines in your head
You know what needs to be said
But it all comes out bad
And if it's space that you need
If time is falling at your feet
Love is a crazy dream
[Chorus]
Is it what you want
Is it what you need
We go back and forth
Making war out of peace
And you won't let go
And I won't give up
We go round and round
But is it ever enough
Is it ever enough
Lately I'm falling away
Growing more quiet by the day
Not really sure
Why I feel this way
I guess I got a little scared
Someone could actually care
This time, just might be something there
And if it's change that you need
A little more mystery
Some kind of deeper meaning
Love is a crazy dream
[Chorus]
I'm sure I'll mess it all up
I'm sure I'll try to convince myself
That I just need to be
But what I want to be is
Something else, someone else
So why did we cross the line
Mess it all up with the time
And in the end just assume it'll be alright
Is it what you want
Is it what you need
We go back and forth
Making war out of peace
And you won't let go
And I won't give up
We go round and round
But is it ever enough
Is it what you want
Is it what you need
We go back and forth
Making war out of peace
And you won't let go
And I won't give up
No I won't give up
No I won't give up
In "War Out Of Peace," Tristan Prettyman sings about the struggles of a relationship that seems to always be up and down, making her feel uncertain and confused. The song tells of her anxiety about messing up everything with someone who has started to matter to her. The singer is aware of the fact that both she and her partner are at fault for making a battle out of peace, with neither of them willing to let go. However, she is also aware that love is a crazy dream that comes with mysteries and deeper meanings, and she does not want to give up on it, even when it seems like war is the only outcome.
In the first verse of the song, the singer notes the importance of knowing when to stay and when to let go in a relationship. However, it is not easy to adhere to this, as she struggles to communicate her thoughts and feelings effectively. She mentions the need for space and time, but walking away empty is not an option. The chorus then goes on to highlight the repetitive nature of their fights, with both parties unwilling to let go. In the second verse, the singer admits that she is falling away from the relationship, which has left her feeling a bit scared. She acknowledges that there may be some deeper meaning to the relationship, but also that she is not entirely sure about it. The song ends with the overall tone of uncertainty and the desire to be something else or someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Well there are times when you know
There are moments in life when you have a feeling that tells you what you should do
When you should stay, when you should go
Sometimes, this feeling tells you to stay and sometimes it tells you to leave
But you don't
However, you don't always listen to this feeling
Rehearse the lines in your head
You imagine in your head what you should say or do
You know what needs to be said
You have a good idea about what you need to say or do
But it all comes out bad
But when the time comes, what you say or do doesn't come out as planned
And if it's space that you need
If you need some time and distance
If time is falling at your feet
If the time seems to be slipping away
Walking away empty
Leaving without resolving the problem or conflict
Love is a crazy dream
Love can be unpredictable and irrational
[Chorus]
Repeating the central message of the song
Lately I'm falling away
Recently, I feel like I'm drifting away
Growing more quiet by the day
Becoming more silent and introverted each day
Not really sure
Feeling uncertain
Why I feel this way
Not understanding the cause or reason behind these feelings
I guess I got a little scared
I suppose I became a bit afraid
Someone could actually care
Someone might genuinely love and care for me
This time, just might be something there
This time, there might be a real chance for love
And if it's change that you need
If you need something different or new
A little more mystery
A little more unknown or intrigue
Some kind of deeper meaning
Something more profound or significant
I'm sure I'll mess it all up
I'm certain that I'll ruin things
I'm sure I'll try to convince myself
I know that I'll attempt to persuade myself
That I just need to be
That I just need to be alone or single
But what I want to be is
But what I truly desire is to be something or someone else
Something else, someone else
A different version of myself, or even a different person entirely
So why did we cross the line
Why did we go beyond the boundaries we set for ourselves
Mess it all up with the time
Make everything worse as time went on
And in the end just assume it'll be alright
And in the end just hope that things will work out without really putting in the effort
[Chorus]
Repeating the central message of the song
No I won't give up
I won't let go of my desires or feelings
No I won't give up
I won't back down or surrender
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARTIN TEREFE, SASHA SKARBEK, TRISTAN PRETTYMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind