Ty’s music career is basically a Boise origin story. It started at Boise Rock School at age eight, passed through a Treefort stage with a high school band called Plantonic, and eventually landed him in RUDY, a band he formed with his randomly assigned roommate in a Boise State residence hall.
Where it all began
Ty Naymik, senior psychology major with a minor in entrepreneurship management and a certificate in music production, met lead guitarist Tyler Freeman as randomly assigned roommates in Taylor Hall, one of Boise State’s first year residence halls. That connection eventually sparked something bigger.
Still roommates a few years later, Tyler invited some friends over to jam in their basement. Ty joined in on drums to fill in (his drum set conveniently set up right there in the basement).
“We jammed for three hours and were like, ‘That was sweet. Let’s do it again next Tuesday.’ And we just never stopped.”
About a month later, Treefort applications were due.
With a demo recorded on borrowed gear and worn-out cables, they submitted their music mostly hoping for free festival passes.
They got in.
“Then we were like, now we have to figure out the rest of it.”
RUDY played their first Treefort as a brand-new band in 2025 and will return again this year for the 2026 festival.
Building a band from Boise State
Ty says his time at Boise State has been essential to his growth as a musician.
“I never would have formed this band if it wasn’t for [Boise State],” he says. “The social network here is huge.”
Beyond dorm connections, the university’s music production certificate, faculty support and access to facilities have helped RUDY take real steps forward. From borrowing PA equipment for early gigs to accessing recording facilities, that support helped the band move from basement practices to paid shows.
“You learn the education side of it,” Ty explains. “But they also give you the facilities to actually make it happen.”
And RUDY is making it happen. In addition to playing at Treefort, they are landing larger shows, including opening for nationally touring band Dogs In A Pile at the Shrine Ballroom, one of their biggest shows yet.
Advice for musicians at Boise State
Ty’s advice for Boise State students who want to pursue music is straightforward: find your people. Whether it’s through classes, clubs, marching band or simply introducing yourself after a show, the Boise State community offers so many opportunities to connect.
“At the end of the day,” Ty says, “if you’re open and say, ‘I just want to play music,’ you’ll find other people who feel the same.”
And sometimes, that openness can take you from a basement jam session to the stage at Treefort Music Fest.
You can see Ty’s band RUDY playing at Treefort Music Fest on Thursday, March 26 at 6:20 p.m. at Payette Brewing Company (free + all ages)